7pin trailer connector July 28, 2021, 08:07:24 pm So in the progress of getting everything set up to tow a toad. I need to put a 7pin connector on my rig. I believe what's on there now is a five pin. I don't need the electric brake signal. So if I'm correct, I just need to run a power line from the battery back to the bumper, tap into the existing 5 pin wires and connect up a new 7pin connector. If anyone has any gotchas to look out for I'd like to know. Also does anyone have a favorite connector to use? I see a few things out there like https://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/Tekonsha/118242.html that say they are made to connect directly into existing Ford harnesses. Most of them mention the F series trucks though. I don't know if the chassis LD buys would come prewired and have something I can just plug and play into.ThanksSean
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #1 – July 28, 2021, 10:26:53 pm "I just need to run a power line from the battery back to the bumper..."No need to go all the way to the chassis battery. You can pick up power in the wiring bundle way back under the drivers side of the coach. That's what my RV Tech did, it saves some wire and cuts down on losses. It's finding the little bugger that may be difficult!
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #2 – July 28, 2021, 11:21:47 pm Hi Sean; that wiring harness alluded to by Steve, may not be there on a 2001. I ran a wire for the back from the fuse relay box under the hood on a 2001 MB. I put a 40 A self resetting breaker right at the radiator 'wall' bulkhead and ran it to the back bumper. Actually to the compartment at the back of the driver side storage compartment. I used this socket/plug/metal bracket: Hopkins 7 RV Blade Connector Kit - Walmart.com - Walmart.comYou have to buy your own primary wire in various colors. The standard plug mounted in the tire 'bustle' only has 4 wires. RT brake/turn, LT brake/turn, ground and running lights. I ran a light weight wire back to under the dash to illuminate an LED when the 'towed' brake is applied. To check that the brakes are working, and let you know if the breakaway cable has energized the 'towed' brakes when they shouldn't be. RonB
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #3 – July 28, 2021, 11:25:35 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - July 28, 2021, 10:26:53 pm"I just need to run a power line from the battery back to the bumper..."No need to go all the way to the chassis battery. You can pick up power in the wiring bundle way back under the drivers side of the coach. That's what my RV Tech did, it saves some wire and cuts down on losses. It's finding the little bugger that may be difficult! Thank you for sharing this information. The superiority of knowledge from this group is why am addicted to this website. 1 Likes
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #4 – July 29, 2021, 06:43:59 am Sean-Your MB should have two Ford connectors inside the left (driver-side) frame rail, about five feet from the rear bumper. One connector is black and the other brown, although after years of driving both are probably plain old dirty.LD used one of those connectors to feed the coach rear lights and the factory-installed trailer connector. It contains the ground, left-turn/stop, right-turn/stop and parking light signals. LD used the second connector to provide the backup light signal for the coach. In that second connector are two other signals that LD did not use: 12V trailer battery charge and trailer electric brake controller. If you extend the connections in the second connector to the rear bumper you will have all seven "standard" signals. The wires are there in the pigtail attached to the second connector, so it's not that difficult to do, provided you are a contortionist.I use the "blue" trailer electric brake controller wire to mount a brake activate LED on the dash, as "Ron B" did. It's very handy.Make sure you use 10 or 12 AWG wire to extend the charge line wire, and 12 or 14 AWG to extend the trailer electric brake controller wire.Note: It's been discussed many times on this forum, but the pre-2005 LD "sharing" of signals between coach and trailer means that often there is not enough voltage at the trailer connector to light or operate the toad/trailer. There are ways to fix this, some easier than others.For the 7-pin connector I installed the "RV Pro Plug" (link here). It's not the smallest or the easiest to install, but it has some advantages over the more common connector. You can see it mounted to the bumper in this picture.Mark H. 3 Likes
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #5 – July 29, 2021, 12:40:38 pm 2003 and older LDs had undersized tail light wiring and will not provide bright towing lights using incandescent bulbs. One cure is to install a relay to boost the tail light voltage or better, change the LD's and toad's tail lights to LED. This has worked fine on our 2003 LD.I ran 10-gauge wiring from the starting battery to the new 7-pin plug, the wire is fused at both ends and is used along with a RVI toad brake charger, connected to the toad's battery to keep it charged on long trips, without draining the LD's starting battery when the engine is off.RVi Towed Battery Charger Plus, charge line replacement for flat towingRVibrake Towed Battery ChargerAll of my Jeeps use 7-pin plugs. Four wires are used for the normal tail lights. The other three wires are used for the toad battery charger, a 'test' button on the LD's dash for the toad brake, and one wire activated by the toad's brakes that powers a 'brake on' light on the LD's dash, it's good to know if and when the toad brake is activated.Larry
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #6 – July 29, 2021, 01:20:51 pm Hi Mark; You had a 1997 MB, and you used some of the built in wiring for the 7 pin socket. In my 1999 TK the fuse/rely box under the hood didn't populate the relays or fuses for the trailer towing package. I haven't noticed those wires back there, but then I wasn't really looking for them. Did you provide the fuses and relays in the box? I suspect that Ford had reduced what was supplied, before my E350 was manufactured in 1999. I'm asking for a friend with a 1999 F350 diesel dualie, who just bought a trailer. I got the trailer towing brake controller and adaptor for him just a month ago, and I need to install it. I went with Larry's method for me, and a Reese Modulite relay box for the towed Tracker. I ran the wires from my Alt terminal in that fuse box, through a 40A breaker, back to my bumper. RonB
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #7 – July 29, 2021, 04:18:55 pm If you are going with the 7-blade socket for the toad wiring as I have, I bought a 6' Hopkins Towing Solutions 7 RV Blade Molded Trailer Cable, 6 ft. from Tractor Supply and added another 7-blade plug at the opposite end. You should find a way to secure it to the LD bumper as mine was stolen at a rest stop several years ago. It is a good practice to inspect the hitch and wiring after stopping in a public location as on our last trip someone had unplugged the cable from the toad possibly in an attempt to steal it only to find the end at the LD unremovable. I placed a chain Quick-Link over the cable and another connecting it to a solid eyebolt on the LD bumper. I extra tightened the screw down adding red threadlock. I still have the cable.https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/hopkins-towing-solutions-7-rv-blade-molded-trailer-cable-6-ft?cm_vc=-10005https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/national-hardware-3150bc-1-2-quick-link-zinc 1 Likes
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #8 – July 29, 2021, 04:46:21 pm Hi Mike; pretty sad that someone would steal your cable at a rest stop. Do you have a picture of how you implemented the quick link to retain your cable? If you aren't towing do you just leave the cable stowed with the towbar? RonB
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #9 – July 29, 2021, 06:45:00 pm Do you have a picture of how you implemented the quick link to retain your cable? If you aren't towing do you just leave the cable stowed with the towbar? RonBPhotos are attached. Yes, I do keep the tow bar and Roadmaster fabric rock guard attached to the LD full time. I added an additional dummy 7-blade socket to the hitch to stow the toad end of the cable when not in use. (see photo) That keeps it from coming loose and dragging on the ground when not pulling the toad. 2 Likes
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #10 – July 29, 2021, 09:47:19 pm Quote from: RonB - July 29, 2021, 01:20:51 pmHi Mark; You had a 1997 MB, and you used some of the built in wiring for the 7 pin socket. In my 1999 TK the fuse/rely box under the hood didn't populate the relays or fuses for the trailer towing package. I haven't noticed those wires back there, but then I wasn't really looking for them. Did you provide the fuses and relays in the box? ... RonBRon-I don't remember having to populate the Ford fuse box(es) with fuses or relays to get all the signals to the Ford-supplied wiring at the rear of the mid-bath. Seems to me everything was already there.Quote from: Larry W - July 29, 2021, 12:40:38 pm2003 and older LDs had undersized tail light wiring and will not provide bright towing lights using incandescent bulbs. One cure is to install a relay to boost the tail light voltage or better, change the LD's and toad's tail lights to LED. This has worked fine on our 2003 LD. ... Larry Larry-I wish I had just replaced the coach stop/turn bulbs with LED "bulbs." I probably could have avoided the complications and failures of the solid-state "relays" I added to the coach and trailer light circuits. It was a highly-engineered, beautiful installation, and almost totally unnecessary, as LED "bulbs" were readily available. Live and learn!Mark H.
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #12 – July 30, 2021, 02:08:19 pm Quote from: l1v3fr33ord13 - July 29, 2021, 09:47:19 pmI had just replaced the coach stop/turn bulbs with LED "bulbs." I probably could have avoided the complications and failures of the solid-state "relays" I added to the coach and trailer light circuits. It was a highly-engineered, beautiful installation, and almost totally unnecessary, as LED "bulbs" were readily available. Live and learn!You can still convert the bulbs for a faster reaction time and reduced power consumption.Years ago, I went through the same routine, building relay packs or using aftermarket converters that only last a year or two before failing. Providing enough voltage to the toad to keep the lights bright was a challengeWhen LEDs became affordable, the conversion was made and the relays and other devices were removed...good riddance.Larry
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #13 – August 16, 2021, 08:54:28 pm Quote from: l1v3fr33ord13 - July 29, 2021, 06:43:59 amSean-Your MB should have two Ford connectors inside the left (driver-side) frame rail, about five feet from the rear bumper. One connector is black and the other brown, although after years of driving both are probably plain old dirty.LD used one of those connectors to feed the coach rear lights and the factory-installed trailer connector. It contains the ground, left-turn/stop, right-turn/stop and parking light signals. LD used the second connector to provide the backup light signal for the coach. In that second connector are two other signals that LD did not use: 12V trailer battery charge and trailer electric brake controller. If you extend the connections in the second connector to the rear bumper you will have all seven "standard" signals. The wires are there in the pigtail attached to the second connector, so it's not that difficult to do, provided you are a contortionist.I use the "blue" trailer electric brake controller wire to mount a brake activate LED on the dash, as "Ron B" did. It's very handy.Make sure you use 10 or 12 AWG wire to extend the charge line wire, and 12 or 14 AWG to extend the trailer electric brake controller wire.Note: It's been discussed many times on this forum, but the pre-2005 LD "sharing" of signals between coach and trailer means that often there is not enough voltage at the trailer connector to light or operate the toad/trailer. There are ways to fix this, some easier than others.For the 7-pin connector I installed the "RV Pro Plug" (link here). It's not the smallest or the easiest to install, but it has some advantages over the more common connector. You can see it mounted to the bumper in this picture.Mark H.I finally found those connectors while trying hunt down what was up w/ the tail lights. In my case, they were sitting on top of the rear tank. Thanks!
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #14 – August 16, 2021, 10:04:58 pm On my recent toad install, the RV dealership used the LD factory 6-pin and installed a 6-pin on the toad. I inquired about switching to a 7-pin setup as I wanted a charging line for the toad battery but was told the 6-pin setup provided a charging line. Were they just blowing smoke to satisfy me? How can I verify that the toad is getting a charge?
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #15 – August 16, 2021, 10:12:32 pm Quote from: HiLola - August 16, 2021, 10:04:58 pmOn my recent toad install, the RV dealership used the LD factory 6-pin and installed a 6-pin on the toad. I inquired about switching to a 7-pin setup as I wanted a charging line for the toad battery but was told the 6-pin setup provided a charging line. Were they just blowing smoke to satisfy me? How can I verify that the toad is getting a charge?When we had our MB I used a 6-pin cable. The original factory 4-pin connector had left/brake, right/brake, clearance lights and ground. With the 6-pin connectors and cable I was able to add a 12V charge line and a brake control line (US Gear system).Art
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #16 – August 17, 2021, 03:52:35 am Hi Greg; The seventh wire is for feedback from the towed to the dash of the motorhome. It can be used to light an LED when the towed brakes are on. For instance if the break away cable has been pulled and your car's brakes are on. If you step on the brakes of the LD, and the brakes on the towed come on, that's good. If they don't come on, it could be an adjustment problem. If they come on, and you aren't using the LD brakes, that is a real problem! RonB
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #17 – August 17, 2021, 08:49:13 am Greg, yes there is 12vdc at the 6-pin LD plug and I’m using it for charging the toad battery while driving. Hope you two are doing well,Mike
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #18 – August 17, 2021, 08:51:11 am Thanks for that, Ron. The installer also installed the Coachlink product which is installed in the toad and monitored wirelessly in the LD cab (see photos). Although the lights on the monitor are a little hard to see, it does have a pretty loud audible alarm. Would that essentially eliminate the need for the 7th pin?Wireless Coachlink | Demco Products
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #19 – August 17, 2021, 09:00:41 am Quote from: Mike Coachman - August 17, 2021, 08:49:13 amGreg, yes there is 12vdc at the 6-pin LD plug and I’m using it for charging the toad battery while driving. Hope you two are doing well,Mike Thanks for confirming that is the case, Mike. Say hi to Elizabeth!
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #20 – August 17, 2021, 09:04:39 am I think the photo I posted above is not the transmitter which is supposed to be installed inside the toad. This component is in the toad engine bay. Not sure what it is as I haven’t read through the manuals yet.
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #21 – August 17, 2021, 10:14:18 am Quote from: HiLola - August 17, 2021, 09:04:39 amI think the photo I posted above is not the transmitter which is supposed to be installed inside the toad. This component is in the toad engine bay. Not sure what it is as I haven’t read through the manuals yet.The pic is of the toad brake controller. It has an air pressure line which goes to the small cylinder mounted on the toad brake pedal, and a vacuum line which is teed through a check valve into the brake booster line. Among the wiring harness should also be a pair of wires going forward to the breakaway switch. If you have the switch 'on' for the accelerometer unit inside then pull the pin from the breakaway switch, that unit should generate a lot of commotion, clamping your brakes on - a standard functionality test.Steve 2 Likes
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #22 – August 17, 2021, 02:36:54 pm Thanks, Steve. I did find the wireless transmitter, well hidden under the dash. I need to read up and play around with the equipment to get familiar with it. They also installed a red LED strip on the dash.
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #23 – August 17, 2021, 03:05:56 pm Quote from: HiLola - August 17, 2021, 08:51:11 amThanks for that, Ron. The installer also installed the Coachlink product which is installed in the toad and monitored wirelessly in the LD cab (see photos). Although the lights on the monitor are a little hard to see, it does have a pretty loud audible alarm. Would that essentially eliminate the need for the 7th pin?A seven plug allows hardwiring a "tow brake on" light, mounted on the cab's dash. I always prefer hardwired to wireless, it's more dependable with less to go wrong. Used with the Demco brake, a seven-pin plug allows for a 'tow brake test' button to be installed in the cab. It's reassuring to be able to test the tow brakes before heading down a long, steep downgrade.Larry 1 Likes
Re: 7pin trailer connector Reply #24 – August 17, 2021, 07:33:56 pm Quote from: Larry W - August 17, 2021, 03:05:56 pmA seven plug allows hardwiring a "tow brake on" light, mounted on the cab's dash. I always prefer hardwired to wireless, it's more dependable with less to go wrong. Used with the Demco brake, a seven-pin plug allows for a 'tow brake test' button to be installed in the cab. It's reassuring to be able to test the tow brakes before heading down a long, steep downgrade.Larry,My Jeep already has a 6-pin connector mounted next to the baseplate. I thought I would leave it there and rewire the lights and add a “tow brake on” light in the LD, thus saving me the expense of replacing the 2 connectors and coiled cable. But now your “tow brake test” button has me thinking that maybe a 7-pin setup would be better. Can you tell me how the test button is wired into the system. I didn’t see anything on Demco’s Stay-IN-Play DUO instructions that would indicate how to wire one in.Thanks,John
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