Hi,

What do most rv places or mechanics charge to install a 7 wire rv plug in a tow vehicle (in my case a Suzuki Vitara/Chevy Tracker) without factory wiring.

What is reasonable charge for this?

Is it a full day job?

I have the 4 wire utility trailer plug installed, thus need the 4 wire to 7 wire plug converter, a brake controller, and a trailer wiring harness, assume blue brake wire must be run from back of vehicle to brake controler, and battery wire run from back of vehicle to battery.

Thanks for your guestimates what this should cost

Burnaby Hitch in Vancouver quoted me a price of $350 to add a controller (Prodigy) and 7-way connection to my 2003 Forester which is not prewired. This includes parts and labour. This company was recommended to me by a Scamp owner, and I have been impressed with this company. You may also want to consider adding a transmission oil cooler which Burnaby Hitch can also do, for about $200.

Brian

Another option, depending on how handy you are is to do it yourself.

this link will give you some guidance as to what is involved.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76boler/sets/72157604792637096/

If your vehicle already has a 4 way plug it is simply a matter of mounting a 7-way/4-way adapter plug on to the back of your vehicle and plugging the 4-way in to it.

http://www.etrailer.com/pc-A~30717.htm

If your vehicle does not have a 4-way plug then it may be a simple matter of purchasing the 4-way vehicle specific wire harness and plugging it into your existing vehicle wire harness.

http://www.etrailer.com/c-T1.htm

The brake controller is mounted on your dash.

http://www.etrailer.com/pc-BC~90195.htm

This is a good controller and a good price. They usually have a $5 shipping special to Canada.

In my vehicle I had to drill a hole through my firewall to run the wires. Your vehicle may have an access hole.

The blue wire on the brake controller will connect with a heavy 10 gauge wire and then be run through the firewall to the rear of the vehicle and inserted in the proper location in the 7-way plug.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

http://www.etrailer.com/pc-trw~10-1-1.htm

The black and white wires will run from the brake controller via large 10 gauge wire, through your firewall, directly to your battery positive and negative posts, using the appropriate circuit breaker just before battery positive. (20 amps usually for a trailer with two brakes}

http://www.etrailer.com/p-9506P.htm

The red wire from the brake controller will be "tapped" in to the cold side of your brake switch which should be located just above your brake pedal.

http://electrical.hardwarestore.com/14-46-...ces-601407.aspx

A quick email to Tekonsha, letting them know the year and make of your vehicle, will provide you with the colour of the wire you need to tap. Here is their contact info.

Danny Dunn
Technical Service Coordinator
Cequent Performance Products, Electrical Division
101 Spires Parkway
Tekonsha, MI. 49092
(888) 785-5832
dedunn[at]cequentgroup.com

I have a four pin factory install on my TV. I bought from walmart a plug that does both four and seven pin so I can also tow my boat and had my Toyota dealership install it. Cost was about $180 for them to install the plug.