Installing a 7-Way RV Plug on a 1996 Chevrolet Silverado

Updated 04/27/2010 | Published 04/24/2010

Products Featured in This Question

Universal Installation Kit for Trailer Brake Controller - 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat - 10 Gauge Wires

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$104.49

Tekonsha Prodigy P2 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

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$160.19

Question:

I want to put a 7 blade RV plug on my 96 chevy silverado. I found 3 wires not being used along the frame. Orange #10 labeled pwr feed, blue #12 labeled ok Aux, White #16 labeled feed brk sw. I can't seem to get any voltage out of the blue or orange wire. Should they be connected from the factory or do I need to connect them somewhere? Which one of the two are you supposed to connect to the 7 way plug?

asked by: Chris

Expert Reply:

You may be missing some fuses or relays in the fuse block to activate those circuits. I would recommend installing your own wiring and not using the factory wires. If you already have a 4-Way flat connector on your truck, you can use a wiring kit like part # ETBC7 to add a 7-Way. It includes everything you need to get your 7-Way functioning after you have a 4-Way on the truck.

You would connect the 7-Way to your previously installed 4-Way, you would splice the purple wire to the reverse light circuit on your Silverado if need be. You would then run the black wire up to the positive terminal on the battery with a 40 amp breaker in-line. The blue wire would be run into the cab for a brake controller if needed. I have included a link to a video of this kit being installed on a 1993 Suburban so that you can get an idea of the process and how you would do it on your Silverado. It also shows the installation of a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller if you need one of those as well.

expert reply by: Patrick B