OK, I just installed a Class 3 hitch on my Ranger and bought a used ('93) utility trailer. I pulled it home fine w/ no lights because the trailer plugs were different ?????????? (both flat 4-pole)... I didn't buy my Ranger new (01 4-door 4x4) but it appears to have a factory plug (not sure yet). Anyway, isn't there only ONE kind of flat 4-pole trailer plug? The Ranger's hangs out by the bumper and has a rubber hinged cover over it. The trailer's looks like every other 4-pole I've seen. BUT it seems the "housings" of the plugs are the same size and they won't connect... ??? !!! ??? I can buy a plug kit for $5 but I hate splicing if I don't have too. Any idea ?????

 

Check for buildup of who knows what in the female recepticals on both plugs, make sure that they are clean, and apply some dielectric grease. Being a universal plug something is clogged somewhere.

 

Well, I just got home from work and checked again. The rubber housings are the same size. They will not plug in together. The pin arrangement is right (1 male on the truck, 3 males on the trailer). Let me ask this, which is the male and which is the female? I mean the casings of the plugs are the same size and one will not slide into the other, strange ..........

 

Somebody used the wrong end on one cable or the other. Should look like this:

 

Myself, I get rid of 4 pin connectors. I run 7 pin connectors on all my rigs and use a 7-4 pin adapter. That way I can handle any trailer and can plug into anything. 4 pin connectors are ok if all you ever pull is lite duty trailers, but anything that has an on board 12 volt battery, or has trailer brakes (even if just emergency trailer brakes), etc. requires more than the 4 pins. Most camper trailers, as well as medium and heavy duty trailers have 12 power systems and trailer brakes.

 

some replacement pairs come with the rubber casing extending out as a shroud over the pins. it seems like you have the truck AND trailer like this. When the trailer was wired, or more likely rewired, the previous owner probably picked up what was available, and it was probably a set that had both the vehicle and trailer side, designed to be used together. of course, you're only seeing the trailer right now, and through pure coincidence, your truck has the opposite (or the same, depending how you wanna look at it).

Simple fix? I have just taken a brand new single edge (standard) razor blade and trim the "shroud" off the trailer side. Then you will need no splicing.

 

Well, it's strange. Here's some pics (if they work). They're kind of blurry and it's storming now and I'd take some more but I don't want to get struck by lightning . ok trying to link from photobucket, here goes...........



two are the Ranger plug, one is the trailer, the "male and female" layouts are correct, but my Ranger plug just seems wrong. I will have to splice in a new one but just wondered if Ford made a special plug or something. I've ever only seen one type of 4-pin myself. I don't know if those pics are clear enough for you to see what I'm talking about or not, but there is no way they will mate up.

 

Wow, Cougar. You replied while I was posting. That's exactly what is going on. I will use your idea to keep from splicing. I thought I was losing it because the pin layout is right but the "shrouds" keep them from mating up. Thank alot man.

 

yeah cut the one on the trailer cuase your truck is right the trailer isn't

 

Is it your trailer? I would alter the truck side either way. If a 4 pin plug has a water shroud, it should be on the trailer side. You want he shroud on the trailer side, because it is the trailer side that gets more abuse, and the shroud helps protect the terminals. If the shroud is on the truck side, it protects the side that is not normally subjected to any abuse. The trailer ends get dragged on the ground, stepped on, rained on, and filled with mud. The truck side is located such that it never gets on the ground, never gets stepped on, is protected from rain, and it shielded from most other abuses by virtue of its location and design.

If the trailer is not ours, you should definitely not alter it.

As I mentioned, I never have any problems using whatever trailer I want because I use a 7 pin large type plug and have a variety of adapters. The trailer I use on a regular basis is a 4 pin, and I just leave the adapter on it. The shroud on the trailer side fits over the connection on the adapter and keeps water out of the connection. Since all the vehicle we use have the 7 pin hookup, the trailer can be used with any of them without any alterations.

 

Thanks for all the replies. They helped me figure get some ideas on what to do. For now I will keep it a 4-pin. I just bought a small trailer to haul my quad around in. My truck has the styleside bed on it and my quad won't fit in it. My older truck is an 88 ext cab 4x4 2.9 litre and it fits perfect in it's bed, but I may sell it to a friend who needs a vehicle. Thanks again for the help.

 

Alchmycist has it right, if need be trim the trailer side which has 3 male plugs. I came across this one other time, they were plugs from one manfucturer and wouldn't fit any other plug even though they were technically the same, slick trick to make you buy their product.