Trailer Tow Wiring Harness

[GooseHunter]

I have a new (2010) Ram with trailer brake controller installed in the dash as an option from the factory. I am looking for a wiring harness with the 7 pin RV plug that will be installed in the bed of the truck to be used when towing my 5th wheel RV.



The best I can find at Tweety's.com is for the 2009 Ram and I was told today that they are waiting for the manufacturer to produce a wiring harness for the 2010 Ram. I did find one in the Mopar online catalog listed as: Trailer Tow Wiring Harness - Trailer Tow Wiring Harness for 5th Wheels and Gooseneck Trailer systems. 7-way connector mounts in bed and plugs into vehicle wiring, no splicing required.



Has anyone here had recent experience installing a wiring harness in the bed of their 2010 Ram? Is the one in the Mopar catalog usable in the 2010 Ram? What can I expect upon installation of this unit if I order from Mopar?



TIA,



Dean

 

[EricBu12]

I have the one for the '09 Ram and it is easy to plug in. Just unplug the harness from the plug at the bumper and "T" in the harness for the bumper and the wire up to the bed... I suspect when they do get the harness in for the 2010, it will be the same way.

The only thing for the mount in the bed, make sure you pick a spot where there is no vertical "U" shape stiffeners to get in the way of the harness when you drill the hole.

 

[HBarlow]

Draw-Tite Fifth Wheel and Gooseneck Wiring Harness with 7-Pole - Dodge with Factory Tow Package Wiring 20111

This is what you need. This product is a plug and play. It allows installation without any cutting, soldering, crimping, or taping of existing wiring.

It is a 99% certainty that it will fit a 2010 truck. It is EXTREMELY unlikely that the 2010 has different seven pin connetor wiring at the rear of the truck.

Some internet sales clerk at Tweetys had no idea what the harness is far, where it attaches, or why it is built the way it is.

 

[Loren]

Dean,



If it were for my truck, I'd go with the harness recommended by Harvey, above.



I didn't know about that option when I wired my truck, so what I did was buy one of the extension cords for the 7-wire trailer plug. I plug the male end into the connector at the truck's bumper (It plugs in just as if it were a trailer) and the female end is mounted at the left-rear corner of the truck's bed. It does look a bit dorky with the cord sticking out of the crack between the bumper and the truck's body panel. That's why I'd use the harness if I were doing it now. I just wanted to mention another option.



I don't tow a fifth-wheel, but I use the plug to power my camper shell's interior lights.



-- Loren

 

[GooseHunter]

Thanks Loren,

I purchased the wiring harness from the Mopar Store Mopar Parts Account. They state theirs is for the 2010 Ram. It is a little more pricey ($89. 00) than the one Harvey Barlow mentioned but I wanted to be sure it would work on the 2010 Ram. The instructions are complete and the installation is straight forward and not at all difficult.

The mounting location of the plug in the bed is on the right side of the bed on the right rear corner post. The harness is routed up through the taillight pocket and a 2 1/4 in hole is cut in the corner post. There are two sets of instructions, one you enlarge the wiring hole in the taillight pocket so the plug will fit, and the alternate is to remove the wires from the plug, route the wires through the hole and reassemble the plug to the wiring harness. I chose the alternate because I didn't want to be cutting on the painted metal and then have to spray corrosion inhibitor after.

It is a very neat installation with no cutting or splicing of wires.

I am having bed liner sprayed on right now and I will post a picture later of the install if needed.

 

[SOLER]

Thanks Loren,





I am having bed liner sprayed on right now and I will post a picture later of the install if needed.

So, it's been a while, but could you send those pics? Thanks



SOLER

 

[RustyJC]

The harness plug at the rear bumper 7-pin connector changed in the 4th generation (2010 model year) onward to use the same plug as Ford and GM. Don't buy one for an earlier model year Dodge and think it'll be plug-n-play on a 4th gen - been there, done that.



Rusty

 

[SOLER]

Yep, thanks. I know which one I need after reading here. I'm just hoping someone has a pic of exactly where they drilled the bed. I screwed up my '04... I drilled a hole and hit one of the reinforcement points. I thought I measured it, but was off by an inch. So, I had to drill another hole grrrrrr...



I'd just like to see a pic so I don't make the same mistake on this truck.



Thanks



SOLER

 

[GooseHunter]

Here you go:

 

[Mark31]

Dean,



If it were for my truck, I'd go with the harness recommended by Harvey, above.



I didn't know about that option when I wired my truck, so what I did was buy one of the extension cords for the 7-wire trailer plug. I plug the male end into the connector at the truck's bumper (It plugs in just as if it were a trailer) and the female end is mounted at the left-rear corner of the truck's bed. It does look a bit dorky with the cord sticking out of the crack between the bumper and the truck's body panel. That's why I'd use the harness if I were doing it now. I just wanted to mention another option.



I don't tow a fifth-wheel, but I use the plug to power my camper shell's interior lights.



-- Loren

Loren, I've posted this before, but it won't be the first time someone has repeated himself on TDR: Mr Gore at Gore Trailers (in business over 45 years)in Whiteville, NC purposely builds his goosenecks with a short power cord to encourage owners to use an in-bed plug. He says over the years they have done a lot of repairs to trucks that were using the bumper plug for in-the-bed applications and the cord got "jerked". Mark

 

[SOLER]

Thanks, Goosehunter



SOLER

 

[SOLER]

Wrong one

Draw-Tite Fifth Wheel and Gooseneck Wiring Harness with 7-Pole - Dodge with Factory Tow Package Wiring 20111



This is what you need. This product is a plug and play. It allows installation without any cutting, soldering, crimping, or taping of existing wiring.



It is a 99% certainty that it will fit a 2010 truck. It is EXTREMELY unlikely that the 2010 has different seven pin connetor wiring at the rear of the truck.



Some internet sales clerk at Tweetys had no idea what the harness is far, where it attaches, or why it is built the way it is.

the 2010 and beyond DO HAVE a different plug. They've gone to the one like Ford and GM. The one in the link is part 51-97-411, for 2010 and later trucks we need 51-97-410. Same clean install, just the T-connectors are different.



SOLER

 

[Cummins12V98]

Just hang the cord over the tailgate and plug it in. Worked great for me since November. For insurance I put a 4' long pc of blue tape along top edge of tailgate incase it does touch the paint when I am done I stick tape to bottom of 5er overhang for the next time. Another here said he does the same but hooks the cord to a spring like the big rigs do. My experience trailer connectors don't do well in the bed if you use your truck for hauling gravel or the like.

 

[SOLER]

If you want to save a few bucks, apparently part number 50-97-410 will work, it's just packaged different. I also ordered part number 51-97-407. It's a 90 degree 7-way plug, but it doesn't have the ends. I plan you use this to plug in the lights on my headache rack. Not sure if I want tie in to the trailer lights or the truck lights... still debating that.



SOLER