I have a 2000 Expedition with a flat, four prong trailer connector. I am considering purchasing a trailer that has a round five or six (seller was not certain when I spoke with him) pin connector, that apparently provides for the trailer's braking system.

What will I need to do to convert to that type of connector? Is there anything that I will be able to do with my four pin connector (which I doubt, of course)? What will be involved in wiring my truck for the type of connector he is describing?

Thank you in advance.

 

you have two choices:

1. make a converter using some adapters from 4pin to 7pin. If you do this its a lot cheaper but you can not use the brakes on the trailer or charge a battery if it has one. You can find the parts to do this at any trailer dealership or U-Haul.

2. I suggest this one: Go to U-Haul and for $150-$170 they will install an electric brake controller and a 7pin plug on the truck. I think it took them 1-1/2 hrs to do it on my truck. This is the best money I have spent on the truck, the stopping power of brakes on trailers make a BIG difference! This price included the controller and the plug.

 

I agree. The trailer brakes make a huge difference, not too mention make it much safer to tow. One suggestion on the brake controller, go with a proportional controller. This has a decelerometer in it that gauges the tow vehicles braking and applies the same to the trailer, makes it a lot more comfortable in stop-n-go towing. Tekonsha controllers are very good.

 

Thank you very much for the information. I contacted my local uhaul and they quoted me $350 for the job. All in all it's probably not worth it. I thought if getting it done was something I could do myself in an hour, I'd do it and get the larger trailer. As it stands I'm just going to go with a smaller trailer and utilize the flat four plug I currently have.

Again, thank you for the input.

 

Brake controllers vary in price....make sure they're not trying to sell/oversell you something you don't really need.

 

Installing a brake controller and running a wire for the 12V charge is not hard to do. You can pick up a 7 pin RV plug and get a "T" connector that taps right into your existing brake light wires that control the parking lamps, L turn, R turn and stop. All you need then is a 12V wire from the battery to the rear bumper, a wire from the brake controller in the cab to the rear bumper, and a 12V + and - into the cab for the controller, you then splice the controller into the "cold" side of the brake light at the pedal, this activates the trailer brakes. Etrailer.com has a good selection of controllers at good prices. You can pick up a proportional controller anywhere from $70 to $130. Matter of fact, Etrailer also has a complete brake controller install kit available. Go here to read more about installing it: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...09/ai_n8768360

 

MY 98 had the tow package but that only included the flat 4 in 1998. First look under the vehicle toward the back on the driverside frame you may already have the brake(Blue) and battery (Red) wires there just not hooked up since you don't have the 7 pin plug. I bought the 7 pin plug adapter from JC WHitney for 30 bucks. If you do have the wires you can then look under the dash near the OBD II connector and you will find a square grey plug. THats where the brake controller plugs in then the final check was to make sure I had all the trailer related fuses in the fuse box in the engine compartment and under the dash and I did. So instead of blowing 200 dollars look and see what you have because it may only cost you $30. I tow a 20' car hauler that weighs 2200 pounds with atleast a 4,000 pound Jeep on it. My trailer has brakes on one axle and I have my brake controller turned down to 4.8-5.2 depending on how hilly the terrain. I also use a Weight Distribution Hitch which is awesome and worth the $300 bucks if you plan on doing any long distance towing.

I really just want to save you money. I was told all the same things here about just taking it to uhaul or a trailer shop. If you don't have all the wires I would pay to have it done as well but if you do have them you just saved a $170 bucks.

 

My 99 already the 7 pin plug at the hitch. It also had the plug under the dash, so the controller was easy. I have had to completely wire other vehicles for controllers though, and its not hard at all.