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New User
Posts: 2
| Any opinions on whether to have the power cable/plug go into the side of the truck bed or over the tailgate to the existing plug? Installing new hitch for gooseneck. |
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Member
Posts: 9
| I prefer the plug in the side of the bed versus over the tailgate. You will not have to worry about any damage to the cord or having it pulled out while turning. You will have to cut a hole in the side and then run wires from the bumper plug in up to the hole in the bed. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
    
Location: Vermont | Originally written by 1JesterCL65 on 2011-05-04 4:20 PM I prefer the plug in the side of the bed versus over the tailgate. You will not have to worry about any damage to the cord or having it pulled out while turning. You will have to cut a hole in the side and then run wires from the bumper plug in up to the hole in the bed. |
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Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C. | Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2011-05-04 6:38 PM Originally written by 1JesterCL65 on 2011-05-04 4:20 PM I prefer the plug in the side of the bed versus over the tailgate. You will not have to worry about any damage to the cord or having it pulled out while turning. You will have to cut a hole in the side and then run wires from the bumper plug in up to the hole in the bed. +1 +2 |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | I'm not #3. I have the truck plug under the rear bumper and have never had any problems with damaging the cord, pulling either BP or GN trailers. It's easier for me to reach the plug there, and I didn't have to cut any holes in the bed or run any auxilliary wiring.
Edited by gard 2011-05-04 6:54 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2957
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by gard on 2011-05-04 6:52 PM I'm not #3. I have the truck plug under the rear bumper and have never had any problems with damaging the cord, pulling either BP or GN trailers. It's easier for me to reach the plug there, and I didn't have to cut any holes in the bed or run any auxilliary wiring. Minus 1... I have the same history as Gard with the OEM under bumper connector. I also like minimal holes in the truck.
Edited by hosspuller 2011-05-04 7:57 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah | I've always had the plug under the bumper. Never had a problem with that. This truck, I had them install a plug in the bed, in addition to the factory plug under the bumper, So I can use either. The problem I have is that the bed rails are so high, that I can't reach over the rails to plug it in. Fortunately its near the tail gate, So I can plug it in before I shut the tail gate. So I use which ever is more convient. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: Western Ar | In the bed; especially if using an adapter |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 714
Location: Minnesota | Like Painted Horse, I have both plugs. Prefer the bed plug for the gooseneck, but use the bumper one when pulling a bumper pull. The only hole that had to be made was in the bottom of the sidewall and the plug is mounted under the rail on the drivers side right next to the tailgate. Easy to reach.
Edited by genebob 2011-05-04 11:34 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1877
Location: NY | I use the one that the truck came with under the bumper you could get an extension cord for trailers to work |
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Ingalls, Ks | Have both, I've gotten along fine going over, or in one case thru tailgate. Wife and daughter misrouted over tailgate once and tore the plug off. Something to consider. They were 300 miles away when that happened. I was surprised it could be done (misrouted) that way but it can. In bed fixes most of that. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
| I'm +1. Had the cord over the tailgate once. It wedged in the groove in the corner between bed & gate, next turn in the other direction jerked the wiring out of the trailer neck. Not fun.
But now- I did see a guy the other day that had a plug in his bed permenantly mounted. But rather than hardwire in, it came out at the bumper and simply plugged it into the existing OEM bumper plug. So it was basically just an extension cord, permenantly mounted. Pretty cool, easy to troubleshoot, and all OEM wiring integrity was intact. |
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Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain... | I use the OEM plug under the bumper. The only cords I have ever pulled out were out of bed plugs that I didn't unplug. With it in the bumper I unplug before I let the tail gate down. |
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New User
Posts: 2
| Thanks so much for all your feedback. This is my first time to use this forum and it's great! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Valentine, NE | On the bumper with a box. If you use your box much (hay, shovels, fence equip, etc), the ones in the box always seem to have issues with the cord catching on something and pulling out-esp. when turning. I attach a bunge cord to it where it goes over the tailgate to keep it as close to the gooseneck as possible. However on a a flat bed, I like it in the recessed box that the ball sits in. Don't have to worry about the cord getting caught while turning on the corners of the flat bed nor catching on something on the flatbed. |
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Veteran
Posts: 123
Location: Bridgeport,wv and Gaffney,sc | Side of bed also have one on my bumper but i never use it |
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Veteran
Posts: 201
Location: Lincoln, NE | Not sure whether I'm + or - but I DID have the cord break when turning when I had the GN plugged in by the bumper. I had just picked up the trailer and was 200 miles from home.
The Gods smiled on me and I found the help I needed but as soon as I was home I had a plug receptacle installed in the truck bed. Mine is NOT near the tailgate and yes I do need to get a step stool or climb into the bed to plug it in. If I had a do over I'd have it near the tailgate. |
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goosneck hitch
