Adapter Needed to Convert 4-Way on Vehicle to Trailer Wiring Connector that Carries Power Circuit
Published 02/05/2020
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Question:
My Toyota 4 Runner has a flat 4 pole female receptacle but my new electric boat trailer jack has a female 7 blade connector. I bought a 7 blade male connector and want to wire it using a flat 4 pole male connector to the 4 Runners flat 4 pole female receptacal to make a temporary adapter cord I will use only when raising/lowering the jack when I need to load/unload my boat trailer. I would then disconnect the adapter cord and plug in my trailer lights which have the flat pole connector. Will this work? To make the adapter cord, can I use standard 4 pole trailer wire or do I need a heavier wire? Which terminals on the 7 blad male connector do I connect the wires of the flat 4 pole connector? i.e. do I just follow the diagram on the connector for the left/right green and yellow turn lights, and the running lights brown? If wired that way and I plug everything together, will that bring power to the electric jack? Would I need to turn on the headlights on the 4 Runner to get power to the jack when using it to raise/lower the trailer? I know this is a lot of questions and I hope you do not mind giving any advice or recommendations. I do not think there is manufactured an adapter plug that will connect my 7 pin female electric jack plug, to a flat 4 pole male connector- thus my need to build an adapter cord. Thanks for your time!
asked by: Jonathan T
Expert Reply:
The issue you'd run into using your plan is that the circuits available for trailer lighting would not have the amperage you'd need for a powered a-frame jack. You mentioned needing 10-15 amps (which seems a bit low) but even so most trailer lighting circuits are at most half that. So you'd need to run a 12 volt accessory circuit to the vehicle battery directly.
We have an adapter kit that would work perfectly for you with the part # ETBC7L. Your 4-way will plug into this and then once you run the included black wire to the vehicle battery (connected to black wire of adapter) you'd have a power circuit that would work well for your powered jack. The side of the 7-way adapter has a 4-way connector on it as well so you would not lose that type of trailer wiring either.
