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A few months ago I picked up a '07 4.2 Premium with the tow package and air suspension for use as the family truckster and tow vehicle (already pulled utility and dump trailers with it). I'm adding a Hopkins nSight brake controller for use with my Haulmark, it seems that most installed the Tekonsha P3 but I liked the flexibility for install of the Hopkins. I'll post up when I get it installed.
First tow of the Haulmark with the Q7 will be to get the new tires put on the trailer. Hopefully it goes well, the tires are shot, but it will be empty.
It came a day early along with the new trailer tires. I'll start looking at the install later tonight. Hopefully get it installed Thursday or Friday evening, trailer tires put on Thursday...
Should have ordered the terminal connector and wiring pigtails yesterday. Fortunately ECS is only about 100mi away, so UPS should get them here Friday. If not, I'll be pulling my trailer with only the Q7's brakes. Fortunately, it won't be close to it's GVWR of 7000lbs as it will just have office furniture inside and not my Coupe Q or some other car. It's still a big trailer though.
Got the tires put on the trailer today, brake controller wiring parts hopefully here tomorrow, they shipped today from ECS, same State, so should only be 1 day via UPS Ground...Factory tow plus factory air suspension makes for a pretty nice tow setup. We'll see how it does with weight in it, I think after getting the office furniture the next job will be getting the Astro out to my buddy's house for him to replace the engine (spun a bearing I guess, based on the oil color and running pressure).
You can see one of my little buddies in the back seat in her Recaro, giving a big thumbs up, LOL!
Last edited by cuatrokoop; 08-29-2014 at 07:23 PM.
Made the harness for the controller tonight. Took lots longer to find my tools than it did to make it. Note, I did not use the large red crimpers. I just used the small ones, and later dug out my butane torch.
Tri-Star Electronics International #12 in-line crimp splice. These are nice, you don't have to crimp through the (sealant) heat shrink tube, it is separate, everything is color coded. #12 is yellow striped, #16 is red, #20 is blue. Covers wire gauge size from 12 through 28 with those three.
All shrunk. I left the brake switch wire out of the plug and will be using a 1/4" QD quick-tap on the black/red wire.
NOTE, if you must release a crimp terminal from the terminal connector, take two paper clips, partially unfolded, and push them into the release slots from the front of the connector. The lock tabs on the crimp terminal will need gently pried back proud, so they will once again lock in.
Install was super easy, like I mentioned had to use the brake switch wire directly. I'll have to get a picture of things tomorrow, my wife works tonight and took the Q7 (it is actually her car, I have an A6 for a daily).
I pulled my Haulmark today to run up to my dad's office, round trip was around 100mi. Trailer brakes didn't get much usage on the way up, but on the way down with all of the furniture and paperwork from his office in the trailer, it did show upwards of 40 on the display (I think the max is 100). Controller is easy to set up, three buttons.
On a towing related note, it was quite windy on the way back, 15+ and gusty. There was some "tail wagging the dog", but nothing terrible. Fuel mileage was, well, lets just say not good. I wouldn't want to make a habit of pulling the trailer with the Q7, a diesel truck would be a much better option just due to the size of the trailer. It's a giant brick, the box portion is 20.5ft long just under 8.5' wide and tall enough to swallow an Astro inside. The fenders probably make it just at or over 102" wide, and the tongue adds another 3'+ to the OAL. But, the air suspension is fabulous, it was so nice even with the head/side winds.
08-24-2014, 04:22 AM
Hopkins nSight
