How to Wire Reverse Lights on a Trailer with a 4-Way Trailer Connector

Question:

Hello, Have a trailer with 4 pin connector, the vehicle I use is a 2015 Ford F150 with the 4 and 7 pin trailer connector. I bought the adapter that converts from 7 pin to 4 and 5 pin plugs from etrailer.com. Then I bout 2 incandescent reverse lights with 2 pigtail wires, one white ground and 1 brown power wire. Will adapter work for these reverse lights? Please advise the best way to make it work and parts needed. Thank you very much.

asked by: DIMITRY

Helpful Expert Reply:

Here's what you'll need to do. You'll need to get rid of the 4 pole on your trailer, and replace it with a 5 pole, part # HM47910. The extra lead on the plug would be extended using a length of 16 gauge wire # 16-1-1, sold by the foot. Split the wire off so it connects to the brown wire on each reverse light. Make sure the white ground lead for each lamp grounds to the trailer frame or to metal that's connected to the trailer frame.

The fifth pin in your adapter will go hot when the vehicle transmission is shifted into reverse, which will illuminate your reverse lamps.

expert reply by: Mike L