Trailer wiring harness

[WoodenBirdOfPrey]

I am the proud new owner of an 87 Wagon with the factory tow package (or so i'm told).  The only trailer wiring I can find is in the back under the floor where the spare is, but it's not a standard trailer plug.  The harness has a Coleman Products part# tag on it, and the plug on the harness is a 5 prong, but larger than any of the flat trailer harnesses i've ever seen.  Anybody know if there's some sort of adapter readily available to adapt this to a standard flat 4 trailer plug?  I could easily cut the existing plug off and splice a new one in, but I don't like cutting into wiring harnesses if I don't have to, that way if I want it put back to original I can just unplug the adapter.

Thanks,

Greg.

[jim]

I think there are adapters for that.  Parts houses may have them.  I would think that U-Haul would, too.

[thereverendbill]

I'd try tractor supply, they have tons of trailer adaptors

[WoodenBirdOfPrey]

I'll try tractor supply before I make the final decision, but I went to a trailer place today and they didn't have any connectors that matched what's on the Eagle.  The plug on it is about half an inch longer than a standard flat-5 plug, other than the size they're identical.  I'm thinking it's got to be some long-forgotten plug from the 80's that never caught on.  If I don't see something at TSC that matches up i'll just splice a standard flat 4 into the existing harness.  Thanks for the input guys.

[jim]

A complication you can run into is the separate circuit for brakes and tail lights.
There are adapters for that, too.
I didn't use one - I installed separate lights on the trailer and ran wires to it for brakes.

[WoodenBirdOfPrey]

I don't think that'll be an issue since this is actually factory trailer wiring (allegedly).  I put a meter to it and the outputs all seem to be the way they should for a flat 4, there's just the additional pin which is for the reverse brake override on a trailer with a tongue activated brake system.  That 5th pin will probably be no use to me, for one, i've only seen that type of brake system on boat trailers.  And additionally if I have to tow anything big enough to warrant trailer brakes, i'll just use my GMC instead of running the poor Eagle into the ground.

[Bird-o-Prey]

I am trying to wire in a 7 pin plug for my tent trailer.  I can get the tail lights to work, but not the brake lights.  Does anyone have a 7 pin set up working??  How did you get the brake lights to work with it short of addig separate lights?

Thanks!

[eaglefreek]

7 pin should be easier to wire up than a 4 pin, since the brake lights are separate on a 7 pin and no need for a converter. I would double check your wiring, especially the ground. Whenever I have a light problem on a trailer it is 99% of the time a ground issue. I now run a ground wire from both lights all the way to the front of the trailer where I install the ground from the pigtail.

[projectscreamingeagle]

I think there are adapters for that.  Parts houses may have them.  I would think that U-Haul would, too.

hey thats whare i work!

ive looked it up before but i don remember  but there is a couple options here (id have to check part numbers to make sure its compatible with the eagle) uhaul part number 13488 its a standard 4 flat (left turn, right turn, park lamps, ground) easy peasy. vehicles whare the turn signals run through stop lamps. the part is only like 8 or 9 bucks. another option (again id have to check part numbers to make sure its compatible for the eagle) uhaul part number 13486, yes its the converter box but it is just as east to wire up as the 13488 with the addition of 1 more wire for the brake lamps. flat rate calls for about half hour they can be done in 15 minutes. i think that one is like 20 or 30 bucks. from there if you have a 7 way on your trailer there is a adapter that converts the 4 flat to a 7 way. it has your 4 basics plus 3 more that are lose on the outside for the ease of hooking up a brake controller. both come with nessary pieces (scotch locks and a self tapping screw for the ground) i dont remember the part number off hand or the price ill have to get back to you on that one. if you stop in just have them run it through CSF and if they give you a hard time tell them to call jake at center 724071. i will be there for a bit tomarrow, wednsday afternoon and then all weekend