*OBS 4Flat To 7Round Trailer Light Harness*

[whiplash473]

Searched around a little and couldn't find anything.....borrowed my buddy's 4 place snowmobile trailer this weekend and ended up rolling around without trailer lights.....the trailer has brakes and therefore has a 7round plug instead of what my truck has which is a standard 4flat.....i talked to a few people and they said that there's no adapter for this......just to get the lights working....they said it can obviously go the other way around like if you had a 7round in you truck and was towing something without brakes but not the other way around......any input on this or ideas?.....i wasthinking about figuring out which pins were for the lights and basically making my own harness out of a 4flat and 7round and soldering them.....any ideas would be great cuz cruising around without lights really sucked

[Jon4x4]

yeah you go to autozone or wherever and vuy a 7plug hook up, using google and FSC search feature you will find wiring diagrams.

[whiplash473]

yeah but im trying to figure out a way to keep my 4flat and just use this trailer every once in a while.....all my trailers use my plug so it wouldnt be practical for me to change the plug on my truck

[Darkside919]

You can get a plug for your truck that has both. I bought one at Walmart I think or Advance not sure which and installed it on my old 95 works great and you get both plugs. If I remember right there are diagrams with it to show you how to wire it up.

[whiplash473]

guess i'll be making a trip to walmart and autozone then....hope i find something....ill repost after i check those out

[kcb37]

If your pulling a trailer with brakes you need to buy a brake controler and hook it up, to include the 7 pin plug.
Once you have that you can buy an adapter to go from the 7 pin to 4, or you can buy a plug that will have a 7 pin and 4 pin.

[whiplash473]

i dont need the brakes on the trailer and dont wanna hook a brake controller up cuz i only use the trailer every once in a while.....i'm just tyring to get the lights on the trailer working

[burt]

just looked it up and in Illinois as long as the trailer weighs less than 3000 lbs (snowmobile trailer is probably less) you don't legally need trailer brakes.
So you could buy a trailer side 4 pin and a vehicle side 7 pin and wire them together to make an adapter so at least the lights work. or put a 7 pin on your truck w/o a brake controller

just remember this does not make the brakes work so don't tow a heavier trailer

[ToyHauler]

i got this because i hate keeping track of adapters, and this one is pretty robust, i always seem to brake the cover on the regular ones for some reason. and my hitch cover is lighted so i can plug it into the 4 pin without and adapter that may fall out or get stolen.
http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/HM48470.html

[Darkside919]

That is what I got only mine was 7 pin and 4 pin only. Wired up easily too.

[whiplash473]

yeah thats what im pretty much thinking of doing is just buying the two ends and making an adapter

[kcb37]

The first thing you need to do is figure out the trailer weight, then figure the weight you are putting on it.
If your over 3k, your overweight and illegal. For your sake god help you if I'm in your area and you hit me.
While your ignorance may seem like something simple and irrelevant to you it is a very big safety issue. To add to that, the fact that you are pulling a trailer illegaly to begin with not having lights.
You have absolutely no buisness even hooking up to it.
You can argue with me all you want, it's my opinion atleast part of it. If your not legal your not legal that is not an opinion. You can also argue that you just want an answer to your question. But there are those of use that have learned, and are not afraid to speak our minds to try and educate others. I say try because some people are either to hard headed or just plain stupid to care.
In the end, if you are not legal or not being smart expect myself or someone that knows better to open there mouth.
Do it right or don't hook on to a trailer at all.

[whiplash473]

easy holmes

- its a 4 place aluminum snowmobile trailer.....weighs roughly 1100lbs
- 2 sleds on it that are 500ish lbs
- i had absolutely no problem stopping and barely knew it was back there.....why i would be hitting you instead of the opposite when i'm the one without lights is unknown to me
- i have no ignorance with the situation and was worried.....thus maybe just maybe having something to do with this thread being started
- calling me stupid.....is stupid
- not sure why i should expect people to start pontificating when (figuring i was under 3k.lbs) i didn't really do anything wrong according to the 2nd line in your post
- if you wouldn't mind creating another mini-novel after reading this about how this was a stupid and ridiculous adventure i'd like to read it......given the next one has merit
- to top it all off i was driving thru nothing but bean fields for about 20 out of a 25mi trip and, while no one was behind me, i passed by (if i had to guess) 5 cars and a semi going the opposite way

did your wife leave you between your last post and this one? you were like a cute helpful little teddy bear that turned into a bloodthirsty grizzly that only knows how to speak in short screaches of nonsense

[kcb37]

The fact that you pulled a trailer with no lights is not only illegal but stupid.
The weight you did not say anything about so we can only assume, unless I missed that.
If you were worried about, this is where most people think "maybe I shouldn't do this" why did you even hook the trailer up to your truck?
I will agree now knowing the weight yes you are fine by Ill. law, if you go out of state you need to check there laws, because a lot of states have a 1,500 pound rating without brakes.

[Jon4x4]

^^^ haha this guy is a complete dick but tells it how it is and the truth.

[Torquer]

http://www.redtrailers.com/ShowItem.asp?id=20321

If you wanted to jimmy rig something quick, this is your best bet. You can just plug this into your 4-way. costs about $20. You may need a ground hooked up. quickest way to do that is to cut and strip the white wire and wrap it around the potruding post on your 4-way.
Although if you wanted to do this the right way it would only cost you maybe another $60 for a low end brake controler. and maybe an hour labor to install it. But you at least want to have lights. Not to indorse you to break the law. Just saying if you drive by a cop without trailer lights you most likely will be pulled over. I used to work at uhaul. They would pull ppl over all the time because of no trailer lights. Then once your pulled over. the next thing theyll notice is that you dont have a brake controler. So if you at least have the lights working your not going to be a rolling"pull me over" billboard. But you really should do it all legally.

[kcb37]

Jon4x4 I may seem rude to you and probably everyone else here.
But I will stand by my posts.
The reason I say this is basically everything below.
There are alot of people that just don't know the laws, don't know the weight limit of there trailer, don't know the speed rating of the trailer tires (should be 65 mph), think they can easily pull more then they can, etc.... Around me I see trailers alot with mismatched tires, tandem axle trailers missing a tire and rim, alot of trailer with no lights.
There was also a post awhile back with someone else from TN stating farm use does not need lights. That could very well be the case, however I would imagine if you read the specific law that states something like across a road, or limited mileage like less then 10 or 5 miles, etc.... Problem I have is I am in town. 10 mile drive to work depending on the time of day can take from 15 min to 1 hour. So farmers are not in my area. The one's that are, are very few and far between.
I also see alot of trailer with no saftey chains, saw a trailer yesterday with one, better then nothing but still not right.
A question I have to everyone. How may people have you seen/know/overheard I have a truck I can haul this or pull that. The said truck being a 1/2 ton and the load for the truck or trailer just to much?
Seems like in the past 20 years pickups have taken a serious turn towards a family "car" Problem with that is there are more people that think I got a truck I can haul it.
Sit outside a Home Depot or Lowes may take a couple days or a couple hours. Someone will pull out with the tailgate down a bed full of lumber no straps nothing in a 1/2 ton. A mile down the road half of it's on the road. Used to be people left the tailgate up, or got a trailer. Done correctly until you have a heavy load intown you can leave the tailgate up and not tie down anything and be fine. Depending on length of say a ladder and length of the bed. A toolbox does wonders to hold a ladder/lumber in a truck with it overhangs the tailgate alot. But you have to drive right to keep it there.

At anyrate. Guess it comes down to, there are to many people that seem to have no care about anyone else or what they do. Also to many people with a pickup that have no buisness touching one because they do not have any clue how to use it.
I also stand by my statement. I hope to god for anyone that they do not hit me if they are overloaed, lacking trailer lights, chains, wrong size ball, etc... Because I will do everything I can to have them pay off the house I just bought for there stupidity. Hopefully that will make them learn something.

[1997Chevy!]

^^^^Chilll bro, we dont need to hear you 101 complaints. If the guy was some rude careless person he wouldnt of bothered posting up a thread asking a perfectly fine question about how to wire up his lights so he can be legal. And you said that it used to people would keep the tailgate up or get a trailer? I dont think so, arent the old timers supposed to be do it your self kinda people? Make what you got work? I think so! Nuff said.


Back on topic, i would just get that plug someone posted above. I have the flat plug on all my trailors, and when my dad used the he had to get a adapter becuase his came out with the round plug. I plan on getting the plug posted above just becuase i wanna be able to haul what ever i want when i want. I have the round plug in the bed for the gooseneck already tho.

[whiplash473]

I plan on getting the plug posted above just becuase i wanna be able to haul what ever i want when i want.

thats kinda what i'm getting at....all of my trailers are flat but my buddy's trailer is round so an adapter would be much more practical for me

by the way thanks for all the input everyone

[kcb37]

1997Chevy! your getting my 101 complaints. If you reread the post, I simply stated that he would need a brake controller and then could use an adapter for his 4way plugs.
There was no metion of weight until I said something about it. Just I don't pull it much and only need the lights working. Sounds stupid to me. Now knowing the weight if that's correct he is fine with lights. Still makes more sense to have a brake controller but he will be legal.
Yes alot of people have learned to use what they have and more need to. The problem now is more the younger people don't know how to load a pickup. That is just a general statment. The next being most people that have don't realize the weight they can legally or safely put on a pickup.
While you say if he was rude and carelss he would not have posted here. For the most part will will agree with that. At the same time while he does not seem to rude or careless. Reread the post again.
He did state something to the effect he had no lights and was worried. Why did he move it. That seems kinda careless. Asking before would have been smart, asking after is still smart, but why did the trailer move with no lights?
Had he been more clear from the begining none of this would have happened.
There are still way to many stuipd people out there. Still I am not calling him stupid just saying pulling a trailer with no lights is. Or if it makes you feel better not smart.

[oldred95]

In regards to wiring a 7 pin connector on a OBS check up in the spare tire cross member and see if there isn't a factory trailer connector harness all taped up and tucked away. My 95 had that typical auto zone T harness rats nest of **** going on with a flat 4 connector when I got it and none of it worked. I took all that crap off, plugged the taillight harness back together as it was meant to be and saw something up in the frame and dug it out and it was a 7 wire harness ready to go. There should be a red and I think its purple wire taped up in the harness near the underhood fuse block. IIRC the red goes to either stud A or B and is your fused trailer B+ charging wire and the purple is where you tie in your trailer brake controller if you use one. I personally don't see the need for one. I've been with my dad pulling a John Deere 4020 that tractor and trailer weighed 10k-11k behind his 02 duramax and just the trucks brakes were way more than adequate if you know how to haul something. If you drive like a maniac there isn't much hope for you trailer brakes or not.

[kcb37]

The purple wire is blue.
If you are really pulling 10k without trailer brakes no way around it your stuipd.
Don't get me wrong I don't mean to call everyone stuipd even the op, just one of the "stuipd" moments. But 10k with no brakes is well stupid.

[burt]

the biggest issue with not having trailer brakes isn't your driving (most of us could stop a heavy load without trailer brakes just fine) it's the idiot that doesn't slow down until the last minute to turn a corner and slams on his brakes at 60

always have to expect the unexpected

[kcb37]

Think I would have to say your a smart man burt.
Even so I will kinda argue for the OP. He is still light so it should not be a big issue. But as I said a brake controller is the best course. This will save your trucks brakes and stop you faster even with 1000 pounds.
All that said I have a real hard time believing anyone who says they don't feel a trailer behind them. Power wise and so on, I don't feel my trailer behind my Dmax, slowing down, I feel my 6x10 flatbed ("chicken wire" sides). Don't get me wrong on the brakes it stops great and I don't really notice a difference. The truck slowing itself down I do alot. T/H on, I can almost stop with the trailer.
Point being even a light trailer can benifit from brakes.
A brake controller does not cost a fortune. But then agian we have estabished that the op does not need one because he is legal.
He would be better off with one. Guess that arguement can be added. Vehicle and trailer control adds to the list so much better with brakes.

[Jon4x4]

my purple wire isn't hooked up and my trailer breaks work fine, the black wire, blue wire are hooked up thats it. and everytthing works.


kcb, it was a joke dude, relax and i know where ur coming from, i didn't say u were wrong

[whiplash473]

the biggest issue with not having trailer brakes isn't your driving (most of us could stop a heavy load without trailer brakes just fine) it's the idiot that doesn't slow down until the last minute to turn a corner and slams on his brakes at 60

always have to expect the unexpected

honestly i've just been skimming thru these and dont feel like reading kcb37's random explosions.....sorry about not keeping up on the thread.....anyways yeah i keep myself aware of this even when i have lights lol

[kcb37]

Haven't exploded yet.
I'm just curious to know why you moved the trailer to begin with without lights? A question you have completely failed to answer.
To add, in regards to stoping for the idot who pulls out in front of you or slams on the brakes infront of you, you can only do so much. However with lights and the weight you said you are still legal.

[whiplash473]

like i said.....i can count the amount of cars i pass with one hand going out there everyday.....i pulled it out there cuz thats the only way i was gonna get the sleds out there and i was gonna be damned if i wasnt gonna ride that weekend......im done justifying this sh!t to you......i found out what i needed to from everyone else so thats that

[kcb37]

So you didn't need to move anything and did something stuipd.
Never said you needed to justify anything and you can't. You just proved that, I wanted to ride does not come close to justify hooking on to a trailer with no lights.
Still doesn't matter how many cars are on the road, not smart.