Items Needed to Flat Tow 1995 Dodge Dakota 4x4 With 2000 Coachman Motorhome

Question:

What parts do I need for wiring the motorhome to tow the dodge? The motorhome has a 7 pin connector reduced to a 3 wire with a ground. Is it feasable to route the wire back to the rear of the dodge, and use the 3 pin trailer wiring connection thats installed on the truck?

asked by: J.W.

Expert Reply:

To safely tow your Dakota 4X4 with your Coachman RV you will need several components. Those items are a tow bar, base plate kit, safety cables, tow bar wiring or light kit, and possibly a supplemental braking system to actuate the Dakota brakes when you apply the brakes in the motorhome. Please note that some states require use of a supplemental braking system; check the laws in your state to ensure you are compliant. Please refer to the attached article which provides a complete overview of each of the various components required and some of the specific options available.

Since your question specifically concerns the wiring required to tow the Dakota, I will also point you to the two attached FAQ articles concerning tow bar wiring and how to wire a tow vehicle to tow a dinghy. These articles explain the choices to be made in selecting a wiring harness which depends on the type of lights on your Dakota and which method of connection you prefer.

The trailer connector on the rear of your truck is there to allow it to connect to the lighting system on a trailer when the truck is doing the pulling. The wiring on the back of the Dakota sends its running light, braking and turn signals out to the trailer being towed behind it when those functions on the truck are actuated. That connector cannot be used to connect the truck lighting system to the motorhome when the truck is being pulled as a dinghy.

The simplest method for having the required lighting on your dinghy is to use a removable tail light system. This type of system is ideal for occasional use and if you want to avoid complex wire splicing into the Dakota wiring. One example is the RoadMaster Standard Magnetic Tow Lights, part # RM-2120. These tow lights simply plug into the existing 4-pole flat connector at the rear of your Coachman and are held in place by powerful magnets; they can be installed and removed in minutes with no tools and are DOT-compliant. You also have the option of using a permanent hard-wired lighting kit, which requires significant wire splicing into the lighting system and some drilling in the Dakota; most people will find that for occasional use the magnetic type is by far the easiest and most cost-effective. However, if you wish to hard wire your truck lighting system, as is often the case with people who tow frequently, you would need a diode kit such as part # RM-154. This kit enables your truck lights to be operated by the RV.

For the other required components I can also provide some recommendations. For tow bar base plates you might consider the Roadmaster Base Plates for the 1995 Dakota by Dodge, part # 210-1. This vehicle-specific fixed-arm design offer an economical option. For a tow bar I suggest part # RM-520, which is the 6000 pound rated Roadmaster Falcon. For safety cables I suggest part # RM-643, the RoadMaster 68 Inch Single Hook, Coiled Safety Cables; these too are rated for 6000 pounds. For a braking system, you might consider the Roadmaster Braking System, part # RM-9400; this portable unit can be set either to apply a predetermined amount of braking or to engage only for emergency stopping.