2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission factory trailer harness question

[DLangford]

I want to instiall some lights on my gooseneck to help loading stuff at night.

I would like to pull the feed for the lights off the central lug on the 7 way RV plug on my truck as it goes back to the gooseneck 7 way.

When I put a voltmeter probe to the center lug and grounded the other lead, I did not get any voltage reading. Does Dodge not energize these accesory lugs in the factory set up?

Any suggestions on powering these two 6" ag type lights?

Thanks

 

[Allnew2Me]

The center lug is not hot but you can pick up 12 volts from the top right lug (on the truck when looking at the connector) as long as you don't exceed the capacity of the fuse that feeds it. On the 2001 it is rated at 40A if I remember correctly. If it is the stock connector it has a diagram on the cover to identify the terminals.

 

[Road Dog]

The center is usually reverse.

 

[Darmeisner]

Use LED's, they're brighter and draw zilch for current. Won't blow fuses or drain batteries.

 

[Silver_Ram]

Check the back of your factory 7 way & see if it has the rectangular plug from the harness. Some 2001 have the rectangualr plug & Bargman makes an easy to install 7 way bed plug. It comes pre-wired & the back of the 7 way for the bed enters ther back of it at a 90 degree angle.



Got one for my Father in Law from a company Texmood.

 

[SSolderitch]

I have a full size battery for the brakes (break away). I run a winch/lights all from the trailer battery. The battery gets charged from the truck. I can turn on lights even with no truck attached (short time of course). I connected the trailer back up lights on the trailer to a relay. the relay is turned on by the truck in reverse or a switch on the trailer. That gives me a way to turn on the back up lights on for loading, etc. My other lights are fused & switched off the trailer battery also, so I don't draw the amps thru the truck harness.

 

[DLangford]

Thanks for all the input.
I discovered that the center lug, as Road Dog says, is wired with the back up lights. Not sure why they did that, unless it is for one of the after market plug in lights I see in Geno's, etc.
What about running another 12 gauge wire back from the battery, fused, and feed the center lug with that one- to then feed the trailer lights through that center lug on the plug? The plug is rectangular coming up to the 7 way connector as Silver ram says. Not sure if changing the connector plug would change anything though as to the wiring.