Where Do Vehicle and Trailer Wiring Harness Ground Wires Connect
Question:
I keep reading that the white wire ground from the trailer wiring needs to be connected to a clean metal part of the vehicle. Then what do I connect the white wire from the vehicle side 4point wiring to?
asked by: LaRyna
Expert Reply:
The ground wire on a trailer's wiring harness (usually a white wire) should be firmly attached to clean bare metal on the trailer frame. The white ground wire on the vehicle's wiring harness should similarly be attached to clean bare metal on the vehicle, or to an existing factory grounding point, or even directly to the battery negative terminal.
When the trailer and vehicle are connected together through their 4-pole wiring the trailer will ultimately be grounded to the vehicle battery.
Bad grounds, on either a vehicle harness or a trailer harness, can cause all sorts of weird behavior from trailer lights or even prevent an electric jack from working. You can protect ground connections from corrosion by applying dielectric grease like # 11755 to that clean bare metal surface before you connect your ground wire ring terminal. The grease blocks water and dirt from causing corrosion at that connection.
Products Referenced in This Question
Dielectric Grease for Electrical Connectors, 2 oz.
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Wiring
- Wiring
- Dielectric Grease
- LubriMatic
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Product Page this Question was Asked From
Hopkins Endurance Multi-Tow 4-Way Flat to 7-Way RV Trailer Adapter w/ 4-Way Vehicle End Plug
- Trailer Wiring
- Wiring Adapters
- Multi-Function Adapter
- 4 Flat
- Plug and Lead
- 4 Flat
- 7 Round - Blade
- Hopkins
more information >
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