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Taffy.C

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Posted: 02/20/21 03:51pm

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Hi There,

Having issues with the 7 Pin trailer connection between my trailer and TV. I can't seem to get all contacts connecting at once - I I jiggle the connection slightly I can get brakes connected but I lose one or more light connections and vice-versa.

I've tried using a very find grade wet/dry sandpaper to clean the contacts but that only brought minor improvements. I'm thinking that maybe the connections are too sloppy and maybe I need to replace the trailer connector plug. The trailer is 18 years old.

I'd welcome any suggestions on this - not sure how difficult it is to replace the connector too. Also, because I have a hensley hitch that added a few inches to the trailer length, I don't have any room to lose length on the electrical cable (which I figure might happen when I replace the connector plug). If anything I need to make it longer.

Any help much appreciated,

Daniel.

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jdc1

Rescue, Ca

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Posted: 02/20/21 04:07pm

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Sometimes I have to use a screwdriver to bend the prongs for better contact. I use lithium grease on my wife's plug-in Prius cord, and that really helps.

deltabravo

Spokane, WA

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Posted: 02/20/21 04:13pm

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Some plugs on trailer cords have an undersized diameter on the plug, so they fit really loose and sloppy in a truck OEM plug.

I had the same problem. I replaced the entire cord / molded plug with a different brand, problem solved.

2009 Silverado 3500HD Dually, D/A, CCLB 4x4 (bought new 8/30/09)
2009 Arctic Fox 811 (bought new 11/9/09)
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Lwiddis

Bishop area, California

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Posted: 02/20/21 04:34pm

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I replaced my 7 pin connector and no problems since.

Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, 300 watt solar-parallel & MPPT, Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state & county camps. Bicyclist! 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad

MitchF150

Puyallup, WA

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Posted: 02/20/21 05:52pm

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That happened to me a long time ago.. I took a small flat blade screw diver and pulled the 'female' side prongs out in each socket and then sprayed some wd40 into the plug and that fixed it.. It was only a plug connection issue in my case, but if it's a wiring issue, then more work will need to be done to diag it..

Good luck, Mitch

2013 F150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab Max Tow Egoboost 3.73 gears #7700 GVWR #1920 payload. 2019 Rockwood Mini Lite 2511S.

Taffy.C

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Posted: 02/20/21 06:02pm

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Thanks for the replies. Pretty sure the wiring is fine so I guess I'll start with the screwdriver and WD40. Hopefully its that simple [emoticon]

rr2254545

Central Minnesota

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Posted: 02/20/21 06:32pm

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Had the same problem replaced the female plug on the RV, no problems since then - it was not the cord -

2012 Winnebago Journey 36M Cummins 360
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374 Campgrounds,85K miles driven in our Winnebago motor homes and 1858 nights camping since we retired in July 2009

Diamond c

West ky

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Posted: 02/20/21 07:15pm

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If the prongs have a split in the middle of them take a small flat blade screw driver, put it in the split and spread them so that they fit tighter. This works for me on the pigtail of my tractor trailer.

Gdetrailer

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Posted: 02/20/21 09:03pm

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You can try to clean them, scrub them, adjust the prongs but after a while weather and age takes a toll on the plugs..

For $6 and a little bit of your time you can just replace the plug and be done with the issue for quit some time..

[image]

FOUND HERE

For less than $30 you can buy not only the plug but the entire harness with the plug molded in to the harness with 8ft of wire..

[image]

FOUND HERE

That one looked interesting since it has double prong contacts in the plug rather than standard single prong contacts..

JRscooby

Indepmo

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Posted: 02/21/21 06:53am

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Diamond c wrote:

Commercial with round holes/pins is much easier.
I have used 2 pair of needle-nose pliers to bend a slight V in the length of the blade, then flatten the ends so the plug will start back on. Less work to replace the plug, and likely only last for 1 trip.