Flat four trailer connector

[Boomer343]

Seems that every time I have to hook up my utility trailer I spend a lot of time cleaning the connector to get the lights to work. With the salt, beet juice and other deicers they use on the roads around here it is just plain nasty.

I use the "dust cover" but it is almost worse than leaving it off.

So my thought is to make up a Weatherhead GM style connector with a blank cap to keep the terminals clean and dry. I can also make an adapter cord when I pull another trailer and believe me nobody asks to borrow mine. Not that I wouldn't loan it out lets just say it is a little funky.

I have searched the net for a better connector but all I have found are the same and I'm not about to screw one of those truck 7 pin plus 4 pin connectors on the bumper of my Camry.

Anyone have another idea or source?

 

[premierplayer]

Do you keep a light coating of dielectric grease?

 

[HTGTS350]

Bulkhead style deutsch plug and use a blank when not towing or just leave the connector inside the trunk and hang it out when you need it.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use this one for my trailer, as it gives me an excuse not to loan the trailer due to few using this style. I can hook the connector up in two seconds.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200303935_200303935

 

[purplezr2]

I have an extra trailer side, that I just leave in with a little dielectric grease. Works great.

 

[Higgins]

I have a connector on the receiver that is Custom! This saves me from lending the trailers to those I really dont want to. Then I have the conventional flat 4 conductor inside the Jeeps. With both connectors I use h HEAVY dose of Permatex Dielectric grease. works great! Son-In-Law got a little too deep last spring putting a boat in the water and the connector was under water! Connection still works!!!!!

AL

 

[Jeff]

I use these:

 

[HTGTS350]

All of our trailer connectors are 7 pin or 12 pin, what connections are in a 4 pin connector?

 

[Bib Overalls]

All of our trailer connectors are 7 pin or 12 pin, what connections are in a 4 pin connector?

Left turn & brake.
Right turn & brake.
Running lights.
Ground.

 

[nehog]

Do you keep a light coating of dielectric grease?

This plus I always plug in an old scrap connector into the truck to keep it clean too.

 

[Boomer343]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried the dielectric grease but not with a dummy plug so that would be an option.

I think I'll do a combination of cutting off the old plug, pulling the wires back into the trunk and making up a harness that I can close the trunk lid on. I'll also put a dummy onto the trailer connection to keep it cleaner.

Looks like I'll be pulling the hitch and having it cleaned up as well. Rust all over it. 4 years and the road deicers have done a number for sure.

 

[Steevo]

My truck has the factory 7-conductor trailer plug in the rear bumper, and I have a store-bought "plug" that goes in there, and has a flat-four trailer plug on the back of it.
That flat four connection is more prone to corrosion than any plug i have ever had. Both the trailer side and the truck side need regular cleaning.

I have searched all over for a round pencil-brush type wire brush that will fit these holes to clean and shine up the metal for a better connection.

 

[Boomer343]

Steevo check out the brushes used to clean spray guns. At one time Snap-on had a set of brushes on a key ring and a couple of them worked. I also had a small brass brush for a dremel tool that was small enough but it came in a kit and I haven't found one available separately.

 

[911mike]

My truck has the factory 7-conductor trailer plug in the rear bumper, and I have a store-bought "plug" that goes in there, and has a flat-four trailer plug on the back of it.
That flat four connection is more prone to corrosion than any plug i have ever had. Both the trailer side and the truck side need regular cleaning.

I have searched all over for a round pencil-brush type wire brush that will fit these holes to clean and shine up the metal for a better connection.

Try a snug fitting number drill. Run it in reverse with a little WD-40 so you don't cut with it. I've been doing this for years. I changed all of our trailers to a 7 pin as they just hold up better.

 

[OccupantRJ]

With the round four pin plug I referenced above, the other end under the truck bumper actually plugs into a standard flat four pin connector, which is out of sight. That way, I can pull other's trailers, or just mine, using either connector. They just usually won't be able to plug my trailer into their rig. Sneaky, huh?

 

[premis]

Put one of these on your truck
http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Pollak/PK12707.html

I have a 7-pole just like that on my 2005 truck with over 225,000 miles, and they use salt and brine around here. Never had a single problem plugging right in

Then, I keep one of these in my glovebox
http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/HM47570.html

Keeps it out of the weather and clean when I want to use it.

 

[Boomer343]

Premis if I had a truck I would have a big *** connector on it too. LOL

On our previous car I had a harness with a 7 pin connector but reversed so the part with the cover was on the trailer and the other one stayed in the trunk until needed.

Due to a delivery problem I needed to use my trailer today and hadn't fixed the connector so tried something different. I used a small round nylon brush from a Dremel tool kit and some Frost King Foaming Cleaner that is for air conditioner coils. Put the brush in a cordless drill, sprayed in the cleaner, did a quick clean and had lights right now.

The cleaner made all the connections shiny and like new. Will still do what I had planned but this saved the day.

 

[NY_treeguy]

I have mine tucked into the trunk and use an "extension cord" to get to the trailer. When I had a truck, I went with the 4 pole round, and made up an adapter that I kept in the cab.