trailer wiring-need definitive answer

[kudasai]

ok, every car that i have ever wired for a tailer was either so old, or originally had an engine so small, that there was never any chance that i would get out of splicing wires, drilling holes and such

or was an m998 or m1079 that had everything and just needed a new plug.


i have an R/T that did NOT come with the tow package. i know what i can tow, what i cant, have no plans to put in the heavy duty stuff, and never want to tow anything that would neccessitate installing a brake controller.

i installed the mopar hitch with the 2 inch opening, have a mopar ball mount for the 2k weight, and a 2 inch ball, which i used without issue to tow my new(ish) trailer home today

the tailer is a simple 5x10 tilt, with a 4 prong connector.

i have searched and found a lot of answers to other questions, but no clear answers to the following.

if i have do not have the tow package, will i have to cut wires to splice in the trailer stuff?

if i dont, what is/are the part numbers of everything i will have to get to install this.

i know this seems ridiculous, but the 4 pages of posts i looked at before posting this...well, i could never pair up part numbers with weather the person had a tow package to begin with, or if it was for a 7 pin, and so on.

if someone would be so kind as to answer this, i will make sure and send dmag a how to on whatever is involved after i get it installed.

[bmartin9122]

Try this older thread...

http://www.dodgeboy.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1994

[kudasai]

yeah, ok, i was afraid of that.

and call me a crzy cheap bastard, but i cant see the point in buying a wiring harness that isnt what i want, to have to buy an adapter, and basically spend over 100 bones for something that shouldnt cost more than 20.

screw it. as much as i wanted to keep it all mopar, my how to will be for all the people who just want to put in a clean 4 pin wiring plug and save some loot. be back in a day or so.

[bmartin9122]

Actually, a 7-pin harness is the de-facto standard. I would suggest converting your trailer to this type instead of the alternative.

My $0.02

[zonian]

Kud,

Make sure you get a harness that has a 5 to 4 wire adapter....the mag has separate brake and turn signal lights...about $12.00 at Autozone.

Paul

[kudasai]

Kud,

Make sure you get a harness that has a 5 to 4 wire adapter....the mag has separate brake and turn signal lights...about $12.00 at Autozone.

Paul

thats the one

Actually, a 7-pin harness is the de-facto standard. I would suggest converting your trailer to this type instead of the alternative.

My $0.02

i've looked at a half dozen trailers in the past week, and all of them in the size range i'm looking for are four pins. like i said, i have NO interest whatsoever in towing enough stuff to require a brake controller, so there's nothing to be gained in spending all the money for a 7 pin, and then spending more than the cost of 4 pin wiring for an adapter to make it four pin. not when the hitch came with a plate to put a flat plug mount with the mounting hardware. 87 for the harness and another 23 for the adapter, it just dosent make sense for my application. for those who may want in the future to run brakes, then yes, factory harness is best.

[bmartin9122]

i've looked at a half dozen trailers in the past week, and all of them in the size range i'm looking for are four pins. like i said, i have NO interest whatsoever in towing enough stuff to require a brake controller, so there's nothing to be gained in spending all the money for a 7 pin, and then spending more than the cost of 4 pin wiring for an adapter to make it four pin. not when the hitch came with a plate to put a flat plug mount with the mounting hardware. 87 for the harness and another 23 for the adapter, it just dosent make sense for my application. for those who may want in the future to run brakes, then yes, factory harness is best.

You may have already considered battery charging. Remember, a 4-pin set-up does not provide a constant 12-volt source for an on-trailer battery or other device. In my case, a battery for my pop-up camper. I realize you only want to yank a utility trailer, but consider the future also.

[bmartin9122]

BTW, it is strange that you are so concerned about saving <$100 on a vehicle you paid over $30,000 for. :? In fact, you sound almost hostile about the whole subject. :confused:

[kudasai]

see ball mount post.

also, i spent 30ishk on a car worth 30 k. i wouldnt spend 30k on a car that only performs as well as my kia, especially if i only needed a kia, would i?

and yes, i have DCX hostility issues.

but really, no matter how much you spend, is there ever justification to waste?

[bmartin9122]

but really, no matter how much you spend, is there ever justification to waste?

Nope! I agree. I only wanted to make sure you had considered all of the ramifications of installing the more limited 4-pin harness. You hadn't mentioned the constant 12-volt thing up to that point, so I wanted to make sure it was out there.

Regards,
Bryan

[kudasai]

yeah, thought about it, but decided that this is the right level for what i do. while i may pull a car short distances with a dolly, i'll never go full blown.