Recommended 4-Pole Trailer Wiring Harness for 2002 Volvo V70 XC Towing Kayak Trailer
Question:
I have a 2002 Volvo V70 XC All Wheel Drive with the European 7 way. I need to tow a lightweight kayak trailer that uses a standard 4-way plug. I see adapter #118710 that is used for European 7-way to standard 4-way plugs, but I also see other wiring adapters which state that it needs power assist direct from the battery. Can you tell me if my vehicle can use just the adapter for this lightweight application?
asked by: JR W
Expert Reply:
The wiring in your 2002 Volvo V70 XC All Wheel Drive is not heavy enough to handle the additional power demand from trailer lights so this is why the 4-pole harnesses we offer for it, such as Curt # C59236 and Tow Ready # 119179KIT, use a direct battery connection to get the actual power that will operate the trailer lights. With this type of powered harness the vehicle wiring only acts like a switch to tell the converter to draw power from the battery and send it through the 4-pole connector to the trailer. Such harnesses protect that delicate (and costly to repair) vehicle wiring. In the event of a short on the trailer the easily-replaceable harness will get fried, rather than the vehicle's wiring.
An adapter like # 118710 will allow a vehicle and trailer with different connector to be wired together but it does not provide the protection for the car's internal wiring. IF you have this European-style connector on the V70, and IF you know for sure that the trailer's power demand is within the car wiring capacity, then you could safely use the adapter. Unless you can confirm this compatibility I recommend bypassing the existing connector and installing a new and separate 4-pole harness like one of the above kits.
Curt 4-pole harness kit # 56146KIT has everything you need to wire it to your Volvo, including all required connectors and a circuit tester to identify the proper wires in the car. A video and article are linked to help you with the installation.
If you should ever find the need to have an RV-style 7-way on the Volvo (please refer to the linked photo) it is easy to convert the 4-pole to this format by using adapter # 37185. This is a common style of trailer connector, as noted in the linked article on wiring.
Products Referenced in This Question
Trailer Connector Adapter for Land Rover - 7-Way, Round Pin, European Style to 4-Way Flat
- Trailer Wiring
- Wiring Adapters
- Single-Function Adapter
- 7 Round - Round
- Plug and Lead
- 4 Flat
- Tow Ready
more information >
Adapter 4-Pole to 7-Pole and 4-Pole
- Trailer Wiring
- Wiring Adapters
- Multi-Function Adapter
- 4 Flat
- Plug and Lead
- 4 Flat
- 7 Round - Blade
- Hopkins
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt Powered Tail Light Converter with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Converter
- Universal Fit
- 4 Flat
- CURT
more information >
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