5th wheel wiring harness

[AMink]

We are going to be moving from a bumper pull to a 5th wheel in the near future. How hard is it to run a harness to the bed to plug the 5er into? Where does the splice come from? I've read some of the newer trucks (I don't know if that includes my 2006) don't like wiring they didn't come with and require electrical thingies that are above my knowledge level. Any suggestions on product or tips on install?

 

[RustyJC]

You can get a pre-made pigtail from etrailer.com and others that plugs directly into the wiring for the 7-pin Pollak bumper receptacle. You remove the plug at the back of the bumper receptacle, plug the pigtail into the receptacle, plug the truck harness into the pigtail and the wiring is done. Since you have a 2006, be sure you get the Dodge (Ram) connector. Around 2010 or 2011, Ram moved to the Ford and Chevy style connector (ask me how I know ) Then it's just a matter of drilling the holes in the bed wall to install the pigtail's 7-pin Pollak receptacle. (Actually, you'd drill the holes first, drop the pigtail through the large hole, route it back to the bumper receptacle and plug it in.) That way, you'll still have use of both the old bumper and new in-bed receptacles.

See HERE - note that I preselected a 2006 Ram for this search, but before ordering I'd call and BE SURE that the pigtail is the correct one for your truck.

Rusty

 

[GCroyle]

Is this the system?

http://www.hopkinstowingsolutions.c...harnesses/dodge-ram-150025003500-2000-09.html

 

[Hoefler]

Is this the system?

http://www.hopkinstowingsolutions.c...harnesses/dodge-ram-150025003500-2000-09.html

I have actually had two of those fail internally. Water gets inside and corrodes the splices. I disassembled the 3rd one when I got under warranty replacement and replaced all the splices with soldered and heat shrink splices.

 

[RustyJC]

I have actually had two of those fail internally. Water gets inside and corrodes the splices. I disassembled the 3rd one when I got under warranty replacement and replaced all the splices with soldered and heat shrink splices.

That's certainly something to check out when selecting a pigtail/harness. When it comes to trailer wiring with the criticality of trailer brakes, etc., I insist on soldered and sealed joints - no wire nuts or crimp joints for me! Also, when plugging the pigtail/harness into the truck's 7-pin Pollak connector and the truck's harness, a liberal application of dielectric grease in the connectors will help keep road grime and water out of the connections.

Rusty

 

[TJJEEPER]

The Hopkins splice that uses the factory plugs works well IF you weather proof it by adding a liberal amount of dielectric grease. You pretty much fill the connector with this stuff and push the connector together. It prevents water intrusion and keeps corrosion at bay.
A quick search at Summit Racing turned up several products http://www.summitracing.com/search/...eyword=dielectric grease&kr=dielectric grease
I bought the Permatex tube and use it on all my outdoor splices. I'm pretty sure it's just silicone grease.

 

[Hoefler]

The connections into the plug is not the problem, it is where the wire Tees is where water gets in through the fabric tape that it is wrapped in.

 

[RustyJC]

The connections into the plug is not the problem, it is where the wire Tees is where water gets in through the fabric tape that it is wrapped in.

Sounds like that may be a vendor-specific problem with his particular connection methodology. That certainly does not speak for ALL of these non-intrusive pigtail arrangements, however. On mine, I actually have 2 harnesses. One goes from the factory harness up to the 7 pin Pollak receptacle mounted in the bed. The other goes from the 7 pin Pollak receptacle mounted in the bed to the Ram factory receiver-mounted 7 pin Pollak receptacle. The actual interconnection between the harnesses is made at the bed-mounted 7-pin Pollak connector.

Rusty

 

[Kirwin]

Depending on the year of your truck, there is a connector underneath the bed on the left side to plug the in bed factory 5th wheel harness into. The main harness then continues to the normal bumper mounted 7 way connector. I can get a pic of mine tomorrow if you can't find yours.

 

[Loren]

Simple Solution

We are going to be moving from a bumper pull to a 5th wheel in the near future. How hard is it to run a harness to the bed to plug the 5er into? Where does the splice come from? I've read some of the newer trucks (I don't know if that includes my 2006) don't like wiring they didn't come with and require electrical thingies that are above my knowledge level. Any suggestions on product or tips on install?

AMink,

With my previous trucks, including my 1995, I just bought a six-foot extension cable (like this one: http://www.easternmarine.com/7-pole-vehicle-to-7-pole-trailer-extension-cable-7-118664) that has a trailer plug on one end and a trailer receptacle on the other. I mounted the receptacle to the side of the truck bed and routed the plug to the rear bumper near the existing (factory) trailer receptacle. Whenever I wanted to plug a trailer in at the bed I would plug the extension cable into the factory receptacle at the bumper and then use the extension's receptacle in the bed for the trailer.

It's relatively cheap and simple to understand. It will also work for newer trucks that get messed up if you tap into the truck's trailer wiring harness.

Good luck,
-- Loren