Trailer Wiring For A 2016 Honda Odyssey
Updated 11/05/2020 | Published 11/03/2020
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Question:
I need to tow a Jayco tent trailer which has hydraulic brakes so no need for electric brake controller with my 2016 Honda Odyssey. The trailer plug is a 7 way plug. I plan on first installing the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector C56378. Then I would install the Curt Trailer Connector Adapter - 4-Way to 7-Way RV and 4-Way Flat Item # C57672. My question is, since I don’t have an electric brake controller, can I just connect the 7 way to the 4 way and ground the grey wire to the car chassis and call it a day, or do I need to connect the 12 Volt hot lead wire from the 7-way plug to my car battery? From my understanding, if I don’t connect the 12 volt hot lead to the car battery, the trailer lights will work, but my trailer battery will not be recharged by my car battery when it is connected? If I am to connect the 12 Volt hot lead wire, am I better off with part ETBC7 instead of C57672? There is a big price difference between the two if all I need from the more expensive option is a wire running to the car battery.
asked by: Sophie
Expert Reply:
To get your 2016 Honda Odyssey set up correctly for pulling a trailer you first need to install the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector Item # C56378. This harnes gives your trailer the proper lighting functions. Since your trailer has a seven pole connecter and you are wanting to charge your battery on your trailer while towing, you need a power wire from the vehicle battery to the plug. I recommend the 7-Way RV Upgrade Kit for Trailer Brake Controller Installation - 12 Gauge Wires Item # ETBC7L. Once the four pole plug is connected to the four pole on the 7 pole adapter, it provides the 7 pole with the same light functions, except it allows you to connect a 7 pole trailer connector.
To mount the 7 pole plug to the hitch I recommend using the No-Drill Mount Bracket, Long Item # 18136. Once you have mounted the long bracket, mount the 7 pole adpater bracket to the long bracket on the hitch. Mount the 7 pole adapter to the bracket.
Connect the four pole plug from the vehicle wiring to the four pole plug located on the 7 pole adapter. Zip-tie the two together so they do not come apart and wrap in electrical tape for protection. Ground the white wire to any clean metal surface. Make sure, after the self tapper is drilled in, the ring terminal doesn't spin. If it does you will have to find a thicker piece of metal to attach the ground wire. Connect the black wire on the 7 pole to the one end of the bundle of black wire in the kit and route up the engine compartment close to the battery. Typically we like to follow existing wiring or hard lines. You just want to make sure when routing, you stay away from anything moving or hot that could cause damage to the wire.
Once routed to the engine compartment, find a suitable location for the circuit breaker and mount it with the included self tapping screws. Once mounted, cut the wire to size and connect the wire coming from the plug to the silver post with the included small ring terminal. Take the extra piece of wire and attach the remaining small ring terminal to one end and connect to the copper post on the circuit breaker. Cut this wire to length at the positive post on the battery, add the large ring terminal and connect to the positive battery post. It's a good idea to tape the end of each post on the circuit breaker so you don't potentially have any metal to metal contact with the post.
Test the light functions on the trailer. Once confirmed everything is working properly you can complete the install with the yellow and blue wire. The yellow and blue wire will not be used. Fold the wires up and tape everything, including the four pole plug, together from the wire loom on the plug back until you have covered the four pole plug again and the yellow and blue wire.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector
- Custom Fit Vehicle Wiring
- Trailer Hitch Wiring
- Vehicle End Connector
- Powered Converter
- No Tow Package
- 4 Flat
- Plug and Lead
- Plug-In
- Hidden
- CURT
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