Installing a 7 Blade RV Plug For Towing with a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 W/O Factory Tow Package  

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We have installation instructions and videos online for installing a 7-Way RV trailer connector on your 2000 Chevrolet Silverado. The videos will be a good reference, but you will have to run a couple extra wires to the rear of the vehicle, since your truck does not have the factory tow package.

If you are installing a brake controller, you will also need to complete some wiring under the hood and select a brake controller along with the correct, under dash, wiring harness. I would recommend the Tekonsha Prodigy P2, item # 90885 and wiring harness # 3025-P. This brake controller is easy to install and adjust and gets great reviews from our customers. I will explain the brake controller installation below.

Now, for installing the 7-Way, you will need to have a properly functioning 4-Way connector. You can use the 4-Pole Hardwire Kit Including Circuit Tester, item # 18252, to install a 4-Way, if you do not already have one on your truck. Use the included circuit tester to determine the correct wires to splice into. You may find a wire harness along the drivers side frame rail, above the spare tire to splice into or you may have to splice into the correct wires behind each tail light.

Once the 4-Way is installed, you will need to install the Adapter 4 Pole to 7 Pole and 4 Pole, item # 37185. You will also need 25 feet of Jacketed 2 Wire, item # 10-2-1, to complete the installation.

Start by plugging the working 4-Way connector into the 4-Way connector coming out of the back of the 7 and 4-Way connector housing. Then, ground the white wire exiting the back of the 7-Way connector to the vehicle frame.

Next, connect the black wire in the the double bonded 10 gauge wire to the black wire coming from the connector and connect the white wire in the double bonded wire to the blue wire from the connector. If you want to hook up the reverse light circuit, center pole, you can do so now by connecting the purple, sometimes yellow, wire to the reverse light circuit behind one of the vehicle tail lights.

Now, run the double bonded wire forward to the engine compartment, avoiding any areas that could cut, pinch, or burn the wire. Attach the black wire to the most forward power post at the power distribution box. A 40 amp fuse is needed in the location closest to this power post.

Next, run the white wire over to the power distribution box, and connect it to the blue wire, after clipping off the small black connector. This wire is located at the rear of the power distribution box, along with a red wire for power to the in cab brake controller. You will need to remove the corner bracket at the fire wall and the top and lower covers from the power distribution box to access these wires. Connect the red wire to the closest power post at the power distribution box, and install a large 30 amp fuse in the closest location.

That completes installation of the 7-Way RV connector at the rear of the vehicle. Installing the brake controller in the cab is now just an matter of plugging the # 3025-P harness into the under dash port, see link, and the back of the brake controller, then mounting the controller in an accessible location.

expert reply by: Robert G

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