Can't find 4 wire flat tow plug
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Can't find 4 wire flat tow plug
I'm in a bit of a Jam. I am supposed to pick up a new boat this weekend and I need to get the truck ready to tow for the first time. I came across a package in my glove box that turns out to be a wiring harness from under the dash to the electric break control. While reading the instructions I see that the truck should have come with a 4 wire connector, which is all I really need since the new trailer doesn't have breaks anyway. When I look under the truck behind the rear bumper there is a group of 7 wires that are lose (From what I understand this is the other end of the electric brake setup) but no sign of a 4 wire conector. The 7 wires go into a connector which is connected to the run to the front of the truck. Is there another connector that I should have instead that is a pig tail with the 4 wires coming off it to the 4 wire connector and then the 7 going to the brake connection? Or am I just completly lost. Lastly....to get me through the weekend could I wire a 4 wire connector to the corresponding wires and be set for lights?
Thanks for your help,
Brian
Thanks for your help,
Brian
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Phenix City, AL
Just get a 4 wire plug and splice them to the existing wires and you'll be okay. The other wires should be a positive (+), a negative (-), and one for the electric brakes.
Oh yeah, welcome to the forum. Look forward to seeing you around.
Oh yeah, welcome to the forum. Look forward to seeing you around.
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From: NorCal
Those seven wires should go to a 7-way recepticle thats mounted under your bumper, next to the 2" receiver. The 4-way flat recepticle is mounted next to the 7-way and splices into the wires that go the 7-way. It's possible someone removed the connectors, i can't see why though.
You could use a test light and find the three wires (four if you count ground) you need to make a new connector. All you need is Parking, Ground, Left Stop, and Right Stop. You won't need the leads for the brakes, hot or reverse.
You could use a test light and find the three wires (four if you count ground) you need to make a new connector. All you need is Parking, Ground, Left Stop, and Right Stop. You won't need the leads for the brakes, hot or reverse.
Last edited by cgl; Aug 9, 2005 at 01:24 PM.
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From: Phenix City, AL
I didn't ask if he had the tow package. I just kinda assumed that because his connectors weren't there that he didn't have it. I thought he'd be towing on the bumper. Shoulda asked. So are ya?
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From: Phenix City, AL
Ohhhhh, now I just re-read his post. Do you have the 7 wire recepticle at least? I'm not talking about the harness up under the bed, the one on the receiver. If you do, just go over to u-haul, or autozone, or whatever and get a 7wire to 4 wire adapter. That will give you the same thing. Then when you get a chance go back to the deal and have them fix it. You should have both plugs. Ya had me a little confused at first.
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I'm guessing your truck is an early one, 1999ish.
My 1999, even with the towing package, came with no connectors at the rear bumper, only the pigtail in the glovebox to hook up a brake controller inside the cab. Behind the rear bumper there were seven wires taped to the rear harness that the owner had to undo and attach the trailer hookup of his choice.
What he needs is the color codes for the four wires out of the seven for the four wire hookup. That would be brake lights, left signal, right signal, and running lights.
My 1999, even with the towing package, came with no connectors at the rear bumper, only the pigtail in the glovebox to hook up a brake controller inside the cab. Behind the rear bumper there were seven wires taped to the rear harness that the owner had to undo and attach the trailer hookup of his choice.
What he needs is the color codes for the four wires out of the seven for the four wire hookup. That would be brake lights, left signal, right signal, and running lights.
Last edited by dmp437; Aug 9, 2005 at 01:34 PM.
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The truck has the wiring for the tow package but there is no hitch. I'm not sure if one was ever on the truck or why it would have been removed given how cheap they are. But the connector has been changed so it's hard to say. Either way I have ordered a hitch and should be recieving it in the next couple of days.
I did talk to the local dealer and the harness that I think should be there does exisit but it's $127 (it has the 4 and the 7 wire connectors). Since what I though to be true is I'm just going to splice the 4 wires onto what is there for now and setup the brake connector later if I need it.
I did talk to the local dealer and the harness that I think should be there does exisit but it's $127 (it has the 4 and the 7 wire connectors). Since what I though to be true is I'm just going to splice the 4 wires onto what is there for now and setup the brake connector later if I need it.
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The tow package and the trailer hitch are ordered as seperate options, so you can have one without the other.
Depending on where you're at I have two SuperDuty hitches in the barn you can have, one from my '99 and the other from my '03. I need/use a Class 5 hitch (Reese Titan, 2 1/2" receiver) so I always end up with an extra.
Depending on where you're at I have two SuperDuty hitches in the barn you can have, one from my '99 and the other from my '03. I need/use a Class 5 hitch (Reese Titan, 2 1/2" receiver) so I always end up with an extra.
Last edited by dmp437; Aug 9, 2005 at 01:39 PM.
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It is a 99. Dated 9/98.
Thank you again for the help. I feel better now that I know what I am looking at.
I'm outside Boston, MA. Hitch is on it's way but thanks for the offer.
Thank you again for the help. I feel better now that I know what I am looking at.
I'm outside Boston, MA. Hitch is on it's way but thanks for the offer.
Last edited by blp848; Aug 9, 2005 at 01:41 PM.
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by blp848
I'm in a bit of a Jam. I am supposed to pick up a new boat this weekend and I need to get the truck ready to tow for the first time. I came across a package in my glove box that turns out to be a wiring harness from under the dash to the electric break control. While reading the instructions I see that the truck should have come with a 4 wire connector, which is all I really need since the new trailer doesn't have breaks anyway. When I look under the truck behind the rear bumper there is a group of 7 wires that are lose (From what I understand this is the other end of the electric brake setup) but no sign of a 4 wire conector. The 7 wires go into a connector which is connected to the run to the front of the truck. Is there another connector that I should have instead that is a pig tail with the 4 wires coming off it to the 4 wire connector and then the 7 going to the brake connection? Or am I just completly lost. Lastly....to get me through the weekend could I wire a 4 wire connector to the corresponding wires and be set for lights?
Thanks for your help,
Brian
Thanks for your help,
Brian
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