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> 12v wiring 6 pin, 4 pin, 7 pin, Wiring TC and trailer to vehicle harness

CAEMI
post Apr 4 2011, 07:57 AM
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Member No.: 5,404
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Mine
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1994 Coachman 085 Sport
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: F350 CC, LB, SRW, V10, 4x4



We just bought a Coachman 085 Sport for horse camping. The model TC has it's own taillights although it is just slightly over 8 feet long.

We need to tow our horse trailer which requires the 7 pin factory trailer plug on the receiver hitch. The TC has a 6 pin recepticle on the driver's side near the front of the camper.

First, I need to tie into the vehicle wiring harness and am looking for advice on the best way and place to make that connection.

Second, The TC needs turn signals, brake lights, and running lights as well as the interior lighting. Are the additional wires be used to power the furnace fan or water pump or do these devices just grab power off the running lights wire?

Can anyone give me some guideance? I have a pile of connectors, adaptors, and other wiring junk at my disposal.
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aqualung
post Apr 4 2011, 09:31 AM
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Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer 90FWS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 3500 Dually Quadcab 4x4 6.7L Cummins
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2008 Adventurer 90FWS Torklift Tiedowns with SuperHitch and SuperTruss Firestone Air Bags Torklift Load Stabilizers Fastgun Turnbuckles



I built my own "Y" cable so I could plug the cable into the truck trailer wiring harness and then hook up the camper to the Y-cable as well as my trailer. In my case both the camper and trailer have 7-pin plugs on them. By doing this I avoided cutting into the truck's wiring harness. Doing so usually leads to corrosion in the wiring harness and eventually a failure.

Your TC probably has a standard 6-pin wiring on its plug but contact the manufacturer to be sure. Your truck would be a standard 7-pin wiring and of course so is the trailer. The difference between the 6 pin and 7 pin is backup lights, the following link has a table showing the differences.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

The TC interior power comes from the "Battery" terminal in the wiring harness. All travel lighting must be connected for the TC but you can leave off the "Brake" terminal (TCs don't have brakes). Having said this, you TC may not have a standard 6 pin wiring so definitely check with the manufacturer. The wiring may be in your owners manual.
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CAEMI
post Apr 4 2011, 09:48 AM
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Group: Members
Posts: 4
Joined: 4-April 11
Member No.: 5,404
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Mine
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1994 Coachman 085 Sport
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: F350 CC, LB, SRW, V10, 4x4



QUOTE(aqualung @ Apr 4 2011, 10:31 AM)
I built my own "Y" cable so I could plug the cable into the truck trailer wiring harness and then hook up the camper to the Y-cable as well as my trailer. In my case both the camper and trailer have 7-pin plugs on them. By doing this I avoided cutting into the truck's wiring harness. Doing so usually leads to corrosion in the wiring harness and eventually a failure.

Your TC probably has a standard 6-pin wiring on its plug but contact the manufacturer to be sure. Your truck would be a standard 7-pin wiring and of course so is the trailer. The difference between the 6 pin and 7 pin is backup lights, the following link has a table showing the differences.

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

The TC interior power comes from the "Battery" terminal in the wiring harness. All travel lighting must be connected for the TC but you can leave off the "Brake" terminal (TCs don't have brakes). Having said this, you TC may not have a standard 6 pin wiring so definitely check with the manufacturer. The wiring may be in your owners manual.
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Excellent advice - thank you. Couple of questions - I spoke to an RV dealer that said I needed a $65 adapter that plugged into the truck's harness and accomplished pretty much what you described...created a Y fitting that just has two 7 pin male plugs. Does this make sense?

BTW, I'd found that etrailer wiring diagram yesterday - it is excellent - and found what you did...that the seventh wire is backup lights and tied-out to the backup light circuit in the truck. I agree...that is really not a useful thing for me as the little back up lights on my horse trailer are worthless - even if you were standing next to them, let alone sitting in the truck cab.

If I installed a second battery (I have room under the hood), how do I wire ONLY the TC to it or are those wirng schemes pretty self-evident?
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aqualung
post Apr 4 2011, 12:29 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 165
Joined: 3-February 10
Member No.: 3,725
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Adventurer 90FWS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 3500 Dually Quadcab 4x4 6.7L Cummins
Type of Tiedowns used: Torklift
Truck and Camper Setup: 2008 Adventurer 90FWS Torklift Tiedowns with SuperHitch and SuperTruss Firestone Air Bags Torklift Load Stabilizers Fastgun Turnbuckles



What the RV dealer is suggesting sounds like it would work but you can save yourself some money by building the cable yourself. The connectors can be a little expensive so when you build the cable you can do it with two jacks and one plug.

ok, the plug is what's on the back of your truck and jack is the connector on the cable... i.e. your trailer connector is a jack. Most people don't use this terminology but I do to help keep it all straight.

In your case, you need a 7 pn connector (jack) to plug into the truck, a 6 pin connector (jack) to plug into the camper and a 7 pin connector (plug) to allow your trailer to plug into. Look at the "pigtail for camper and trailer" in the following link as an example but you would change the long side to a 6 pin jack to plug directly into your camper, plus the short side which is for the trailer can be any length you need.

http://www.torklift.com/t.php?w_page=wiring_harnesses

Hooking the battery to the camper is is done by making the "Battery" connection all the way through the harness to the camper only in the Y cable, just don't connect it on the trailer side of the Y.
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Dennis
post Sep 7 2017, 07:42 PM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 2-September 17
From: UT
Member No.: 9,735
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forrest River
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 2500
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack
Truck and Camper Setup: Dodge 2500 4x4, Air Rides, Custom Hitch, Palomino Backpck 1251 T-C-T Adapter



This may interest you. A Truck to Camper to Trailer Adapter. If this one is sold keep your eye open for others.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Camper-Trail...81Zpil8&vxp=mtr

[attachmentid=737]
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SidecarFlip
post Sep 9 2017, 08:26 PM
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Group: Members
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Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(Dennis @ Sep 7 2017, 07:42 PM)
This may interest you.  A Truck to Camper to Trailer Adapter.  If this one is sold keep your eye open for others.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Truck-Camper-Trail...81Zpil8&vxp=mtr

[attachmentid=737]
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I have a Backpack as well. SS1500. Nice camper, trouble free.
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Dennis
post Sep 14 2017, 09:15 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 2-September 17
From: UT
Member No.: 9,735
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forrest River
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: Dodge 2500
Type of Tiedowns used: Happijack
Truck and Camper Setup: Dodge 2500 4x4, Air Rides, Custom Hitch, Palomino Backpck 1251 T-C-T Adapter



QUOTE(SidecarFlip @ Sep 9 2017, 07:26 PM)
I have a Backpack as well.  SS1500.  Nice camper, trouble free.
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SidecarFlip, I like Backpack just fine. I had a couple wiring problems with mine when I got it but having worked with wiring and electronics most of my life they were quick fixes. Way easier than dropping it off at the dealer and having to go back and pick it up. The adapter btw works like a charm. Plug and Play.

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SidecarFlip
post Sep 16 2017, 01:23 PM
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Group: Members
Posts: 472
Joined: 15-October 16
Member No.: 9,221
Favorite Truck Camper(s): Forest River Palomino SS
Type and Brand of Truck(s) Owned: 1997 Ford F350 4x4 LB SRW CC 7.3 diesel
Type of Tiedowns used: HappyJac standard
Truck and Camper Setup: 1997 Ford F350 4 door 4x4 Crew Cab 7.3 Diesel, Lance 915 loaded, 2015 Palomino SS1500 Loaded



QUOTE(Dennis @ Sep 14 2017, 09:15 PM)
SidecarFlip, I like Backpack just fine.  I had a couple wiring problems with mine when I got it but having worked with wiring and electronics most of my life they were quick fixes.  Way easier than dropping it off at the dealer and having to go back and pick it up.  The adapter btw works like a charm.  Plug and Play.
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I changed some electrical items in mine. Lost the wire nut connections under the front removable seat where the FW tank is, replaced the single battery with a pair of deep cycle batteries wired in parallel, added a 1000 watt Aims power PSW inverter with a dedicated outlet by the sink, added a rearview wireless camera (best thing I did, in as much as I'm always pulling a trailer). Added a set of Tork Lift Revolution Glo steps with adjustable landing feet (second best thing I did) as my bed height is 37" and it's almost impossible to get in and out with them and changed all the outside lamps over to LED.

I had to also add a storage tube on the underbelly to carry my sewer hose and there is no place for storage on the unit. I added 2 plastic tubes underneath, one for the Rhino hose and one for my fishing rods.

Also added a Carefree bag awning to the provided awning rail on the passengers side of the camper. Nice to have an awning and with the awning deployed, you can keep the window's unzipped on that side in the rain without getting wet inside.

Finally, I installed a wheelhouse door in the drivers side kneewall for additional in bed storage. Only TC I ever owned that had no bed access doors. I have a 4 door long bed so the backseat is ample but I like keeping my extra gas and chainsaw and tools in the area between the camper and the pickup box wall.

I read where owners have had issues with the RT roof lift, but I have had none at all.

Everything works and has worked as it should for the last 2 years. No issues at all.

I may remove the flush toilet in mine and go Cassette instead. Shower is ok but the shower pan 'feels' spongy (even though it's adequately supported underneath (I looked). I made a teak wood bath mat to fit the pan, that really helped and it keeps your feet dry when using the commode after a shower.

Other than some changes (everyone changes something I suspect), it's a well built and very functional camper. I went from a Lance hardside to mine and I really like the weight reduction plus it don't feel top heavy like a hard side does. I don't even know it's back there on the highway and my fuel mileage (empty with no camper, versus the camper on dropped maybe a mile to the gallon. maybe.
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