Relocating the brake controller

[Roger and Belinda]

The auto electrician who installed the electric brake controller located the dial knob on the sidewall of the drivers seat well.

He claimed this was the best accessible location.

Regardless this is a bad location as its hidden and the knob needs to be visible to both driver and front passenger. Accordingly, am endeavoring to locate it to a more visible central location, for which have targeted near the gear shifter. as per the modified pic Two things on this...

First, welcome alternate location recommendations.

Second, cannot work out how to remove the fascia panels for both the current location in the driver's seat well and also the fascia that seems to surround the gear shifter.

Any cues or tips would be appreciated.

[Jeeper6]

The last Jeep had the brake control fitted to the lower panel in front of the left knee under the steering column.
The current Jeep is where the Leccy fitted this one as well...it is accessible and visible to a passenger.

[LeCheese]

Can't say I've ever seen one installed on the tunnel like that... "best accessible location" may be synonymous with "easiest accessible location" for that sparky.

Have seen plenty installed in the exact spot you describe, so someone should have some advice hopefully. I believe, but don't quote me, that the panel below that spot that runs into the footwell pops outwards pretty easily, which may give you enough access. The facia around the transmission also pops upwards with a hard tug and side panels removed I believe. The dash fascia is a bit trickier.

Plenty of youtube videos of 'WK2 dash removal' and the like that should be able to assist

[Jeeper6]

Yeah, Junglejuice took the tow bar and the brake controller with wiring from my old 2014 the other day...not a straight forward job at all totally removing the panel below the steering column as there is an air bag there. But to fit a controller would be a whole lot easier than taking one out!

As you write LeCheese... "best accessible location" may be synonymous with "easiest accessible location" for that sparky."

My Sparky didn't take long at all to wire the Hayman Reece brake controller in, surprised me in fact...but then he is a Jeep man so does know his way around them.

[LeCheese]

Originally Posted by Jeeper6

Yeah, Junglejuice took the tow bar and the brake controller with wiring from my old 2014 the other day...not a straight forward job at all totally removing the panel below the steering column as there is an air bag there. But to fit a controller would be a whole lot easier than taking one out!

As you write LeCheese... "best accessible location" may be synonymous with "easiest accessible location" for that sparky."

My Sparky didn't take long at all to wire the Hayman Reece brake controller in, surprised me in fact...but then he is a Jeep man so does know his way around them.

Are you able to share your sparky mate? I'm looking at getting a Redarc controller fitted in the next 6mo but am always hesitant handing the keys over to non-Jeep people...

[FARWEST]

Just took a pic of my REDARC Tow Pro Elite brake controller...seems that where Jeeper6 has had a few installed is a popular location...Im 6'+(185cm+) and have no problems with its location and havent inadvertently bumped, knocked it while getting in n out and it has never been an uncomfortable location whilst travelling...been in for around 24mths, or 30k in travel.

[drover]

Put the seat back as far as it will go, grab the side panel of the centre console and wriggle and pull gently and it will come off.... you should be able to get at the rest without pulling anything else off, been awhile since I dug around there ... I don't like it there myself as its not that easy to instantly get to while hanging on to the wheel, trust me when I say, any lower than left knee is not good for keeping things under control, mine is by the left knee on dash and when it hit the fan, left hand down whacking on the van brakes without looking while swinging the wheel to play dodgem's, if you have to look its too late....... same in trucks.... driver should only control it as you use it in tandem with foot brake and accelerator, one on, one off,foot to floor and all together sort of thing... well thats when all hell breaks loose anyway.