GOOD trailer wiring??
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,036
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From: Portland, Oregon
GOOD trailer wiring??
Does any one know of any GOOD trailer wiring? what are you guys using? when i worked with uhaul i went that route, all uhaul trailer wiring supplies etc. i am now finding that uhaul stuff is not so good. for some reason their converter boxes like to go out about once a year. i was given a new 40 dollar converter box (part number 13493)with power wire to try on my rig since i kept having problems with diming lights (while running the non powered box, part number 13486) when i would have my running lights on and would apply the brakes or turn signals. i come out tonight to see the plug just glowing away, as if to say hey you got screwed.
any ways long story short, i'm in the market for a new 5 wire to 4 wire converter box, i may re install the home made diode pack the prev. owner had made back when he had a hitch installed on my car almost 15 years ago. so yeah what are you major hauler guys using for trailer wiring? i want something good, that will last a long time, unlike this uhaul crap i have now.
any ways long story short, i'm in the market for a new 5 wire to 4 wire converter box, i may re install the home made diode pack the prev. owner had made back when he had a hitch installed on my car almost 15 years ago. so yeah what are you major hauler guys using for trailer wiring? i want something good, that will last a long time, unlike this uhaul crap i have now.
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 258
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The box I have to change the lighting from the separate amber turn signals to N. American-style isn't that good either. I found that it dropped the voltage whenever the brake lights or turn signals were used (measured it with a voltmeter) considerably. I replaced it with another and same thing, but a slightly less drop. So I can't recommend any one to you.
I was told that if you went behind the rear map pocket and looked for a connector, there'd be one there to tap into for Trailer wiring...mine didn't have that though.
My solution was to put LED Lights on the trailer, so voltage drop or not, it lit just fine.
I was told that if you went behind the rear map pocket and looked for a connector, there'd be one there to tap into for Trailer wiring...mine didn't have that though.
My solution was to put LED Lights on the trailer, so voltage drop or not, it lit just fine.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Portland, Oregon
the thing i used to have (i still have it just not installed) had to have been home made, it was literally a screw board with like 6 screws in it, and has four or five diodes in it that are the size of a bic pen. worked fine, however when i had the turn signal on, then would apply the brake, the brake lights would stop the turn signal from flashing, which is something i do not want when towing, as i don't want to merge into some one because they could not see the blinker on my vehicle and the trailers one was not working.
so here's a better question
what makes the factory set up on vehicles, such as the f series, with tail lights that aren't split up with separate amber and red lights, so much better? do they have super diode packs or something?
so here's a better question
what makes the factory set up on vehicles, such as the f series, with tail lights that aren't split up with separate amber and red lights, so much better? do they have super diode packs or something?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
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Our Dakota has a built in converter, but it also has a 7 pin connector, so the conversion for 4 pin trailers is happening in the 7-4 pin adapter. That seems to work just fine. With a 7 pin connector, you do not need to have a converter box on an Aerostar. The Dakota has one because the brake light and turn signals are the same bulb, while with an Aerostar they are separate. If you use the 7 pin connector, 7 pin trailers allow you to drive the individual bulbs directly, and the converters are built into the adapters.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Portland, Oregon
well too bad uhauls don't use a 7 pin connector... it's funny, i have a seven and four pin combo connector as well as a seperate 4 pin connector. next time my dad and i build a trailer, i'm just going to wire it up for our aeros... lol
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2004
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I've gotta set mine up for a trailer too. I've also read here that there is a factory connector in the interior. What I recall is that it is located behind the driver's side rear panel. If anyone has info about this please illuminate the rest of us about it.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,432
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Thats the way to go. Actually more an more trailers are using the 7 pin. The 4 pin hangs around because it is cheap, but the 7 pin is more versatile, most trailers that have brakes are now using either 6 or 7 pin. A 7 pin connector can be adapted to any type of trailer.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
try to get used semi-trailers connectors. They are much better then offered for small trailers. Drivers use to replace them when one wire is broken, but they are really long and you can make them shorter but use good pice of wire.
