SUBJECT: # 11714: Help!!! Truck to Trailer wiring...CONFUSED...

Submitted by Bam (65.129.189.73) from MARYLAND on 2/5/06 4:10:00 PM

Hi Guys,

Got a 2000 Chevy Silverado with the basic trailer wiring package and I have a flat four connector attached for my old trailer which had NO brakes....have a new rig coming in with brakes and it has a flat 5 pin connector on the trailer. In my wiring harness, the EXTRA wire is light blue and the truck manual says it is for the CENTER high mounted stop lamp.....can I use this lead for the trailer brakes?????

Thanks, Gregg

1. 2/5/06 5:07:00 PM Submitted by Roby (70.242.0.102) from TX says No
   The 5th wire on the trailer plug connector needs to be connected to the reverse lights on the truck. This will energize a solenoid on the trailer brake line which will disable the brake system on the trailer when you need to back up. Buy an adapter at a trailer supply store that plugs into the 7 pin connector on the truck and converts down to a flat 5 pin connector. I have heard Walmart may carry this adapter.

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2. 2/5/06 11:57:00 PM Submitted by B-Bob (68.13.158.102) from IA says electric brakes?
   There are two types of trailer brakes: electric and surge/hydraulic. electric has to have a controller inside the truck to send a variable voltage (0-12) to the trailer. Most boats have hydraulic brakes so that basically there is a section of the hitch that moves inside the next section of hitch kinda like a piston and as the trailer pushes into the hitch this applies the brakes to the trailer. It is this type you a wire that connects to the backup lights so that the brakes are not allowed to apply when you are in reverse (counter productive) Again most boats have the surge type but be sure before you wire for it.

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3. 2/6/06 3:27:00 PM Submitted by John in Tennessee from TN says You can buy a harness...
   that will give you what you need. Just buy one plug it in and forget it. The few dollars you spend will be well spent.

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4. 2/7/06 8:35:00 PM Submitted by Bam (65.134.209.192) from MD says John, please elaborate...
   John,

   Don't understand what you mean.....the basic wiring package on my truck originally had 6 wires with no connectors (terminated in tape). I wired a 4 wire connector for my old boat to work. With the new trailer, need to wire in a 5 pin connector for the brakes (B-Boy, it's hydraulic, thanks)....please provide some more details, thanks, BAM

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5. 2/8/06 10:57:00 AM Submitted by andy (128.143.61.214) from LA says 5 pin
   Bam - I've just done this on my 97 Silverado. Since you have a 4 pin plug on the truck already, the simplest way to go is to buy a replacement 5 pin flat plug (say from West Marine). Tranfer your truck wires from the 4 pin plug to the 5 pin plug using the female socket (white wire, ground) as a reference point. The outermost pin remaining unwired is for the trailer brake lock-out solenoid. If your truck wiring is like mine you will be able to trace two wires not already tied into the plug that go to both tail-light assemblies - on my 97 one is black (ground) and one is light green (back-up lights). Tie the back-up wire to the 5th pin on the 5 pin plug and you should be good to go. MAKE SURE THE TRAILER SOLENOID ONLY ACTIVATES (CLICKS) WHEN THE TRUCK IS PUT INTO REVERSE - YOU DON'T WANT THE BRAKES DISENGAGING WHEN YOU BRAKE OR TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS ! Hope this makes sense, if not post and I will try again.

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6. 2/8/06 6:54:00 PM Submitted by Bam (65.129.189.181) from MD says Thanks Andy!!!
   Hey Andy,

   Yep, my truck has a light green wire for the back up lights which I will wire to the fifth pin on my new 5 pin connector (will wire the other 4 as instructed). makes perfect sense now....

   I see you are from LA, hope you were not affected by the Katrina tragedy.

   Thanks again, BAM

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7. 2/9/06 7:02:00 AM Submitted by andy (12.5.58.6) from LA says Katrina
   Bam- thanks for your concern. We evacuated New Orleans the day before the storm hit - we're still living in Virginia. Our house was not badly damaged and we hope to return in March/April when my lab at the LSU med school is repaired. We were very fortunate. I guess that most of my fishing spots in the marsh have gone though !

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8. 2/9/06 3:25:00 PM Submitted by Jj (68.170.171.100) from TN says Green Wire!!!!!!!
   Light Green is the correct wire for the Chevy. Did mine last week!!! Good Luck!

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9. 2/11/06 4:45:00 PM Submitted by Bam (65.129.200.254) from MD says Katrina
   Wow Andy.....glad you made out "not too bad"....I know a whole lot of folks lives have been turned upside down and who knows if they will ever return to normalcy....very sad.....

   good luck to you, BAM

   PS: I truly hope the fishing is not completely destroyed either.....

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