Using a # A75TB 7-way to 5-pole Adapter to Tow Boat Trailer With 2013 Ford F150 w/ OEM 7-way

Updated 05/28/2014 | Published 05/27/2014

Products Featured in This Question

Tow Ready 4 Pole to 5 Pole Trailer Wiring Adapter

(262)

$16.23

Adapter 4-Pole to 5-Pole Trailer Wiring Adapter - Shorter

(222)

$10.94

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$12.41

Question:

I have a 2013 F150 with the round 7 blade and a 4 pin connector. I am currently using a 5 flat to 4 flat. Im having a heck of a time backing up without the electric surge cutoff on the 5th pin. The trailer has a 5 pin flat. The missing connectors for the plates in this product appear to map to the running lights and ground negative. Does that sound right? The 4 pin has ground and running lights so I am confuses. Something is not matching.

asked by: Jim

Expert Reply:

Rather than using a 4-pole to 5-pole adapter such as # 47515 or # 20036, with the extra wire that needs to be tapped into the reverse light circuit, a 7-way to 5-pole adapter like the # A75TB would work much better. If the 7-way/4-pole connector on your truck is factory installed, the center pin of the 7-way should already be wired to the reverse lamp circuit of the vehicle. You can test this by having a helper place the transmission of the truck in reverse (while stepping on the brake, if you please) while you use a circuit tester like part # PTW2993 on the center pin of the 7-way. Once the transmission is placed in reverse, the pin should fire up.

The two 'missing' contacts you refer to are the 12-volt aux power feed from the battery and the pin for the brake controller output, neither of which would be needed on a trailer with a 5-pole connector. I've edited a photo for you showing the purpose of each pin.

expert reply by: Mike L