Towing a US Boat Trailer with a Vehicle that has a European 7-Way

Question

Question:

Hi, Im writing from Australia after reading your excellent website. I have a new USA boat trailer which has a 7-pin plug that includes a left stop/turn and a right stop/turn no separate stop light wire. My Australian car has a 7 pin plug but it has a left turn, right turn, and separate stop light wire. Can you help me with advice and price on the converter that would work in my situation. The lights on the trailer are new LEDs with an orange bar that is the turn signals, and a red bar that is the tail light and presumably the stop lights. I need to be sure that what I get will not only give me stop lights BUT ALSO a turn signal when the brake light is pressed and the stop light extra illumination occurs. I have tried some ways of wiring that give a stop light but when this is illuminated there is no separate turn signal. Clearly here, as in the USA, you have to have the turn signal continuing to function if you are braking - an obvious important signal for drivers at the rear of the trailer to see. I have seen a converter for sale on the NAPA website, but have also seen reports that this converter gives the same problem, i.e. no turn signal when the stop light is on. I see that you have also recommended converters which are more expensive and probably better than the NAPA one? Await your advice. I can purchase online and post to Australia if you have the right part but I want to be sure that it is the right one, of course. Many thanks in advance

asked by: Mark M

0

Expert Reply:

The easiest thing to do would be to use a converter on the vehicle side, behind the connector, and add a new connector to match the one the trailer needs. But we are going to keep the tow package wiring that is already on the vehicle.

The converter that you will need is # RM-732. Or you could use one like # 119178 and cut off the 4-Way end on the output side.

In either case identify the brake light only wire on factory tow package wiring and attach it to the red input wire on either converter. Locate left turn only and attach to the yellow input wire. And right turn only goes to green input.

The running light wire will by pass converter # RM-732. It will connect to the brown wire of # 119178. Any white wire is ground.

Then you will need a vehicle side 7-Way, # HM48470. On the back of it, attach the yellow wire to the 3 oclock position. Attach the green wire to the 9 oclock position. Running lights go to the 1 oclock position.

5 oclock is ground, 7 oclock would be out for electric brakes, and 11 oclock is 12 volt power. The center pin is reverse lights.

The issue is that you have a European style connector on your vehicle. It is a different type of 7-Way. In the US the brake lights and turn signals are combined on the same circuit and there isn't a simple adapter that makes it easy to tow a US style trailer. Using the methods above, when you have the brakes on and engage a turn signal, only that one side will blink. All other brake lights will light up solid like they should.