Tapping into 7-Way on 2004 F-250 for Stop, Turn, Tail Light Signals for Headache Rack
Updated 12/10/2013 | Published 12/07/2013
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Question:
Im not sure such a thing exists and I would like to tap into the wire harness at the back of my truck where the connections are made for the trailer wiring and plugs. I am looking to power brake, turn and stop lights on a headache rack on my 2004 f250 super duty. The truck came with factory trailer plug. Is there a tee that can tap off the back of the trailer plug?? I dont want to use the trailer plug for the headache rack as I will be towing a trailer.
asked by: John
Expert Reply:
Since you need to retain the use of the 7-way at your rear bumper for towing while having the same lighting signals available near the cab for your headache rack, one option to consider is using a 5th wheel harness such as # 41157 from Hopkins.
This plug-in harness provides on one end dual round U.S. Car connectors in a Y-arrangement that allow you to tap into your existing 7-Way (while keeping all of its functions active for your tow rig). On the other end of the 8-foot cable is a standard 7-way, just like the one at the rear of your truck. If this 8-foot harness is long enough to reach to your headache rack this would be the simplest way to bring the stop, turn and tail light signals to it. You would also need a way to access those lighting signals from the 7-way and provide leads to wire into your lights; for this you could use # H20044 from Hopkins, which is a 6-foot molded trailer connector. Do note that this Hopkins connector uses wire color assignments that are not typical: white wire is ground, red wire is left turn and brake, brown wire is right turn and brake, and the green wire is for taillights. This option requires no cutting into your F-250 wiring and is easily removable.
A more cost-effective (and permanent) option is to use a length of bonded 4-wire, such as Deka # 16-4B-1 (which is sold by the foot), to splice into the wiring at the 7-way. To do this you will need a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to identify the wires that carry the lighting signals to your 7-Way; you will then use butt connectors such as # 05731-5 to tap into these wires to bring those signals forward to your headache rack. I suggest you carefully wrap all such connections with electrical tape and/or shrink-wrap tubing to protect them from the elements.
