So I bought a camperette for my Ford f150.This thing has no badging or anything for me to get trouble shooting from a manufacturer, etc.So basically I trusted the gentleman who sold it to me, and he stated all lights work, in and out.The camper inside has NO converter or fuse box or anything that I can find.I have the camper plugged into a 7 prong adapter into a 4 pin on my truck.All exterior lights work but the interior dome lights do not.There is also a 3 prong male end that hangs outside that is supposed to run the lights from my home. My questions are1. I thought I needed a breaker or inverter to run these lights (he says they should run off my truck battery as is)And 2.If I don't need the above inverter or fuses, why won't the interior lights work but all of the exterior lights work?This is clearly a ubuilt camper.Thank you in advance for any help.

first thought...check the bulbs.

The seven pin plug needs to be plugged into a seven pin plug on your truck to get power for the interior light. You are using an adapter that does not have a 12 volt power wire.

The 4 pin on your truck will not provide power to the 12V interior lights in your camper (a 7 pin on your truck should - with some caveats). So the only way you can get power to the interior lights is plugging in the power cord into a recepticle in your house (providing your camper has a converter somewhere), a good 12V battery connected to the camper, or plugging into a 7 pin - not a 4 pin. The caveats are; 1) the fuse for the 12V feed on your truck has to be in place and, 2) a Ford for instance, the engine must be running.

You can't run 12 volt interior lights from a 4 pin as there is no 12 volt feed. You have to have a proper 7 pin on your truck for that 7 pin cord to plug into.If there's no converter then the 120 volt male plug likely just powers some interior outlets.

Does your truck not have a 7 pin plug, since you are using an adapter into the 4 pin? The 4-pin would run the exterior lights, including stop/turn, but would not have the battery pole likely needed for the interior lights.Jerry

Truck Camper interior lights | Good Sam Community

Caseylikesmotor
Explorer
Apr 10, 2023
If you look underneath the truck, near the tailgate, you’ll likely find a connector for installing a 7 pin pigtail. Check your dealer or etrailer.com for buying the factory 7pin pigtail - plug it into the connector and ready to go. You may also have to install a fuse in the fuse box in order to get 12V power to the 7pin when/if you install one.

So I took a look, and I believe there is a plug I can tap into. I'm going to confirm with my local united trailor after the long weekend.
Caseylikesmotor
Explorer
Apr 10, 2023
stevenal wrote:
The weight rating of an F150 is insufficient for most truck campers.

Yes I am aware, that I's why I moved on it so quickly. She is light, and made for 1/2 ton. Sits beautifully.
nickthehunter
Nomad III
Apr 10, 2023
Caseylikesmotorbikes wrote:
The truck is a 2012 Ford f150. It only came with a 4 pin.

With all this great info, I think I'm going to use some battery operated lights until I can rig up a house battery.

My late father left me an converter. I will post pics when I find it and see if it is usable for my situation.

Thank you for all the help gents
If you look underneath the truck, near the tailgate, you’ll likely find a connector for installing a 7 pin pigtail. Check your dealer or etrailer.com for buying the factory 7pin pigtail - plug it into the connector and ready to go. You may also have to install a fuse in the fuse box in order to get 12V power to the 7pin when/if you install one.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 10, 2023
stevenal wrote:
The weight rating of an F150 is insufficient for most truck campers.

Thanks for that. At least it took 2 pages before the weight cops showed up….

Casey, do a little learnin on the different types of trailer plugs and their functions.
It’ll help you understand what MFL was explaining.
stevenal
Nomad II
Apr 10, 2023
The weight rating of an F150 is insufficient for most truck campers.
Caseylikesmotor
Explorer
Apr 10, 2023
The truck is a 2012 Ford f150. It only came with a 4 pin.

With all this great info, I think I'm going to use some battery operated lights until I can rig up a house battery.

My late father left me an converter. I will post pics when I find it and see if it is usable for my situation.

Thank you for all the help gents
stevenal
Nomad II
Apr 10, 2023
Most of us have a convertor and a dedicated house battery in the camper. Running lights from your starting battery may cause a no-start condition. There is a forum here dedicated to TCs.
nickthehunter
Nomad III
Apr 10, 2023
MFL wrote:
For the interior lights to work from a 120v house receptacle, you would need a converter to convert 120v to 12v. It may operate the interior outlets.

It is not a big job to add a 7-pin to truck, for a knowledgeable person that has prior experience. You would need to run wire from battery under hood, all the way to rear of truck. If you bought a kit, watched a UT video, you should be able to do it.

Jerry
What kind of vehicle do you have? If it’s a late model pickup, it probably already has a connector for a plug and play 7 pin receptacle.
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 10, 2023
For the interior lights to work from a 120v house receptacle, you would need a converter to convert 120v to 12v. It may operate the interior outlets.

It is not a big job to add a 7-pin to truck, for a knowledgeable person that has prior experience. You would need to run wire from battery under hood, all the way to rear of truck. If you bought a kit, watched a UT video, you should be able to do it.

Jerry
Caseylikesmotor
Explorer
Apr 10, 2023
Thank you guys for the information.

So it sounds like I will have to get a 7 pin professional to splice in a 7. I can do it myself but I'm wondering is it a big deal? Would there be 7 wires to connect or 4 and 3 needed to be added?

Also, I did plug into the 110volt from the house and no lights worked, but I didn't check the 2 outlets.

Thank you guys

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