My '06 Ram 3500 pickup has the trailer tow package, but the connector is a 7-pin connector... I guess that is an RV-style connector.
Is there such thing as a 6-pin adapter that will fit into this connector so that I can hook my horse trailer up directly? I do NOT want to have to splice into the truck's electrical system to make my 6-pin horse trailer work with the stupid RV connector Dodge assumes everyone needs.
Posted 2006-07-31 8:38 PM (#45762 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
Absolutely, that is a very common problem. Most Wal-Marts have them or T.S.C. stores, Rural King, and the like. R.V. dealers should have them too, but for twice the price! I have to use one myself. NOTE: there are two of the six wires INSIDE of the adapter that MAY have to switch places for the 12V + and the electric brakes to work properly. You'll know as soon as ya plug in and try to move the trailer.
Posted 2006-07-31 8:44 PM (#45763 - in reply to #45762) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Veteran
Posts: 254 Location: Dickinson, TX
Thank you. I should receive the adapter later this week--B&W hitch installer had to order it today.
I'll post here if I run into problems with how it works... I hope I don't have to rewire anything with the truck... hopefully the connector can be opened and rewired easily.
I wonder if the Silver Star trailers are typically center hot or center brakes...
Posted 2006-07-31 9:02 PM (#45766 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
Hey Mike,
Yeah, they are easy to open up and fix IF it is backwards, Don't worry someone will be here to help ya! Reg, is on nearly every day and I know he knows all about that situation as well as many other "full-timers" around here!
Posted 2006-08-01 12:00 AM (#45773 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Oak Harbor,WA
You don't tear apart the plug and rewire it, there are two different 6 pin adapter plugs available, center pin "12v/batt" or center pin "brakes". They are very common and you will know right off if you have the wrong one when you hook up and the trailer brakes are locked up tight. Easyer deal is to switch the plug on the trailer so you don't need an adapter. No big deal. We have several boat, quad, utility and horse trailers and a 5th wheel so have several adapters and would keep the stock set up on the truck because of the availability of adapters for it.
Posted 2006-08-01 8:22 AM (#45784 - in reply to #45773) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
All of my horse trailers came with one of those RV plugs on them I guess?! They plug right into a Ford or a Dodge...can't find a Chevy in the parking lot to verify.
Posted 2006-08-01 10:12 AM (#45792 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
snoplop, don't know where you are getting your adapters but everyone I've ever owned, used, or seen, you take out 4 screws that hold the two halves together and then you can switch the two wires in question around if need be. I've NEVER seen one that specified on the package which way it was wired internaly so that you had a choice of which two to buy.
Personally, I like the six way "horse trailer" plug. I'v bought two brand new trailers this year already and specificaly have them put the 6 way on them at the factory NOT the 7 way R.V. plug. To each their own but I like them that way... always have and always will.
Posted 2006-08-01 1:17 PM (#45806 - in reply to #45792) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I've got one of the molded adapters. No screws to remove. It sucks because it has a short and no way to fix it. I'm just going to change out the one on the trailer and throw away the adapter.
Posted 2006-08-02 2:44 PM (#45907 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Member
Posts: 12
Location: Holstein, NE 68950
Hoppy manufacturing makes two different adapters, one says center pin electric brakes, the other says center pin auxiliary, both can be taken apart and the two wires switched if the adapter is wrong for your application.
Posted 2006-08-02 5:39 PM (#45917 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
NOT too proud to admit when I'm wrong! Just so happens, I guess, that every one I've ever bought never specified which way it was wired. (from the factory) Always had to take it to the rig and do the ole' trial and error test. Maybee I was always too cheap to buy a good one and went generic! Anyhow that's good to know for future referance! thanks and
Posted 2006-08-02 6:38 PM (#45921 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Regular
Posts: 92 Location: iowa
ok, while on the topic I finally got my hitch and trailer wiring done and still my back up lites come on when I plug my trailer into the truck (06 f350 dually), unplg it they go off, put it in drive still on and moves fine, BUT the damn backup lites stay on.
Posted 2006-08-02 8:32 PM (#45927 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Veteran
Posts: 254 Location: Dickinson, TX
Originally written by racesarabhorses on 2006-07-31 8:33 PM
My '06 Ram 3500 pickup has the trailer tow package, but the connector is a 7-pin connector... I guess that is an RV-style connector.
Is there such thing as a 6-pin adapter that will fit into this connector so that I can hook my horse trailer up directly? I do NOT want to have to splice into the truck's electrical system to make my 6-pin horse trailer work with the stupid RV connector Dodge assumes everyone needs.
Any help is appreciated.
Mike
OKAY, ALL. HERE IS WHAT I FIGGERED OUT:
1. The Cummins will pull this trailer like it isn't there. Even on sandy ground with ALL trailer brakes LOCKED.
2. The Cummins will buck and skip when backing with brakes locked. When it gets stuck in the deep sand, and bucks trying to back out, then you have hopefully realized the trailer brakes are stuck.
2.a. Especially when white clutch smoke appears.
So... no damage to the truck--smoked the clutch lightly, twice, and realize the mighty Dodge would not be burning the clutch trying to back a 5600 pound trailer, even in sandy ground, unless there were considerable resistance. Disconnected everything and the trailer backed fine.
Took apart the connector and found that the red wire is hooked up to the terminal corresponding to the brake terminal on my truck's jack... and the green wire inside the connector is hooked up to the constant hot (+) wire on the truck's jack.
Explains why 1) the brakes were locked on the trailer and 2) why I didn't have the interior trailer lights, floodlight, or tack room light.
So swapped the red and green wires in the connector and... VOILA... everything seems to work. I will hook back up to the trailer tomorrow night and see how the brakes do. Might wait till this weekend, though, as I must have the hydraulic line hooked into the Brakesmart before it will brake the trailer. I know the truck will stop the load, but no sense rolling down the highway without everything working properly.
Cool.... :-)
Thanks, all. I'll post back if things don't work this weekend.
Posted 2006-08-03 8:29 PM (#45986 - in reply to #45761) Subject: RE: 2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
Member
Posts: 8
Location: Oak Harbor,WA
If you only have one trailer and never want to hook anything else up the 6 pin is fine. Like I said, we have SEVEN trailers and a slide in camper. A six pin plug won't cut the mustard cuz we have many different configurations and the stock 7 pin is industry standard and many adapters are made for it. I like to be able to pull anything with a quick adapter swap. To each his own. Have a friend who can afford to dedicate a pull rig to each of his trailers. He could care less what the industry standard is, just wires each rig to pull the trailer its dedicated to. I only have 4 rigs so I'm ok with adapters. To each his own.
2006 Ram 3500--convert trailer connector to 6-pin?
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Just so happens, I guess, that every one I've ever bought never specified which way it was wired. (from the factory) Always had to take it to the rig and do the ole' trial and error test. Maybee I was always too cheap to buy a good one and went generic!
Anyhow that's good to know for future referance! thanks and 