7 Pin Connector in pickup bed?

[Rosco]

I am having my PullRite SuperGlide installed tomorrow and in addition I will be moving the 7-pin connector into the bed. I am curious though, does the hitch installer need to splice the new connector into the wiring harness or is it a plug and play deal? Personally, I don't want any splicing but if I have no choice then so be it.



Do I have options men?

 

[DE Jeeper]

There is probably enough room in the harness to remove the plug from the bumper and put it in the bed, if that's what you want. If you need a plug in both spots you will have to splice into the harness behind the plug. It is easily accessable.

 

[RJOL]

Originally posted by DE Jeeper

... If you need a plug in both spots you will have to splice into the harness behind the plug.

Not necessarily... You can make up an extension cable, mount the male connector just in front of the left rear wheel well (in the sidewall inner panel), then run the cable back to the OEM trailer plug (between the inner and outer panel). By doing this you can leave the OEM plug where it is, for other towing, and just plug, or unplug the extension cable into it, depending on what your towing. Been using this setup for years...

 

[klenger]

This might help



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/7-pin-connector-installation/index.html

 

[SOLER]

On my '01 it was easy. I put a connector in the bed behind the wheel well, and used a pigtail that plugged into the plug on the hitch. The problem is the new trucks have the plug in the bumper by the license plate. I put a hole in the bed and now run the pigtail under the bumper and plug it in. It looks like crap, but I just tuck it up out of sight when not in use.



Just be real careful drilling the bed. I drilled the hole in the '01 right behind the wheel well, and it was always reach everytime I plugged in the 5er. So this time I decided to drill it back a little. Oops! There is a structural beam that runs vertical about 10" behind the wheel well. I had to drill again So, I will have to weld that one closed and then have the liner sprayed in to cover it up. You could do it like Klenger, but that is real close to the tie-down bracket which, when you want to use a cord to secure something while the 5er is plugged in, it might interfere. It will only be a problem when something is plugged in and you want to also use that bracket, like I do. Just something to think about.



I don't have pics yet and won't be able to post any for 55 more days. I am TDY in Spain. with the Air Force right now. I'm not mad at being in Spain, just mad that I'm not home. Could be worse, like 95 days or more in the sand-box.



SOLER

 

[klenger]

Thanks for serving our country.

 

[SOLER]

Originally posted by klenger

Thanks for serving our country.

You're welcome



SOLER

 

[geusterman]

Soler... ditto on a big Thank You for your service. FWIW, I just plug a cord into my bumper and run it up to my camper plug in. Both ends of the cord are male. Got the right wire and parts from RV store. Even made a Y set up with one male/2 females in case I am pulling a trailer when the camper is on. Real allergic to tapping factory wire harness. George

 

[Rosco]

Thanks guys. I've chosen not to do any wiring for the time being. I am not a big fan of splicing, especially up here in the northeast with our salty roads. I will try using the factory 7-pin location for now and if it causes a problem then I will rethink my options later on.



I did have the PullRite 16k SuperGlide installed today. All I have to say is, what a sweet hitch. It's such a nice hitch I even went down to my dealer and picked up a Mopar fabric tonneau cover to keep it warm and dry .

 

[Sarge]

Rosco, I felt the way you do. I wanted the 7 pin in the bed, but do not like splices either. This is what I came up with:



I went to the local auto parts place and bought a Reese 7 pin connector kit with the female plug and comes with about 4' of the 7 wire loom ready to go. Next buy a male 7 pin connector and put them together to make a "jumper" or extension plug if you will.



The Reese kit also came with a metal mounting plate as if you were going to mount their plug under your bumper. I mounted their mounting plate underneath the truck, up and out of sight from the rear, on a conveinent existing bolt. Disconnect the factory 7 pin plug from the bumper, and mount it into the Reese mounting plate you just installed.



Next plug your male end of the jumper into the factory plug, and run the new 7 pin connector that is on the end of the jumper you just made, to the rear side wall of the truck.



Presto! You are done, you have no splices, and and every thing is factory tight. Total cost was less than $40. 00, it's easy to do, and you know it's done right. (The price even included the cost of an additional 7 pin connector that I used to fill the spot in the bumper where the original factory 7 pin connector came from. ) It's clean, easy, and takes about 1. 5 hours... ... . Good luck, Sarge.

 

[GerryDrake]

Plug Location

I know it wasn't your original question, but consider the location of the plug in that is installed inside the bed too. On my prior truck it was well forward, just aft of my toolbox and low in the inner sidewall. When I got my current ride, I had the installer put it high on the post just inside the tailgate about 3" from the latching mechanism. It is VERY convenient to plug it in or remove it with the 5'er connected. Running the wires was super simple too. . almost a totally vertical run. .