I'm converting a 4'x8' utility trailer to a canoe trailer. The trailer was wired with a 4 flat harness but my truck has a 7 blade RV socket. I know adapters are cheap but I feel that that's one more potential problem point in the circuit and something else to keep track of. I would rather swap the 4flat plug on the trailer harness to a 7 blade. Is this possible, just leaving the "extra" connection points on the 7 blade trailer plug unused? I'm guessing that's how the adapter are wired, but I thought I'd check before I figured out the hard way that it can't be done for some reason.

Thanks!

autozone and the like will sell the 7-pin plug just witre it up to you trailer

Unless you are adding more circuits in the new build, I see no reason not to use the adaptor

Yep, no reason you can't. I have all my trailers wired w/ 7 blades. Keeps down on the borowing.

...but the adapters are 'okay' - I have a set that I keep in the cross box for when I need to move something other than a 7 blade.

Unless you are adding more circuits in the new build, I see no reason not to use the adaptor

Two reasons- Reason one: My irrational fear of adapters as a "permanent" install feature and two: I'll probably lose the damn thing.:D

Thanks!

I run an adapter for my small utility trailer.

The adapter lives in the glove box, so its always available for use if I need. Handy if I ever borrow someone else's little utility trailer or a rental yard or a boat trailer....


Never had a problem with them. I'll probably get a couple others just to have more flexibility down the road.

That said, if I had a utility trailer I used all the time, I would either add a 4-pin to the truck (the older truck will be getting one of the combo 7-pin/4-pin plugs so it will have both at all times) or do as you want, add a 7-pin to the trailer.

Down side of that, you have this huge plug, and little wires running into it unless you use a standard 7-wire cord then just cap off the unused lines.



or put brakes on the canoe trailer :D



FYI, its easier to go from 4-pin to 7-pin on the truck, then try to go from 7-pin to 4-pin on the tow rig.... say you use the wife's car to tow it, or a buddies truck that only has a 4-pin....

I always carry the adapter and have used it many time without any trouble. ;)

Fawk. A simple question and now you guys have got me second guessing myself:flipoff2: Plusses and minuses for converting to 7 blade- Plus: Putting a new 7 blade on the trailer harness would be easy. Minus: Buying a 4 flat to 7 blade adapter would be easier. Plus:I already bought the 7 blade plug. Minus: I haven't cut the 4 flat off the trailer harness yet. Plus: I could lose the adapter. Minus: I could lose the trailer. :flipoff2:

Fawk it, I'll probably go with the adapter rather than taking up valuable paddling time nitpicking this trailer project to death.

Two reasons- Reason one: My irrational fear of adapters as a "permanent" install feature and two: I'll probably lose the damn thing.:D

Thanks!

zip tie it to the trailer then you wont loose it

convering that small trailer to the standard 7 round RV style is a waste, and you'll make it invonvenient for anyone with a small vehicles to pull that trailer (since a flat 4 is likely all a car or small truck will have).

Do the adapter - you'll find other uses for it later.

but I wouldn't zip tie the adapter to the trailer....it might grow legs that way....

Just do the adapter. Thats the easiest way, IMHO.
Scott

I'm going with the adapter. I picked up the bling one with the test lights on my way home from work yesterday. I didn't spring for the super bling one with the translucent red light up 7 blade plug and "coiled spring" 4 flat wire though. 30 fawkin bucks my ass.:laughing:

just do the adapter

just do the adapter

step one: read ALL posts in thread
step two: post reply if still necessary :flipoff2:


:usa:

Just do like Ford does on the superduty and have both a 7 and 4 on the truck.

Food for thought here.

THe 4 pin has kinda been the standard light duty plug of choice for quite a few years.... but, how often do you find your self replacing the damn thing because the wires get pinched or cut when trying to plug it in? They always seem to be a tight/bothersome to hook up connector. The seven pin connectors are much easier to plug in, and if you buy a small chunk of good SO cord (rubber coated multi conductor wire) and use this as your lead coming out of your trailer, it will last virtually forever. No more broken ends, fiddle fucking around trying to get the connector together and get the lights on....

Plus, I have liked having the option of throwing some backup lights on the trailer, having a 12v source available, and not needing to jerry rig a connector for them, its all right there in the 7 pin.

Nowadays, it seems that most all trucks are getting the seven pin anyway, if someone has a 4 pin and wants to use your trailer, let them get the adaptor.