Forum Discussion

Bob_Vaughn's avatar
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Apr 24, 2015

7 way Plug tester

I have a pickup truck with a 7 way plug in the bed and one in the bumper. When I have some one activate the brake control the green light for the brakes just flickers on the bumper and the one in the bed I can not see a light. So I am assuming that I am not getting full power to the brakes on the trailer. Should I hook a ground wire from the frame of the trailer to the frame of the truck to get a good circuit ? Or am I panicking over nothing??
Seeking Advice
  • Bob_Vaughn's avatar
    Bob_Vaughn
    Explorer
    Apr 27, 2015
    I took the 7 way plug from the bumper and discovered that the brake wire that had been spliced in for the bed plug had broken off the connector plus it is way too small guage wire. The company that installed the hitch and plug did a crappy job. The splice job looks like a job that a child would have done......So now it is going to cost more money to have it fixed.....
  • Chris_Bryant's avatar
    Chris_Bryant
    Explorer II
    Apr 27, 2015
    Some controllers have to have a draw (load) on them- a test light will not do.
  • Bob_Vaughn's avatar
    Bob_Vaughn
    Explorer
    Apr 26, 2015
    Gene&Ginny wrote:
    Bob Vaughn wrote:
    ... Should I hook a ground wire from the frame of the trailer to the frame of the truck to get a good circuit ? ...
    One of those wires in the 7 pin is a ground that connects the frame of the trailer to the frame of the tow vehicle. No reason to add another.

    I do not have the tow vehicle hooked up to the 5th wheel.......
  • Gene_Ginny's avatar
    Gene_Ginny
    Explorer
    Apr 25, 2015
    Bob Vaughn wrote:
    ... Should I hook a ground wire from the frame of the trailer to the frame of the truck to get a good circuit ? ...
    One of those wires in the 7 pin is a ground that connects the frame of the trailer to the frame of the tow vehicle. No reason to add another.
  • Nik's avatar
    Nik
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2015
    Test with the manual slide on the brake controller, all the way over.
  • remdog_1's avatar
    remdog_1
    Explorer
    Apr 24, 2015
    Also need to check to see if fuse needed under hood. Some tow packages require 20 or 30 amp fuse. It all depends on type and year of vehicle. Also check ground. 90% if issues is bad ground
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Apr 24, 2015
    When stopped most newer trucks will not send BRAKE CONTROL DC VOlTAGES when pressing the brake pedal. My 2010 Ford truck has to be moving at least 10MPH before any brake control voltages is sent to the trailer brakes.

    Using the MANUAL SLIDER LEVER however overrides this feature.

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