Towing package trailer wiring question
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From: Brockport USA
Towing package trailer wiring question
I just bought a 1996 F150 with the Trailer towing package. There are 2 round plugs in the back for hooking up a trailer. One plug has 4 male pins, the other has 3 male pins. I assume the 4 pin is for lights, the 3 pin for electric brakes. My question is...is there an adaptor to hook these plugs up to a 4 pin flat connector (thats what is on my trailer) for the lights? If not, where can I get the correct female plugs that will fit the one's on the truck? Also, my 1967 trailer has electric brakes that work with mercurey switches mounted on the trailer tongue. They do require 1 hot wire and a ground. They have a flat 2 wire connector. Will I need to put in a brake controller in the cab to get power to the trailer brakes? Any help is greatly appreciated!
CO River Rat
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City AZ
Paul -
If those mercury switches sense trailer deceleration and send 12v to the brakes, then you don't need an in-cab brake controller. Sounds like trailer braking would be "full on" with no modulation when the TV slows down, so you might want to seriously consider replacing the switches with a controller. Also, if the trailer has no breakaway system, that should be added for safety.
Steve
If those mercury switches sense trailer deceleration and send 12v to the brakes, then you don't need an in-cab brake controller. Sounds like trailer braking would be "full on" with no modulation when the TV slows down, so you might want to seriously consider replacing the switches with a controller. Also, if the trailer has no breakaway system, that should be added for safety.
Steve
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
Originally Posted by Wrecker
I just bought a 1996 F150 with the Trailer towing package. There are 2 round plugs in the back for hooking up a trailer. One plug has 4 male pins, the other has 3 male pins. I assume the 4 pin is for lights, the 3 pin for electric brakes. My question is...is there an adaptor to hook these plugs up to a 4 pin flat connector (thats what is on my trailer) for the lights? If not, where can I get the correct female plugs that will fit the one's on the truck? Also, my 1967 trailer has electric brakes that work with mercurey switches mounted on the trailer tongue. They do require 1 hot wire and a ground. They have a flat 2 wire connector. Will I need to put in a brake controller in the cab to get power to the trailer brakes? Any help is greatly appreciated!
You can get a pig tail from a FORD dealer that will plug into those two plugs and has the flat and the large round trailer plugs with it.
Here are three diagrams of your trailer wiring.
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...96Trailer1.gif
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...96Trailer2.gif
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...96Trailer3.gif
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glovemeister
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