Replacing a 6-Way Trailer Connector on a Rockwood XL 1280 Pop Up Trailer

Updated 08/30/2012 | Published 08/28/2012

Products Featured in This Question

4-Pole Trailer End Connector

(38)

$8.25

Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 6-Way and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

(9)

$73.38

Hopkins 6-Way Connector with Jacketed Cable - Trailer End - 8' Long

(45)

$40.76

Question:

I have a Rockwood XL 1280 pop up with a six way plug fixated into the frame of the trailer on its left driver side. The top center pin is not there and the it came used with a home made 4 way flat to 6 way square adapter that is showing its age. The last time I hooked up, when I checked the lights, the vehicle left turn signal flashed the right side trailer light and vice-a-versa. Back up and brake lights work fine. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as we leave for a week in the state parks in two weeks. Thank you.

asked by: Robert P

Expert Reply:

It sounds to me like the previous owner did not wire his home made trailer connector properly. If the trailer came with a 6-way connector, then that means there are two additional wires coming from the 6-way connector for the trailer brakes and, most likely, an auxiliary power source.

If you are not worried about supplying power to the trailer brakes or auxiliary power source, then I would first recommend checking your local laws to see if brakes are required on your trailer. Some states do require brakes on trailers. If you find that it is okay to install a 4-way connector on your trailer, then you can simply tie off the wires to the brakes and auxiliary power source and splice the wires from a standard 4-way trailer end connector, part # 18004, to the wires on the trailer according to their function. To find the proper function of each wire, I recommend using an independent power source such as a vehicle battery and a circuit tester to supply power to each circuit.

If you do want to power the auxiliary power source and brakes on your trailer, then I would recommend wiring a 6-way connector using installation kit # ETBC6 on your vehicle first if you do not already have one. The red power wire will need to be ran to the positive terminal of your vehicles battery via a 40-amp circuit breaker and then to the cab for a brake controller via a 20-amp circuit breaker. The blue wire will need to be ran to the brake controller in the cab to control the trailer brakes. This kit includes all of the necessary hardware to run the wires. I have attached a help article for installing this kit on a vehicle.

Next, you will want to cut the wires at the back of the current 6-way connector on your trailer and wire a new 6-way like the Hopkins 6-Way Molded Connector, # H20036. It is important that the wires on the connector are connected to the trailer wires according to function, not color.

On the Hopkins 6-way connector, the red wire should connect to the brake circuit, the black wire to the auxiliary power source such as a trailer battery, the green wire to the right turn and brake circuit, the yellow wire to the left turn and brake circuit, the brown wire is for the tail light or running light circuit and the white wire should be grounded to a clean, bare metal section of the trailer frame.

I have also attached an article on trailer wiring that you should find helpful when wiring your trailer connector.