trailer lights harness help
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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trailer lights harness help
I just got a new RV and having a problem hooking up the trailers light wiring harness. The trailer has a 6 plug round connector (female) and the Expy has the 4 wire flat connector (female). I have found a flat to round converter but the problem is that on the flat side is also female! and I cant seem to find anything else.
Folks are telling me I need to re-wire the Expy for the 6-plug round connector but I cant believe they dont make a simple converter out there. Does anyone have an idea before I go start cutting expy cables???
Folks are telling me I need to re-wire the Expy for the 6-plug round connector but I cant believe they dont make a simple converter out there. Does anyone have an idea before I go start cutting expy cables???
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,166
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From: Chino, California
#1. Are you sure it's a 6 pole plug and not a 7?
#2. An RV needs more than 4 wires, so you will indeed need to do some wiring. (Unless you have a towing package and it may be hidedn up in the bumper or something like that.)
#3. Your RV dealer should have done all this for you.
#2. An RV needs more than 4 wires, so you will indeed need to do some wiring. (Unless you have a towing package and it may be hidedn up in the bumper or something like that.)
#3. Your RV dealer should have done all this for you.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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Originally Posted by pops_91710
#1. Are you sure it's a 6 pole plug and not a 7?
#2. An RV needs more than 4 wires, so you will indeed need to do some wiring. (Unless you have a towing package and it may be hidedn up in the bumper or something like that.)
#3. Your RV dealer should have done all this for you.
#2. An RV needs more than 4 wires, so you will indeed need to do some wiring. (Unless you have a towing package and it may be hidedn up in the bumper or something like that.)
#3. Your RV dealer should have done all this for you.
Yes it is a 6-plug on the RV (round female) and I was recently told the RV has electronic brakes, I bought it used so no dealer to help.
I think I am just going to take it somewhere get re-wired.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
the plug on the trailer should be the male connector, as it is inserted into the plug on the tow vehicle which is the female connector with the dust cover. It is possible to have a 6 plug, if it has been changed along the wqay. The factory plug should have been a 7. The onlty way to convert from a 4 to a 6 in your application is to make your own, but all it would do is give you lights, no brakes. That is why they don't manufacture one, liability. To get the brakes working you will need a trailer brake controller and a wire job. If your Expy has the harness built in, it will be easy, if not, well, you will have to run at least one wire for the brakes, and if you want to use the 12 volt lights, you will need a second for the full time power.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
It would be recommended, as your truck now has to stop 4000 more pounds, so the truck is practically doing the brake work for 2 times it's norm. Think of it this way, if some idiot hammers the brakes, would you want the trailer weight to continue pushing you, or have the brakes of the trailer take care of that, and have the vehicle brakes take care of itself? It's all about safety. Can you get by, yes, but if they are available, I surely would want to use them. Also it will extend the life of your truck brakes if you do it much. Controllers don't cost that much, a good one can be had for $60 or so. May even find them for less, I may have seen new ones for $40, not sure.
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CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,209
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Do you want to have to tell your insurance company "the RV is only 4k lbs and I dont plan to tow uphills" if you have/cause an accident and trailer brakes would've prevented it? I sure wouldn't. Get the brakes working, if for no other reason than the safety of others you'll be sharing the road with.......JMO.
Steve
Steve
Last edited by Steina; May 2, 2005 at 07:53 PM.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,166
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From: Chino, California
Originally Posted by fellro86
the plug on the trailer should be the male connector, as it is inserted into the plug on the tow vehicle which is the female connector with the dust cover. It is possible to have a 6 plug, if it has been changed along the wqay. The factory plug should have been a 7. The onlty way to convert from a 4 to a 6 in your application is to make your own, but all it would do is give you lights, no brakes. That is why they don't manufacture one, liability. To get the brakes working you will need a trailer brake controller and a wire job. If your Expy has the harness built in, it will be easy, if not, well, you will have to run at least one wire for the brakes, and if you want to use the 12 volt lights, you will need a second for the full time power.
Because they are socketed does not define them as female. I hope that clears things up. I don't mean to nit-pick, but for some who are new at this it helps to prevent the confusion.