Replacement Trailer End Wiring Connector For 1990 Ellis Boat Trailer

Question:

Hello, I have a 1990 Ellis trailer for my boat. My hitch came undone during towing and severed my wiring from the 7 pin connector on the truck. My thought is to replace the connection with your 4 foot 7 pin but, my connection is only 4 wires, and the new one you sell looks as it has 7 or 8 wires. Luckily no damage to the hot or truck was done. My first though is tape off the wires I’m not using with electrical tape and connect the other wires directly. How can I go about connecting a brand new 7 pin to my old wiring on my trailer? Also, the wiring appears it might have been pulled out some from the trailer after the accident.

asked by: Joe T

Expert Reply:

The Hopkins 7-Way Molded Trailer Wire Connector # H20043 will have 7 wires to control the lights, brakes, and charging circuits required by larger trailers. You can connect your lighting wires with Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector # DW05744-5 and terminate the others.

If you have enough length left for the 4 wires a Pollak Black Plastic, 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector # PK12706 can be used to wire your 4 wires to a 7-way connector. This will be a simpler install and only requires some Dielectric Grease # 11755 to protect the wiring inside the connection.

I recommend using a Hopkins Endurance Easy-Pull Harness # HM38134 4-way flat connector. This will give you an easy pull loop and requires less wiring than the 7-way connectors. As your trailer only uses a 4-way connection this is really all you need. The Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector # DW05744-5 will allow you to have secure water tight connections.

If your truck does not have a 4-way flat connector a Pollak 7 Pole to 4 Way Connector Adapter # PK12716 will adapt your 7-way to accept the 4-way.

Also the 4-way connection is more likely to disconnect from the socket rather than damage the wiring if it were to ever happen again. The 7-way has a notch on the lid that is designed to help ensure the wiring doesn't come loose.