I have a 96 F-150 that has the factory tow package and has the 4 flat connector. I need the 7 pin and want to use the trailer brakes. I can do the quick plug in the cab for the controller, but on the rear end I couldn't find a plug and play connector. I am up to wiring it myself if I can figure out the color coding of the wires at the hitch. Any advice on wiring it up would be greatly appreciated.

 

Check out the READ FIRST posts at the top of this Forum.... or the post directly below this one titled Trailer Ground Issue

 

I have looked through both of those and I have also looked through a lot of stuff on etrailer and I couldn't find anything that helped me with the 96'. It all helped to get a better understanding of the basics of it. Is the only way to do it to just go out with a circuit tester and see which wire does what?

 

If you do truly have the "factory tow package" with the relays and such under the hood, not just a trans cooler, this may help you. Other wise it's poke and prod time to check the circuits. If you do have the relay box and such, then someone may have stupidly removed the factory 7pin. The connector (c417) for it would be up by the crossmember behind the spare tire and or fuel tank. If its not equipped with the main harness, you may have to run wires for the high load items, 12V+ and Brake load wire for example. The factory trailer brake connection (c210) if equipped would be under the lower center of the dash, grey 6pin IIRC.

 

I want to thank you so much. While looking under the rear end for the connector you mentioned I found a connector that had the other three wires needed for the seven pin tucked up out of the way. I also found a blown fuse that caused the current four flat to not function. With my current four flat working and having found the other wires I need I am going to use one of the kits that you just plug in the four flat and then wire in the other wires unless you guys recommend not doing that.

 

No problem. I prefer the solder and heatshrink route myself. Especially load items like ground, 12v+ and brake. I bought a length of cable and a socket from my local campground/rv store and wired it in completly in one unit. I use a 7-4 adapter when I need to tow something that small. That dinky ground currently in the 4 wire will not be big enough to support brakes.

 

Okay, I'll see what the owner(Technically) wants to do and see if I can get him to do the full wire in.