7 pin socket?
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,369
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From: Gainesville, GA
7 pin socket?
Just bought a small travel trailer and need to wire a 7 prong socket, lights, electric brakes and battery charging for the truck. What do I need besides the socket? How to wire. Thanks. We're going to pull it with a '99 Explorer AWD 5.0 Eddie Bauer. This is our first travel trailer as we had a 12' slide-in camper for 30+ years over a '68 F250 CS that I still have
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From: Frederick, MD
etrailer.com should have what you need for wiring and the 7 pin connector.
What about a trailer brake controller? Do you have one? If not they have that too.
Also consult your owners manual and find the fuses in the kick panel and under the hood. Fuses for towing, make sure that those are in there.
All of this stuff will plug into the existing wiring harness.
What about a trailer brake controller? Do you have one? If not they have that too.
Also consult your owners manual and find the fuses in the kick panel and under the hood. Fuses for towing, make sure that those are in there.
All of this stuff will plug into the existing wiring harness.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 7
From: Gainesville, GA
The existing wiring harness has a 4 pin trailer plug under the driver's side tail light. I since found out that the law is if the trailer is under 3000 lbs trailer brakes are not required. The tag on the trailer says it's less than 2000 lbs. As far as I can see there's not any 7 pin wiring.
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Sioux Falls Area
For that truck , your best bet is a 4 pin to 7 pin adapter and a little hitch mounted box to put it in..
the extra wiring for the brake controller and trailer charge wire will not be there. Those will have to be added if you need them.
https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/37185.html
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...ite/18156.html
the above are the products I am using on my expedition, I also used them on my 2000 explorer.
the v8 explorer is a good tow rig for moderate sized trailers. Consider adding a trailer brake controller if your trailer has brakes. You will like having them.
the extra wiring for the brake controller and trailer charge wire will not be there. Those will have to be added if you need them.
https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/37185.html
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...ite/18156.html
the above are the products I am using on my expedition, I also used them on my 2000 explorer.
the v8 explorer is a good tow rig for moderate sized trailers. Consider adding a trailer brake controller if your trailer has brakes. You will like having them.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,369
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From: Gainesville, GA
Thanks Mike. The first one looks like the one I'd like if I hadn't already bought the 7 pin socket. I'll solder the lights to the flat 4 wires and run the power wire through a relay. I sure do like the way the combined unit looks though.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 7
From: Gainesville, GA
It's round. I made a bracket for the plug to mount next to the flat four one. The picture on the website looks great but I'm retired on a short fixed income.
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Mountain Pass
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Finally, if some kid chasing a ball darts in front of you and you can't stop in time, do you really want to spend the rest of your life agonizing over whether you could have stopped if only you had trailer brakes?
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From: Sioux Falls Area
Ford's current statement on the newer trucks is that the brakes are designed to work up to the GVWR of the vehicle and anything beyond that requires trailer brakes. I think that is sage advice to follow regardless of what your manual states, as it makes total sense.
you can get a cheap timed controller for less than $30. I bought a tekonsha voyager for $3 at a garage sale.
there really is no good reason not to use them if the trailer is so equipped. At 2,000 lbs it may or may not have them, though.
you can get a cheap timed controller for less than $30. I bought a tekonsha voyager for $3 at a garage sale.
there really is no good reason not to use them if the trailer is so equipped. At 2,000 lbs it may or may not have them, though.
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