How can a 4 flat wire vehicle tow a 7 blade trailer?

[WOODY2]

See I told you it was easy>If you have a U Haul shop around they can do it in just a few minutes

 

[80t0ylc]

I got one of these boxes from redneck trailers and wiired my trailer for 7way and 4way......

Yes! Excellent idea, but since OP already has the 7-pin installed and working, he just needs the 4-pin and it spliced in to work when needed.

............... if that's all he needs what is he going to plug the male 7 blade on the trailer into? ...........

He only needs to plug it into a vehicle that has a 7-pin connector - only 1 vehicle at a time can pull the trailer-right? With adding a 4-pin connector, both are available, but only one is needed at a time. Just put a plug over the unused connector and keep it tied up tight to the other, so it doesn't drag on the ground. Your fix would work - but it's involves more parts that are not necessary, and you'd have to keep track of it when not used. Ever heard of the KISS principal? (Keep it Stupid Simple or Keep it Simple Stupid)

Actually, your answer is very simple. Do you have any wiring skills? If you do, simply make a short (6") adapter cable. If you aren't very good with wiring, stop by a local custom auto shop and ask them to make you a cable. You can easily go from one style to the other using available parts and a few feet of wire.

See I told you it was easy>If you have a U Haul shop around they can do it in just a few minutes

Maybe you're both right - it's definitely easier to have someone build an adapter for you - but what happens when you lose it?

 

[WOODY2]

Yes! Excellent idea, but since OP already has the 7-pin installed and working, he just needs the 4-pin and it spliced in to work when needed.



He only needs to plug it into a vehicle that has a 7-pin connector - only 1 vehicle at a time can pull the trailer-right? With adding a 4-pin connector, both are available, but only one is needed at a time. Just put a plug over the unused connector and keep it tied up tight to the other, so it doesn't drag on the ground. Your fix would work - but it's involves more parts that are not necessary, and you'd have to keep track of it when not used. Ever heard of the KISS principal? (Keep it Stupid Simple or Keep it Simple Stupid)



Maybe you're both right - it's definitely easier to have someone build an adapter for you - but what happens when you lose it?

That's easy too, your relatives no longer borrow your trailer? Seriously though I'd have them spring for the adapter and they can bring it over when they want to use the trailer, they need to have some skin in the game so to speak.

 

[Frogprince]

I wired in on my Land Cruiser a 5 wire to 4 Pin converter box from Curt. Then in order to run it into a 7 pin for my trailer I used this adapter from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EOV424/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That adapter worked out great. I had to run a ground wire from the plug adapter to the frame. Though you can easily do that to the hitch or some easy accessible location.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

A 7-pin isn't a big deal. You can look at the trailer and the extra 3 connections as such:
1-4: Regular Trailer Lights Wiring
5 - Brakes : Does the trailer have electric brakes? If no, no problem! If yes, depending on the weight and distance you need to tow it.
6 - 12v : A wire that comes from the tow vehicle to charge the onboard battery. Do you need to use and recharge the battery? (Lights/Water Pump/Propane Furnace/Electric Fridge). Sometimes it will use this in conjunction with the electric brakes as a break-away emergency system if the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle
7 - Not used. Although official specs lists it as generic Auxiliary, or even Reverse lights on the trailer.

My truck I installed a 7-pin, and made up my own 7-4 adapter for using other trailers. My own trailer does use the 12v charge and Reverse lights. I don't (yet) have a brake controller since I don't have functioning brakes (yet) on the trailer)

 

[Jmanscotch]

I'm confused why this is such a big deal.

Go have an adapter made. Why would you hard wire anything if you don't have to? The adapter might cost $30 if your local shop makes it for you. If you have some minimum wage idiot pull your vehicle apart and splice wiring into your harness using tape and twist ties, you're just looking for trouble down the road. And to the guy who asked what happens when you lose it? c'mon ... does any solution need to be that idiot-proof? Suggest getting those little mitten clips and clipping it to your sleeves.

Wire a 4-pin connector into the 7-blade connector on the trailer side of things. Modifying the 7-blade plugs requires a couple phillips screws and pair of wire strippers, basic tool and wiring competencies can make this an easy DIY, no 'minimum wage idiot' hacking away at your factory wiring.

People borrowing the trailer and constantly moving the adapter is just asking for it to get lost. Not sure why you think that's such an odd thing to expect might happen and thus want to avoid. I use a 7-pin to 4-pin adapter and I'm always wondering where I last left that thing. Friends borrow it, it gets moved around between my vehicles, etc and while it'd be a hassle not to locate it one day, I could simply stop by the store and grab another and continue with my day. In this case, you're talking a custom made adaptor you couldn't easily/quickly replace with a quick run to the store...so why not KISS and make it a mute point by having it wired in permanently. It's negligible as far as creating a weak link by adding the 4 wires, way less that the two addition connections and loose item an adapter introduces.

Jake