How To Attach Trailer with Six Way Using Vehicle with Four Way

Published 12/10/2019

Products Featured in This Question

Hopkins Wiring Harness with 5-Pole Flat Trailer Connector - Trailer End - 18" Long

(29)

$13.59

Curt Trailer Connector Adapter - 4-Way Flat to 5-Way Flat - Vehicle End

(105)

$20.20

Question:

My towing vehicle has a four pin trailer light adapter. The trailer for the boat that I just purchased has a six pin round adapter. I purchased a connecting adapter which plugs into the trailers six pin system and has a four pin setup on the other end. Problem is the surge breaks go on when Im backing up hill. Do you have an adapter for surge breaks that will work on the rounded six pin setup on the trailer to the four pin towing vehicle. Can a setup be made that goes from a four pin towing vehicle to a five pin to a round six pin trailer? Seems possible but a little crazy. It would be nice to be able to back my boat up without the brakes locking on. Thank you for any help.

asked by: Marcus W

Helpful Expert Reply:

In order to reverse a trailer with surge brakes you most likely need a lockout feature. The most common type of lockout feature is electric which would seem to be what you have due to the type of trailer connector installed. I do have an option for you but the four pin trailer connector on the vehicle does not contain a reverse circuit which is needed for the electric lockout. I have attached a few options below.

Option 1:

The first option would be to remove the six way on the boat trailer and replace it with a five way part # HM37918 so that you can then use the four way to five way adapter part # C57187 on the vehicle.

Options 2:

The second option would be to adapt the four way on the vehicle to a seven way with part # 37185 so that you can then use a seven to six way adapter part # 47549 on the trailer.

I recommend option one as this will require the least amount of modifications and it still gives you the standard four way on the vehicle.