Help with harness wiring

matt_unique · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 11:21 pm Post subject: Help with harness wiring

My Tomcat trailer has the 5 pin flat harness that includes a backing light to deactivate the backing lockout.

My truck has 6 wires (left, right, brake, tail lights, backup, and ground) but my harness has only 5 wire leads. Do I need another harness or can I double splice one of the wires? Probably among my stupid questions....somehow it's not jumping out at me right now.

As a test I was able to move my Tomcat with my Tacoma and I wired everything right such that the reverse lockout was deactivated. I spliced my brake and tail lights into the same lead - everything worked that I could check by myself - could not check the brake lights (no one else home tonight).

I would not do any more than move the Tomcat in the driveway with my Tacoma but I was impressed at how well I could move it and the tongue weight/angle was fine.

Thanks for the wiring suggestions.

Dreamer · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:37 am Post subject:

Matt,

The Toyota has the asian/european system where the brake lights are separate from the turn indicators. That's the 6th wire. American manufacturers like GM, Ford,etc and EZ Loader use the R. and L. turn signals together as the brake lights.

If you are actually going to tow the TC on the street with the Toyota, you'll need an adapter, available at trailer supply stores to adapt the european to the US system.

What are you planning on using to tow with?

gljjr · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:53 am Post subject:

what you need is one of these .

Then just splice in the backup light wire to your 5 ping plug and your are set.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:36 am Post subject:

Matt, they make a plastic (or bakelite) adapter that fits in the truck end and has a flat output for the trailer. That is if the truck has the round plug on it. They make them in 4 and 5 pin models (on the trailer end). I've got both and they work fine. It's much easier than splicing anything.

If THIS isn't what you need, something else on that website should do the trick.

Charlie

matt_unique · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:28 am Post subject: Towing

Ha ha - no towing the Tomcat with my Tacoma on the street! I have a friend with a diesel dually truck and a 10,000lb tow capacity. I was surprised at how well my Tacoma moved the Tomcat though, much better than I expected and I know I can move it gingerly for a short distance in a pinch.

I imagine if I tried to tow 50 miles I would leave tranny or gear fluid on the ground as was the case with the dealer who delivered it. (Their first truck broke down halfway to MA, then they used a totally underpowered and underrated van to finish the tow). They could not back the boat all the way up my (almost flat) driveway and I found fluid left on the driveway!

So my Toyota wiring is not a match...well I know I can hotwire the necessary wires on the fly but would need the correct converter. I don't need a round to flat connector but I need a way to have brake lights and reverse light power to the trailer.....

Thanks for the clarification.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:36 am Post subject:

Matt, I move the TC, my many trailers (including a 28' Coachmen) around our lot, in and out of garages with my 24HP Kubota Tractor. It's so much easier than using a vehicle, I just back up to it, raise the 3pt hitch to lift the tongue and off I go. IMHO, a great excuse to buy a little tractor.

Charlie

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject: Kubota

Charlie,

If you don't want that Kubota, I would be glad to drive out from Oregon and bring it back to a good home!!!!

Must be the green eyes of jealousy looking at that tractor.

Steve

Captains Cat · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

Nope, I use it all the time! I've got all the goodies, backhoe, belly mower, rear blade, york rake, bush hog, forks for the bucket, etc. My bride was very indulgent when we bought it and we've put it to good use. I even put up a 30x40 steel building to keep it and all my other toys in. That's in addition to my garage / apt.

Fortunately, the new house is almost done and we'll be living in that when we come back from moving out of our Maine house. That's why I'm still working full time. If I couldn't do it from home (wherever I happen to be), I'd not be working any more though!

Charlie

thataway · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

Most US trucks will have a 7 pin flat blade, with round oin in the middle. Rewire the trialer to the 7 pin connector. That is what I do on the trailers, then If necessary, go from foreign or what ever to the standard 7 pin. Many trucks also come with 4 pin flat, and you just have to hook up a single pin for the back up light/brake deactivator.