5th wheel plug

[Bartlett]

I am getting ready to wire up a seven way rv style plug in the bed for a new fifth wheel. I know that there are several ways to do this. The 2004 parts and accessories catalog that most rv dealers carry has a product by reese that is similiar to a t-one connector except it has a seven way instead of a flat 4 way. The way it would work would be to unplug the factory plug at the rear bumper and plug one end of adapter to the rear of the factory plug and take the other end of the adapter and plug it into the factory harness plug(supply)and then run the pigtail/7 way plug to the bed area?Has anyone seen this?Would this be the same thing you could get at the dealer if your truck did not come with a tow package and you needed a 7 way?I know that there are other ways but thought this "piggybacking" would be clean as you could have both 7 ways functional at all times as well as just unplugging and replugging a couple of connections.

 

[klenger]

Here's how I did mine http://www.klenger.net/dodge/7-pin-connector-installation/index.html

 

[JohnnyH]

Bartlett, where did you see that plug. Is it anywhere online because that is exactly what I am getting ready to do this week. Sounds like it might be a nice idea. I also checked out kens setup and that is also a very nice install. I just dont want to splice any wires if I dont have to.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Good info there klenger,



and just in the knick of time. I had one of those CRS moments last month when I took the trash to the dump.



Coming out of the dump ground, I "opted" for more speed than "necessary" and went bouncing merrily on my way. Well, it seems that the trailer hitch didn't get latched down and pinned before I left.



That last speed bump as you come out of the exit did a magic number and the trailer tried to leave me. Chains kept everything under control, however the light wire didn't stretch very well. :{



I was fixing to get the VOM out and see what does what. Now with your info All I gotta do is put it back together.



Tnx. .

John

 

[Bartlett]

JohnnyH,I was going to do what ken did seing how i dont use the 4 way either but figured if this adapter was available i would check it out. I have to of these accesory books from 2 different dealers. There is no other identification on the catolog except the dealers name. I found a couple of adapters on etrailer.com but cant tell if any of them is exactly what i am looking forI will make a couple of phone calls tommorow and let you know what i find out. Has anyone bought a factory 7 way from the dealer? this might also be an option. The picture in this book looks just like a tone connector except for theplug and if it had oem hardshells would only take a second to install.

 

[Jim Smith]

I did this on my 1st Ram . The next one I just let the cord hang over the gate. Its nice to have it in the bed but ?? Jim

 

[RJOL]

I mounted mine, inside the bed, just in front of the driver's side rear wheel. By mounting it there, it is a lot easier to get to when the trailer is on the hitch. Instead of splicing into the wires I just made an extension cord (using 7 conductor heavy duty cord and a male and female plug) and ran it inside the box wall, between the inner and outer skin, and over the rear wheel. It then goes under the body and is wire tied on the frame to the rear connector. I just plug it into the rear connector, while I'm towing my 5th wheel and unplug it to tow other regular trailers. Very clean installation...

 

[klenger]

Using the extension method as RJOL suggests works better on the 2nd gens than the 3rd gens because the 7 pin plug on the 3rd gens is next to the license plate in the bumper as opposed to below the bumper on the 2nd gens. Having the cord wrapped over the bumper would look kind of tacky on a new $40,000 truck IMHO.



See http://www.klenger.net/photo_album/truck-camper-slide-show/slide18.html for example of 3rd gen.

 

[Bartlett]

I did some further research on this yesterday. The kit from Dodge needs to be soldered into existing harness if you dont have the tow package ,so that wont work. Hoppy makes a kit that plugs beetween the factory 7 way and the hardshell that feeds it but it only comes with a 4 way flat. The hardshells are oem design so they plug right in. I think if you spent some time with a solder gun you could fab up a seven way using the hoppy setup. That would provide you with a fairly inexpensive($15) setup that would plug right in without cutting into any factory wires. I also saw the setup Klenger had but did not want to cut into any of my factory wiring. Also the salt is terrible up here and any exterior wiring that is tampered with eventually causes problems. So i what i did is made an extension to plug into the factory plug when i need to tow. Functional and yes slightly tacky