Looking For a Pigtail Connector With 2 Grounding Wires for a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500

Question:

I have a 01 Ram2500 that I tow a 5th wheel with. When I got the 5th wheel, I put an in-bed 7-wire connector that plug-n-play with the factory harness it connects at the factory connector by the reciver hitch. Braking performance since has been mediocre with my 5th wheel, and with my 16foot flatbed dual axle. I was repacking bearings and adjusting brakes on the 5th wheel so I checked voltages while my wife worked the Prodigy brake controller. Got 6V or so. I disconnected the in-bed wiring, and reconnected the factory harness and then plugged the 5th wheel in at my reciever hitch. Presto, 11-12V at the brakes. I checked out the in-bed pigtail, and found the connectors that adapt/plug in to the factory harness, had only one ground while the factory harness has two. the factory harness is 8 pins, two of which are ground wires. I am sure that the in-bed harness was current limited/ major voltageIR due to only one ground connection to the factory harness. I have towed twice since removing the in-bed harness, letting the 5th wheel harness hang over the tailgate and hook in to the factory 7-pin at the reciever hitch. Brakes worked great. But I do not like hanging the wiring over the tailgate... Can you recomend an in-bed pigtail that will olug-n-play, with all the correct gorund connections? I could cut in to the existing pigtail, and hardwire a ground to the truck frame, but would prefer the proper plug-n-play harness... The truck is a stock 01 Ram 2500 4x4 diesel with factory trailer package, and Prodigy controller.

asked by: Robert N

Expert Reply:

I have some suggestions, that I am sure you have tried, but, I want to offer to be sure.

Make sure that your connections are seated properly. Either the ground or brake output wire pin inside one of the connectors may be bent or damaged therefore not permitting the proper current through. Check to be sure that the ground and the brake-out pin inside all of the connectors is solid and not loose.

Based on the issue you are describing, it seems the problem is within the fifth wheel harness. The fifth wheel pigtail harnesses that are made specifically for your vehicle are made with seven wires such as Tow-Ready part # 20111 and do not include a second ground wire.

If you choose, you could wire a second ground wire, however, it is probably not the cause of your issue and may void the warranty on the wiring harness.

I attached a video that shows of the wiring harness that you referenced that you may find helpful.

expert reply by: Lori W