On Sun, 04 Dec 2005 23:30:26 GMT, "Andy" <
[email protected]>
wrote:
> Anyone ever wired a trailer wiring harness on a 98 Tacoma? I've got a
>standard 4 pin harness. White, green, yellow, and brown wires. I need to
>know where to connect them.
The trailer is wired 'American' style with one set of lights that do
Stop/Left Turn and Stop/Right Turn duties combined. The truck has a
set of Stop lamps, and a separate set of Left Turn and Right Turn
lights on each side. Meaning you can't just plug the lights in...
Two choices: The easy and fast one is to get a trailer light
converter kit and install it on the truck. They have ones at the
dealer that just plug right in to the connectors on the truck wiring
harness and go, no splicing needed. Or you can get a kit at a regular
auto parts that takes a bit of work to install. Then you'll have a
place to plug in the regular 4-wire trailer connection.
The better light converter kits require running a separate fused
power wire from the battery to the converter at the back of the truck
to run the trailer lights - a bit of work, but it means a short
circuit fault in the trailer lights won't knock out the truck lights.
The other way is harder now, easier for years to come - rewire the
trailer with a second set of red tail lights to use as Stop Lights,
and use a Commercial 6-pin round or 7-pin round trailer connector that
has a separate pin dedicated for the Stop Light circuit. Then you can
just plug your trailer into any car and go - if it is wired 'American'
you just don't use the second set of stop lights.
You do not want to use the 7-pin round "Bargman" connector with the
flat blade connections - the travel trailer style. It doesn't have a
assigned Stop Light pin and you have to use the "Aux Battery" or
"Electric Brakes" pin. And if someone else wires their trailer plug
and assigns the pins differently than you did on the truck, much
unwanted excitement can ensue when you plug the two together...
"Gee, I can't back up without really gassing it..." I put Backup
Lights on the "Aux" pin, the former owners put the trailer Electric
Brakes on the "Aux" pin. Shift into reverse, and the trailer brakes
come on full. Fixed that one fast...
--<< Bruce >>--
--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
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