2021 7-pin trailer harness - for Prestige only?

[tazzytazzy]

If you have a 2021 the the 7-pin harness should be prewired to the cab and there should be a 2nd part to the kit disconnected and probably sitting in the glove box to use after you purchase, wire up and mount a wired brake controller in your cab. If you don’t want to mount anything in the cab there are about three wireless options that connect at the hitch, the least expensive and most popular being a Curt Echo Wireless.

Aww. Thank you very much. We're scheduled to take delivery Oct 22nd and don't plan to tow until March/April 2022 so we have sufficient time to break in the Telly before we tow.

I've got my eyes on a Tekonsha P3 whenever it goes on sale. It's ugly, but reaching for the trailer brake is no-brainer in an emergency versus an app. Had this on my last tow vehicle and works great. Maybe too high end, but, I know it's a good one.

I'm thinking to go with a Blue Ox weight distributing hitch. It allows you to backup, has less greese parts, and appears easier to use than many others.

 

[rhouse]

I recently purchased a 2021 SX Nightfall (Canada), it was a dealer order not factory. It has everything that an SX-P has except no Nappa. I asked the dealer repeatedly about the 7-pin and they said it did not have it. I ordered the hitch from the dealer and they installed yesterday and they said again that it did not have 7-pin and they had an aftermarket one installed, here are some pictures (hopefully its not jimmy rigged). The rear wiring looks like its perhaps tied into a factory connector but the front under dash wiring seems a bit of a hack job. They installed a Tekonsha Primus IQ Electronic Brake Control which seems like it will do the trick and I told them not to mount it but they did anyways and the location seems alright. Im planning on towing a Rockwood GeoPro which will be around 3200lbs and 360lb hitch weight. I recently found out that my vehicle comes with self levelling suspension, so how could it have that but not 7-pin wiring..!?? Its all factory installed so my warranty should prevail!

I find it somewhat annoying that the tow hitch bumper cover does not match the finish of the adjacent bumper, its more of a flat black plastic. I asked about this too and they said it only comes in that finish. PS: this forum helped me so much when I was initially researching the Telly and provided more info that the dealers. Awesome!

 

[Raxial]

If you have a 2021 the the 7-pin harness should be prewired to the cab and there should be a 2nd part to the kit disconnected and probably sitting in the glove box to use after you purchase, wire up and mount a wired brake controller in your cab. If you don’t want to mount anything in the cab there are about three wireless options that connect at the hitch, the least expensive and most popular being a Curt Echo Wireless.

I purchased a 2021 SX with the tow package, and like you said I have a trailer brake wiring harness that just came sitting in the glove box. The dealership I got it from doesn't sell many Tellurides, so they don't know what is "supposed" to be done with it by default.

Maybe others can comment, but is this something that the dealer is expected to install upon arrival at the dealership? This wasn't a custom order, so we never talked about it before we purchased. I didn't realize it was even there until we drove off the lot. The instructions clearly state it's a "dealer technician"-level difficulty, and I'm not inclined to start trying to take panels off a car I just bought.

I'm just not sure if this is something they forgot to do, or if it's not normally something that gets done unless asked (which would seem very strange).

 

[2020Telly]

I purchased a 2021 SX with the tow package, and like you said I have a trailer brake wiring harness that just came sitting in the glove box. The dealership I got it from doesn't sell many Tellurides, so they don't know what is "supposed" to be done with it by default.

Maybe others can comment, but is this something that the dealer is expected to install upon arrival at the dealership? This wasn't a custom order, so we never talked about it before we purchased. I didn't realize it was even there until we drove off the lot. The instructions clearly state it's a "dealer technician"-level difficulty, and I'm not inclined to start trying to take panels off a car I just bought.

I'm just not sure if this is something they forgot to do, or if it's not normally something that gets done unless asked (which would seem very strange).

This is not installed by a Kia dealership. The owner installs it (or pays someone to install it) when they decide what Electronic Brake Controller to use. The Tow Option and Tow Package do not come with a brake controller. Only the wiring to connect one to the vehicle's wiring.

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[Raxial]

Ah, thanks for the clarification!

In our mutual confusion, the deal has offered to install the wiring for free (which seems like a win). However, I don’t have a brake controller or any need for one in the immediate future. But, it seems silly to turn down free work if it’s being offered.

Is there any downside to getting the wiring harness installed without having a controller in mind? Would it just be awkward dangling under the steering wheel without being attached to anything?

 

[2020Telly]

Ah, thanks for the clarification!

In our mutual confusion, the deal has offered to install the wiring for free (which seems like a win). However, I don’t have a brake controller or any need for one in the immediate future. But, it seems silly to turn down free work if it’s being offered.

Is there any downside to getting the wiring harness installed without having a controller in mind? Would it just be awkward dangling under the steering wheel without being attached to anything?

It really comes down to the brake controller. There are basically four different installs (maybe more).
1. Something that get mounted below the paneling in the cab (looks like a radar detector, example, Tekonsha P3)
2. Something that get mounted by drilling into some part of the dash paneling in the cab (looks like a knob, example, Curt Spectrum or Redarc Tow Pro Elite)
3. A wireless controller that doesn't mount in the cab but at the hitch (example, Curt Echo)
4. A brake controller installed on the trailer (example, Autowbrake)

In the case of #3 or #4, it's more expensive but it's portable and doesn't use the wire in the cab.

If you are towing with a 4-pin flat trailer or a 5-pin you will need to get an adapter that goes into the 7-pin round. But the 4-pin and 5-pin trailer connections don't use electronic brake controllers.

Honestly, if you don't have a need to tow with an electronic brake controller, then don't bother having the dealer install one even if they do it for free. You have that wire if you need it and it's really as easy as connecting a few wires and tucking the connection somewhere in the dash. But until you pick a brake controller you won't know where to install it. This is a great post that gives you a summary of what to use in the most common scenarios: Telluride 5,000lbs Has Additional Towing Requirments

 

[Raxial]

It really comes down to the brake controller. There are basically four different installs (maybe more).
1. Something that get mounted below the paneling in the cab (looks like a radar detector, example, Tekonsha P3)
2. Something that get mounted by drilling into some part of the dash paneling in the cab (looks like a knob, example, Curt Spectrum or Redarc Tow Pro Elite)
3. A wireless controller that doesn't mount in the cab but at the hitch (example, Curt Echo)
4. A brake controller installed on the trailer (example, Autowbrake)

In the case of #3 or #4, it's more expensive but it's portable and doesn't use the wire in the cab.

If you are towing with a 4-pin flat trailer or a 5-pin you will need to get an adapter that goes into the 7-pin round. But the 4-pin and 5-pin trailer connections don't use electronic brake controllers.

Honestly, if you don't have a need to tow with an electronic brake controller, then don't bother having the dealer install one even if they do it for free. You have that wire if you need it and it's really as easy as connecting a few wires and tucking the connection somewhere in the dash. But until you pick a brake controller you won't know where to install it. This is a great post that gives you a summary of what to use in the most common scenarios: Telluride 5,000lbs Has Additional Towing Requirments

Wow, thank you for the detailed and helpful response! I was super confused here and this really helped clarify things.

Very much appreciated!