Trailre Plug
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 40
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Trailre Plug
Greetings,
I am wanting to use a trailer with my truck but the lights on the trailer don't work right.
Under the truck there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one. Coming out of the big plug (7 way I think it is called) mounted to the bumper there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one.
The gray plug has male connectors (four wires) on it so i test it with a test light. One is for the right turn signal. One is for the left turn signal. One is for the running lights. And I am assuming the 4th one is for the brakes, I didn't have anyone to press on the brake pedal while I was under the truck.
The black plug has more wires and female connectors in it so I didn't test it.
When I plug the trailer into the big plug (7 way) on the truck (with only the gray plug plugged in) the running lights seem to work although they are dim. But when I turn the turn signals on all of the lights blink faintly. When I press on the brake pedal the lights go out.
The trailer works on other vehicles so I was wondering if someone could tell me what might it be with my truck.
Sorry for the long post and I hope it made since enough to help me with my problem.
Thanks,
Gary
EDIT: Mine is wired like the 7 way, RV Blade SAE J2863 configuration
I am wanting to use a trailer with my truck but the lights on the trailer don't work right.
Under the truck there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one. Coming out of the big plug (7 way I think it is called) mounted to the bumper there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one.
The gray plug has male connectors (four wires) on it so i test it with a test light. One is for the right turn signal. One is for the left turn signal. One is for the running lights. And I am assuming the 4th one is for the brakes, I didn't have anyone to press on the brake pedal while I was under the truck.
The black plug has more wires and female connectors in it so I didn't test it.
When I plug the trailer into the big plug (7 way) on the truck (with only the gray plug plugged in) the running lights seem to work although they are dim. But when I turn the turn signals on all of the lights blink faintly. When I press on the brake pedal the lights go out.
The trailer works on other vehicles so I was wondering if someone could tell me what might it be with my truck.
Sorry for the long post and I hope it made since enough to help me with my problem.
Thanks,
Gary
EDIT: Mine is wired like the 7 way, RV Blade SAE J2863 configuration
Elder User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 533
Likes: 5
Greetings,
I am wanting to use a trailer with my truck but the lights on the trailer don't work right.
Under the truck there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one. Coming out of the big plug (7 way I think it is called) mounted to the bumper there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one.
The gray plug has male connectors (four wires) on it so i test it with a test light. One is for the right turn signal. One is for the left turn signal. One is for the running lights. And I am assuming the 4th one is for the brakes, I didn't have anyone to press on the brake pedal while I was under the truck.
The black plug has more wires and female connectors in it so I didn't test it.
When I plug the trailer into the big plug (7 way) on the truck (with only the gray plug plugged in) the running lights seem to work although they are dim. But when I turn the turn signals on all of the lights blink faintly. When I press on the brake pedal the lights go out.
The trailer works on other vehicles so I was wondering if someone could tell me what might it be with my truck.
Sorry for the long post and I hope it made since enough to help me with my problem.
Thanks,
Gary
EDIT: Mine is wired like the 7 way, RV Blade SAE J2863 configuration
I am wanting to use a trailer with my truck but the lights on the trailer don't work right.
Under the truck there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one. Coming out of the big plug (7 way I think it is called) mounted to the bumper there are two plugs, a black one and a gray one.
The gray plug has male connectors (four wires) on it so i test it with a test light. One is for the right turn signal. One is for the left turn signal. One is for the running lights. And I am assuming the 4th one is for the brakes, I didn't have anyone to press on the brake pedal while I was under the truck.
The black plug has more wires and female connectors in it so I didn't test it.
When I plug the trailer into the big plug (7 way) on the truck (with only the gray plug plugged in) the running lights seem to work although they are dim. But when I turn the turn signals on all of the lights blink faintly. When I press on the brake pedal the lights go out.
The trailer works on other vehicles so I was wondering if someone could tell me what might it be with my truck.
Sorry for the long post and I hope it made since enough to help me with my problem.
Thanks,
Gary
EDIT: Mine is wired like the 7 way, RV Blade SAE J2863 configuration
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 40
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Ok thanks for the reply.
Gary
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
Likes: 72
From: Roseville, MN
Every time I've had weird electrical issues it's been due to a bad ground. Every time. Lights going on but dim, and the wrong lights flashing are weird electrical issues. To get it to work properly you're going to need to make sure both the truck and trailer have good ground connections through the plug (usually a white wire).
Don't rely on it grounding through the hitch! That MIGHT work well when you're testing it, but it won't be reliable over time. And don't necessarily assume that the trailer is all good. It could be that the trailer is where the ground problem is and it works on other trucks because it's (luckily) grounding through the hitch on them.
The jumper cable between frames can be a diagnostic tool, but trailer lights ought to work with the lights plugged in even if the trailer isn't actually touching the truck.
Don't rely on it grounding through the hitch! That MIGHT work well when you're testing it, but it won't be reliable over time. And don't necessarily assume that the trailer is all good. It could be that the trailer is where the ground problem is and it works on other trucks because it's (luckily) grounding through the hitch on them.
The jumper cable between frames can be a diagnostic tool, but trailer lights ought to work with the lights plugged in even if the trailer isn't actually touching the truck.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Every time I've had weird electrical issues it's been due to a bad ground. Every time. Lights going on but dim, and the wrong lights flashing are weird electrical issues. To get it to work properly you're going to need to make sure both the truck and trailer have good ground connections through the plug (usually a white wire).
Don't rely on it grounding through the hitch! That MIGHT work well when you're testing it, but it won't be reliable over time. And don't necessarily assume that the trailer is all good. It could be that the trailer is where the ground problem is and it works on other trucks because it's (luckily) grounding through the hitch on them.
The jumper cable between frames can be a diagnostic tool, but trailer lights ought to work with the lights plugged in even if the trailer isn't actually touching the truck.
Don't rely on it grounding through the hitch! That MIGHT work well when you're testing it, but it won't be reliable over time. And don't necessarily assume that the trailer is all good. It could be that the trailer is where the ground problem is and it works on other trucks because it's (luckily) grounding through the hitch on them.
The jumper cable between frames can be a diagnostic tool, but trailer lights ought to work with the lights plugged in even if the trailer isn't actually touching the truck.
Gary
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 23,667
Likes: 301
From: Easton,Ks
The truck plug is grounded through a white wire to the frame of the truck.
Your frame may not be grounded if someone has replaced the NEG battery cable going to the engine block.
When the truck was new there was a ground lug half way to the engine block bolted to the frame for the trailer lights and brakes. If you do not have this lug you need to run a large wire from the NEG battery post to the frame (not the body). Your 1995 truck does not use the frame for a ground and there is a wire going to all items that need a ground.
You also have a body ground that your truck uses for five ground points. There is also a ground wire running from the NEG post of the battery to the body ground point but this does not ground the frame of the truck.
Your frame may not be grounded if someone has replaced the NEG battery cable going to the engine block.
When the truck was new there was a ground lug half way to the engine block bolted to the frame for the trailer lights and brakes. If you do not have this lug you need to run a large wire from the NEG battery post to the frame (not the body). Your 1995 truck does not use the frame for a ground and there is a wire going to all items that need a ground.
You also have a body ground that your truck uses for five ground points. There is also a ground wire running from the NEG post of the battery to the body ground point but this does not ground the frame of the truck.
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Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2015
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The truck plug is grounded through a white wire to the frame of the truck.
Your frame may not be grounded if someone has replaced the NEG battery cable going to the engine block.
When the truck was new there was a ground lug half way to the engine block bolted to the frame for the trailer lights and brakes. If you do not have this lug you need to run a large wire from the NEG battery post to the frame (not the body). Your 1995 truck does not use the frame for a ground and there is a wire going to all items that need a ground.
You also have a body ground that your truck uses for five ground points. There is also a ground wire running from the NEG post of the battery to the body ground point but this does not ground the frame of the truck.
Your frame may not be grounded if someone has replaced the NEG battery cable going to the engine block.
When the truck was new there was a ground lug half way to the engine block bolted to the frame for the trailer lights and brakes. If you do not have this lug you need to run a large wire from the NEG battery post to the frame (not the body). Your 1995 truck does not use the frame for a ground and there is a wire going to all items that need a ground.
You also have a body ground that your truck uses for five ground points. There is also a ground wire running from the NEG post of the battery to the body ground point but this does not ground the frame of the truck.
Thank you for the info. I will check to see if the white wire is still there and clean them off if they are.
Gary
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