Replacement 4-Pole Trailer Connector for Utility Trailer with 5-Wire Wishbone Wiring Setup

Question:

Im still confused, my utility trailer has 5 wires and the connector that came with it was a 4 pin. The connector is ruined I need a new one but I can only find a connector with 4 wires coming out of it. Maybe Im a little slow Ive read the questions and answers over and over again but when you say the odd wire needs to be connected to both but the new connector only has 4 wires coming out of it how does that actually work I mean whats the visual you can say the wire needs to be connected to both so what do I need to split the wire off, Into Yinch ?.. Otherwise I try to connect one wire to both than everything is connected together, and that doesnt work.. product one of the products thats recommended only has 4 wires the one product thats recommended that does have 5 wires and 4 pins is 35 feet of wire which I dont need I just need the connector and a foot or so of wire or less but that product, short 4 pin connector, only has 4 wires. Thanks so much for your anticipated effort to break it down for me. ???? No offense intended you guys didnt build the trailer but it seems kind of asinine to be wired that way, when its explained so the wire doesnt need to be run to the other side , my trailer , 6×12 utility lawn trailer, with only 2 lights, no brakes, single axle, all the lights run down one side underneath of the trailer on the left and the wires for the right light go across at the back of the trailer anyway. Makes me wonder why their using it, new 4 pin 5 wire connectors seem to be rare and difficult to find.

asked by: Michael M

Expert Reply:

When a 4-pole (4-pin) flat trailer connector actually has 5 wires this simply means it is a 'wishbone' style connector with dual running light wires. These dual wires just make it easier to connect to the running lights on both sides of the trailer. Examples of such items are # A35W42B, # A20WB and # A10-4225VP.

If your trailer wiring is still okay and you just need a new 4-pole plug to re-connect the leads from the trailer you can use Hopkins Endurance Quick-Fix Replacement 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector part # HM48192 or # HMC20031. You'll just twist the two brown running light wires together before installing them in the plug. A video on this item is linked for you along with a photo showing the wire-to-pin configuration. A help article on wiring is also included for you.

If you prefer you could instead use a junction box like # 3375601100 and a 4-pole like # W787268 and use ring terminal # DW05702-1 on each trailer wire and each wire on the new 4-pole to make all the connections inside the box. The junction box makes any future wiring repairs a lot easier.