My 2014 16 DBS has had a bad connection to the tow vehicle from the first day. It never held in well, and I was driving and it fell out once again. It got some road burn to the end. Is it better to replace just the plug or better to replace the entire 6 foot cord at the junction box.
Thanks for any advice.
Well, if the plug is bunged up from scraping on the ground then replace it, but you only need to replace the plug unless the wire go scrapped up as well.
Then look at why it fell out. On mine and it may be inherent in that plug on all RVs, you really have to jam it in for the locking tab to connect. Once it locks in, it isn't going to fall out. Also on mine, if it isn't locked in then it won't make connections.
David
The socket on my Sequoia has a spring loaded cover that locks onto the back of the "handle" of the connector and keeps it from falling out. For me it's also a reference on whether I have it pushed all the way in. Does yours not have a similar cover, or is it still not keeping it in?
No matter how many times I try to keep the plug in, it doesn't last. When I picked up the trailer, had that same problem. I check before I hit the road, and can start out with contact, but lose it while driving, the plug backs out somehow.
Recently rented a trailer for yard work from Home Depot, had no problem with the plug on that trailer. So it must be the plug on the camplite. Previous fiberglass trailers had no problem either. Leaning toward just getting the plug, not a whole new wire.
[quote timestamp="1441647263" author="@david" source="/post/14924/thread"]Well, if the plug is bunged up from scraping on the ground then replace it, but you only need to replace the plug unless the wire go scrapped up as well.
Then look at why it fell out. On mine and it may be inherent in that plug on all RVs, you really have to jam it in for the locking tab to connect. Once it locks in, it isn't going to fall out. Also on mine, if it isn't locked in then it won't make connections.
David[/quote][font size="3"]With all due respect to our friend David, I would suggest replacing the entire cable if the connector is damaged. The connector is molded onto the cable, and therefore, waterproof. However I agree with David and Tinkeringtechie that the connector, if properly seated and engaged, should not ever fall out. [/font]
I think my camplite came with a faulty plug, it was manufactured poorly, the mold wasn't right.
If you purchased your camper from a dealer, I suggest you return to the dealer. A 7-pin connector that correctly makes contact is a necessary part of the transaction. There are laws that apply to merchantability.
rmg,
Does the receptacle on your vehicle have a spring-loaded cover?
The one on our Flex with factory tow package does. This was my first experience with 7-conductor plugs, so I assumed the cover, with its integral locking tab, was standard.
With that spring loaded cover locked down against the tab properly, it's hard to see how the plug could work it's way out under any foreseeable circumstance.
Maybe the connector on the trailer is missing the locking tab, either through defect or wear from being dragged. Without that, it won't stay in. Replacing the entire cordconnector on the trailer seems easier and better long term than splicing in just a new plug. This is assuming the tow vehicle side has the connector lid that locks the inserted plug.
I replaced the entire cord on the camplite. The new cord is much better. The original cord wouldn't stay in, constantly backing out. I also put a zip tie on the cord now, to ensure it can't fall out and rub on the ground.
[font face="arial"]I rewired a trailer recently and bought a RV 7 pin pigtail assy from Northern Tool, I discovered there is a new color code now which is different than the usual color code.
You may want to review the color code, the pin positions are the same but the usual colors for tail lights and blinkers have changed.
I removed the cover on the junction box on my 6x15 toy hauler and discovered they have the green connected to brown,red to yellow,etc.
https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/H20046.html
I thought there was some kind of mistake and researched it and found out there is some kind of new SAE standard, it's sure going to catch a lot of people by surprise when they install one of the new trailer wiring pigtails.[/font]
I bought a new cord on Amazon. The colors were the same. I expected them to be wrong, and we checked each one as we went. Whew........ It went easier than I thought.