Recommended Electric Trailer Jack And Wiring To 7-Way 12V Connection

Question

Question:

My pops wants to hook up a seven pin directly from jack to truck. Is that possible ? The grounding, and color code.

asked by: Johnny

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

For a 3500 lb Electric Jack, I recommend the Bulldog Powered-Drive Trailer Jack - Drop Leg - A-Frame - 14" Lift - 3,500 lbs - Black # BD500187. This jack uses a 12 volt system, so it is compatible with your 7-way although a battery is always a better option like # 20099.

To use the 7-way, this can be done by splicing into the trailer harness wiring or using a junction box like # 38656. If you want the juction box and 7 way you can use # HS381-9000. Whether you choose to splice into the 7 way wire directly or use a junction box, I have attached a photo that shows the position of the 12 volt power pin on the 7-way connector as well as the other functions to help. The black wire from the jack will connect to the 12V power pin location and the jack will ground through the attachment to the trailer frame as the other wiring should already have a good ground to your trailer frame.

expert reply by: Jason S

1

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Battery O.

8/1/2024

You mention wiring the jack through a battery. The battery you mention does not have enough amperage to run the bulldog according to both specs. Perhaps I misunderstood, but the way I'm reading is that the breakaway battery can run the jack which I do not believe would be possible.

Bryce D.

8/1/2024

@BatteryO You are correct, the battery in your breakaway system is likely a 5 amp hour battery which is not enough to power an electric trailer jack since they can draw about 30 amps under load. The other issue is that a breakaway system needs its own dedicated battery and should not be shared by other 12 volt accessories.

Terry

1/30/2025

@BryceD hey the breakaway battery will operate it I hooked mine up to the junction box and it works I still plug mine in though

Bryce D.

1/31/2025

@Terry Thanks for that info Terry!

Eric

7/9/2025

I put a meter on my 7-way plug and I'm only showing about 3 volts. Where is the 12 volts coming from in that 7-way plug?

Jesse M.

7/9/2025

@Eric Typically on a vehicle side 7-way the 12v power would be coming from a wire ran directly to the battery.

Answer 1

Electric tongue jacks like the Electric Jack w/ Footplate - A-Frame - 25-1/8" Lift - 3.5K - Black #EJ-3520-BBX are designed to use a 12v power so if you want constant power I recommend using a trailer battery for connection. If you only want…

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Answer 2

Hi Marc; you can rotate the Bulldog Powered Drive Trailer Jack #BD500187 to get the clearance you need with your tailgate. It can be installed in any orientation on the trailer and still operate as intended. What kind of travel trailer do you have?

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Answer 3

I attached pictures that show how the switches of the Bulldog Powered Jack #BD500187 get wired.

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Answer 4

The Ultra-Fab Electric A-Frame Jack #UF38-944014 will work just fine for your 2013 Jayco Flight 19RD. This jack has the capabilities to lift up to 4,000-lbs of tongue weight, which is plenty for your trailer. While this jack will work for you, I…

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Answer 5

To check the pins on the vehicle side 7-Way, you can use a circuit tester or the volt meter. The circuit tester will show you if a signal is coming through on the pin you are testing while the volt meter will tell you that and how much voltage is…

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Answer 6

The best way to power the interior lights in your trailer is with its own independent battery. You will not want to use the breakaway battery. The breakaway battery is only designed to operate the breakaway and will drain extremely quickly,…

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Answer 7

The diagram you attached shows a 7-way wired up in what is considered the "traditional way." If you check out the chart I attached you will see the three ways (really only 2), that a 7-way can be wired. The Featherlite is wired up like the…

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Answer 8

E-tracks are typically the stronger of the two, but X-track is more versatile since you can mount them horizontally or vertically. Choosing between the two really depends upon how you plan to use them. If you are installing something in a truck bed,…

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Answer 9

The trailer jack should very much NOT be powered by the breakaway battery. That was likely done by the previous owner for convenience. The breakaway battery is a dedicated battery for the breakaway system only. It needs to be able to apply the…

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Answer 10

The Erickson E-Track is very versatile so they isn't a specific size or model for your 5 x 8 Haulmark Transport Deluxe Cargo Trailer, just install as much or as little as you want, on the deck or on the wall. I have included a link to all of the…

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Answer 11

A junction box/7-way plug kit like Epicord #277-000141 or #HS381-9000 lets you convert the camper to match the 7-way RV blade type connector format. This avoids the extra connection points and potential trouble spots from using separate adapters.…

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Answer 12

It is a simple switch, so brand compatibility should be a non-issue. When the pin is pulled, two pins are allowed to contact and complete the circuit to engage the brakes. Any switch should work fine. I pulled the Hopkins Switch, part #HM20010, to…

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Recommended Electric Trailer Jack And Wiring To 7-Way 12V Connection

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