RV 7 pole plug won't fit. Help please

[whosgreg]

Hi fellow RVers,

I just bought a 2011 Silverado that already has a GM 7 pole blade connector. It has 4 grooves inside with the wide one on top. Our RV 7 pole plug won't fit in. It was too tight. Does anyone know where I can get the correct plug please? I looked in the internet and found nothing. I'm probably looking in the wrong places. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Tasma]

I have had this issues with a double brass trailer plug, it just would not plug in. I got a single brass pin out and fit perfectly

[pbeverly]

You are replying to a question from May 2016. They probably figured it out by now.

[whosgreg]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate your help. Have a good one.

[hohenwald48]

Can't believe we have 3 pages on plugging in a connector. If it won't just plug up there is something preventing it. You just have to figure out what it is. If the keyway is properly lined up then it's something else. We can guess until the cows come home but the OP is just going to have to take a look see. It's not rocket science. :h

[bama2]

I think the raised 3 rows are to make the male part of the plug to stay tight with no play.

[LIKE2BUILD]

whosgreg wrote:
My 2007 Ford truck had the same connector you have. The 3 grooves in your connector are much wider and flat. Mine has 3 narrow grooves and both are raised with the middle row sunken. The Ford one is a twist type one. I might have to change the connector which I'm trying to avoid. It's much easier to change the plug. 🙂

Try using some silicone di-electric grease on the outside of the trailer plug to help it slide and also put some on the end of the trailer plug to lubricate the pin connections. If that still doesn't help there is probably one or more pins on the truck that are bent.

[SouthpawHD]

On some plugs, the 6 inside female connectors on the the trailer could have been crimped together to make a tighter connection for the previous owner.

Try taking a small screwdriver or fingernail and pry those female connectors apart just a little. It'll cost you nothing to try.

[greende]

A couple of observations:

I've never had a GM truck that did not have live power to the plug. That's not to say someone could have removed the fuse.

Oddly, I have had this same problem with my 2011 3500. My flatbed car hauler has a seven way plug that is slightly larger and fits very tight. Every spring when it sits for the winter, I have to use silicone spray on the outside of the plug and a shot to the receptacle on the truck to get the plug to sit deep enough to make contact. The first year, I even took some fine sandpaper to the plug to slightly decrease the diameter. Since you may be looking at changing the trailer end anyway, I would use a meter to test the truck end and use some sandpaper to fine tune the fit.

[TKW]

seaeagle2 wrote:
On my 2010 F150, I had to install the fuses and relays for the the plug to be powered. there may be a bag of fuses and relays in the glovebox.

I agree. If the truck is new to you and the previous owner hasn't towed with it. You may have to look into the fuse box underhood to install the fuse. New GM trucks normally have the fuse set aside for owner to install on first time towing. I remember doing that on my once new Silverado.

I suspect it may also be the reason with the dirty connector.

[seaeagle2]

On my 2010 F150, I had to install the fuses and relays for the the plug to be powered. there may be a bag of fuses and relays in the glovebox.

[camperforlife]

I had the same problem with my new Cougar and my '11 Sierra. If I lubed the male plug it would go in and make the connection. If I didn't lube it you couldn't force it in far enough to make the connection.

I just chopped off the trailer plug and replaced it with this one . Easy cure for the problem.

[westend]

If some spray contact cleaner doesn't do the job, check to see if the ground connection is continuous. Do you have a meter?

[whosgreg]

My 2007 Ford truck had the same connector you have. The 3 grooves in your connector are much wider and flat. Mine has 3 narrow grooves and both are raised with the middle row sunken. The Ford one is a twist type one. I might have to change the connector which I'm trying to avoid. It's much easier to change the plug. 🙂

[RoyB]

I just went outside and looked at my two 7-way connectors on the trailer side and they both are smoothed and round with just the one raised area like this photo...


I also have one of these 7-way testers which is the same way smooth and round...


My only 7-way connector on my one truck does have some small raised ribs at three locations around the inside of the round connector. These are there to keep the 7-way plug from the trailer centered I think...

Mine looks similar to this google image showing the three groups of raised ribs on the inside...


Everything here fits inside my truck connector just fine with little effort...

I do see in your photo scraping marks on the inside of your truck side connector on your three groups of raised ribs...


My truck is a FORD product and has the 7-way and 4-pin combo trailer connector setup...

Assuming now this is what you referring too... Don't know what to tell you....

Roy Ken