Hi Dave, glad you have joined our ranks.
Re. the
brakes, your Casita has the electric brakes and the female connector on the trailer side is (I presume) actually seven-pin, not six. (The center is also a connection.)
You will need to buy a brake controller, wiring and a seven-pin male connector for the SUV. (Tekonsha or one of the other brands--the current preference seems to be the Tekonsha Prodigy.) Do a search on this web site for ''brake controller'' and you will find lots of discussion.
I've noticed that some manufacturers have ''wiring harnesses'' available for some brands of vehicles--but most of those seem to be for American brand trucks.
The four-pin connector is often what is included in the vehicle manufacturer's ''tow package,'' but that only takes care of the lights. It does not provide for brakes or for power to the Casita--other than the
tail lights. But as someone has already said, much of the wiring has already been done. If you're electrically-handy you might follow the controller manufacturer's diagrams and do the installation yourself. But as others, wiser than me, have already said, it's not expensive to have it done at your local RV dealer or
U-Haul, the latter of which seems to have a particular knack for this. (I had mine done at the Casita factory, and I'm glad that I did--it has worked perfectly ever since I left the plant!) The Prodigy runs about $125.00 for the controller, the Tekonsha Voyager which was what Casita was installing in late 2001 was about $75.00--the Voyager has been more than adequate as far as I am concerned. ''Guessing'' it probably will cost another $100-$150 in parts and labor to install either model.
Except to get it home, the 16's and 17's really shouldn't be towed without their brakes being operational.
Say ''hello'' when we pass by in CA in July!
Linear Mode
