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Trailer wiring pin dilema

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  #1  
Old 07-17-2010, 12:38 PM
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Default Trailer wiring pin dilema

Hey guys i recently bought a 18 foot dovetail bri-mar trailer. Its set up with a 5 pin connector. My 04 superduty has a 7 pin set up on it. My questions are 1. do they make a 5 pin to 7 pin adapter, and if so will the trailer brakes work properly? And 2. is it more worth my time converting the brimar wiring to a 7 pin connector? and if so how challenging will that be?

The guy i bought the trailer from used a 5pin to 4pin adapter and didnt use the brakes. I would like to use the brakes considering there on both axles, i have a trailer brake controller and ill be having a full size bronco on top of the trailer and that adds up to a decent amount of weight.

Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks!
-Pat
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 12:46 PM
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Yes they make an adapter. If you plan on keeping this trailer I would switch the trailer over to 7 pin though.
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 01:04 PM
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Thanks for the prompt response! If I switched to a 7 pin adapter would I have to rewire the whole trailer or does it just require me buying the new 7 pin connector and swapping the wires into it?
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 01:10 PM
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Swap to the 7pin its not hard just hook the right wires in the right place. Im sure you can look on the internet for the wire diagrams.


plus swapping it over you wont have a adapter you can loose.

---AutoMerged DoublePost---

no you dont have to rewire just buy a 7way male and use the five wires you have run already
 

Last edited by rednekroper05; 07-17-2010 at 01:10 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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Old 07-17-2010, 02:13 PM
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Awesome! Thank you very much for the advice! I'll get a seven pin next weekend and give that a try!

Im guessing im just going to have two empty pins on the new connector and that wont matter? Ill still have lights brakes and the reverse solenoid so it should work?

Thanks again!
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 02:26 PM
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If the trailer has brakes it should also have a battery. Use one of the unused pins for a hotline. My bet is that the trailer was originally wired with a 7-way and the PO changed it.
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 02:45 PM
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The PO bought it new and said he never touched the wiring. It is a 2003 model I don't know if that makes a difference in 7pin vs 5 pin. There is a small battery mounted on the inside of one of the tongue framerails. What do you mean use one of the unused pins as a hotline? Hotline from the battery?
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 03:38 PM
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The battery shouldn't be hooked to the truck wiring in my experience.you should place a trickle charger on it to keep it charge. The battery is in case the trailer breaks away it will activate the trailer brakes
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 03:39 PM
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6.0, If you need it right now just get a 7 to 5 pin reducer, but for the long term I would just rewire with the 7 pin plug. If i am not mistaken there should be generic directions inthe box with the new 7 pin plug. you could also use a test light and make sure the the left turn signal is acutally on the same post as the truck, etc... this will also help you find that Hotline previously mentioned.
 
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Old 07-17-2010, 10:15 PM
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Generic 7 pin plug wiring.
 


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