7 Pin Whip and Outside Table

[stevemorris]

in the middle of a 7 week tour and two things are driving us nuts!

my newly installed 7 pin whip (trailer cable to tv) is driving us crazy, it keeps coming loose and we loose the left turn signal/brake light. the new cord/plug is ****, its a Reese product but the catch on the vehicle outlet, also a reese, doesn't fit properly so the cord doesn't lock in. also the contacts on trailer plug are really poor compared the original that I took off. so now I need to replace the whip and plug again, 2000 km from home. hopefully I can a good quality one

yes the cord is long enough!!

also, we slways have a small table outside for coffee maker etc etc, but its a cheap folding table sitting on the ground. we want one that clips onto the side of the trailer so dear doggie doesn't get entangled in it. hanging on the tt and two telescopic legs for support would be great. any ideas?

[Yeti_plus]

Since you are travelling I would go into an RV dealer and ask to try a new plug in your receptacle. Dealers around here buy them in bulk so there is no extra plastic scrap and they should let you try one or two to see if they hold or fit better. Then all you have to do is wire the new plug to your cable, and it sounds like you have already practiced that. I have several plugs that I bought at a dealer near me and all have held well.
Brian

[hornet28]

If you use a male plug like this with matching female plug you'll solve the problem of the plug coming out. The piece sticking up is captured by the cover on the female end thus preventing it from coming out. I've been using this type for years and have never experienced a plug coming out.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Way-Round-RV-Style-Trailer-Light-Plug-Connector-Replacement-End-Blade-Pin-NEW-/171814520135?epid=1017905780&hash=item2800f18547:g:QqIAAOSw~epZg4ap&vxp=mtr

[theoldwizard1]

TundraTower wrote:
I had trouble with our 7 pin coming out on a turn when we first got our truck/trailer. I just use a small bunge cord (about 1/4") to wrap around the plug and the outlet cover a couple of times to keep it secure.

I use a piece of thin nylon rope (<1/8").

[TundraTower]

I had trouble with our 7 pin coming out on a turn when we first got our truck/trailer. I just use a small bunge cord (about 1/4") to wrap around the plug and the outlet cover a couple of times to keep it secure.

My friends warned me about this when we started. they routinely wrap theirs with electrical tape, but the bunge cord is less messy and re-usable.

[jboczek]

Replace the connector with this: https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/EZ-Connector/319-R7-01.html

I've never had a problem with it.

[rbpru]

I would find a NAPA auto store and see how their plug fits.

[gmw_photos]

Re the 7 pin plug, try shoving it in as tightly as possible, then using a cable tie ( zip tie ) around the "lid" and fat round part of the plug.

Outside of the trailer table: my camper came with a side mount BBQ, which I don't use. But the bracket is good to support a table top. I made a top out of some left over floor laminate from a home remodel project.

[budwich]

I had a similar problem with a replacement curt. It was very hard to seat properly into the TV socket. Check the pins / blades on the cord to ensure that the blades of the socket are going in between the two contact sleeves and opposed to sliding to one side or the other. IF you are going to "throw it away" anyways, you can try filing / sanding the edges of the plug such that it is slightly round / bullet like. This may help it seat better. Originally I had another cable / plug that had this "feature" and it worked better but there were other issues with respect to cable colors and contacts (only one as opposed to two in each pin area).
Anyways, the curt was initially very hard to seat but is better now after a little work on the plug.

[stevemorris]

Atlee wrote:
Why did you make a change from the original that worked?

because it was too long and the previous owner let it rub on the road, wore almost right through it, 3 or 4 exposed wires that were almost worn right through

[azrving]

Buy a metal designed or reinforced model at Etrailer. Buy some angle iron and make a bracket and screw it to the outside of the rv to hold the table.

[Atlee]

Why did you make a change from the original that worked?