Ford Truck Trailer connector

[greywynd]

Ok, here's the short scoop. Hooked the truck up to my equipment trailer last week, not realizing that it left the wire a little shorter for turning than it does on my other truck. Heard a 'pop' while turning a sharp corner, stopped and checked, it had pulled out of the socket on the truck, and in doing so had broke the cover off, and pulled the socket off the mounting screws on the corners. Fortunately, the electrical end is still ok, so I can still safely travel to get home.

So, I go into my local Ford dealer this week, because I figured I'd like to get a 'plug and play' socket, figuring less chance of corrosion etc. rather than a standard aftermarket connector. The parts guys tells me that I have to buy the whole harness etc...right up to the connection at the frame....and it was ONLY $200+!!!! (Oh and it would be a special order item!!!) Needless to say, I'm looking for a new connector....elsewhere. Things like this make it easy to understand why the big three are hurting....what a shame. I was figuring that even if it was 5-10 dollars more than a 'regular' connector that I'd be more than happy, because I figure it is a better 'sealed' system against the elements, reducing corrosion etc. $200?? No way!!

Anyone know of an aftermarket source for these things? Or do I go wrecker hunting and buy all that I can find??? (List them on Ebay for $50 each, I should make a killing in time!!)

Thanks,
Mark

[greywynd]

Ok, here's the short scoop. Hooked the truck up to my equipment trailer last week, not realizing that it left the wire a little shorter for turning than it does on my other truck. Heard a 'pop' while turning a sharp corner, stopped and checked, it had pulled out of the socket on the truck, and in doing so had broke the cover off, and pulled the socket off the mounting screws on the corners. Fortunately, the electrical end is still ok, so I can still safely travel to get home.

So, I go into my local Ford dealer this week, because I figured I'd like to get a 'plug and play' socket, figuring less chance of corrosion etc. rather than a standard aftermarket connector. The parts guys tells me that I have to buy the whole harness etc...right up to the connection at the frame....and it was ONLY $200+!!!! (Oh and it would be a special order item!!!) Needless to say, I'm looking for a new connector....elsewhere. Things like this make it easy to understand why the big three are hurting....what a shame. I was figuring that even if it was 5-10 dollars more than a 'regular' connector that I'd be more than happy, because I figure it is a better 'sealed' system against the elements, reducing corrosion etc. $200?? No way!!

Anyone know of an aftermarket source for these things? Or do I go wrecker hunting and buy all that I can find??? (List them on Ebay for $50 each, I should make a killing in time!!)

Thanks,
Mark

[Paul Heuvelhorst]

greywynd,
Check the product at http://www.rvupgradestore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEW...&Category=108&Page=2.

It looks like the receptacle on the back of my 2000 Ford truck. And, complete with wiring diagram.

[greywynd]

Hi Paul,

That is the right style of connector, but if you take a close look at the Ford factory supplied unit, they don't wire in like that, they have a connetor built into the back that 'plugs' in to the end of the harness. I was hoping to replace it with the identical one, because I find that I have corrosion problems with the 'wired in' connectors, no matter how well I try to get them sealed up. (I do a lot of winter driving/trailering here in Ontario, unfortunately the salt/sand used on the roads does a lot of damage.)

The way they plug in, I would have thought Ford would have sold them as a separate piece....just for easy replacement like what I'm needing to do now.

If I can't find a 'factory' style one, I'll go with a standard 'wire in' one, was just hoping to stick with the original because it seems to avoid the corrosion issue better.

Mark

[CyberVet65]

Get on line and check out Camping World, Rv catalog.com and a ton of other sites. You can start by doing a "google" search and that will give you a ton of places to look at.
Here is a great place to start:
http://www.marksrv.com

Chet

[sciteach]

I had trouble with mine a few years ago and a guy at U Haul replaced it with no problem. If I remember right it was around $50. Don't know if it was a UHaul item or something he stocked. Might be worth a try.

[NT-man]

How about a junk yard? Do you have a "U-Pull-It" type of place around you? The socket part would be factory, but you'd probably have to be careful how you re-do the connections.

[greywynd]

I can replace it with a standard plug, that's not an issue (or a problem), I replace probably a half dozen a year. My issue is with Ford, that a simple 'plug-in' part, that should be easily replaced, is not available. I wouldn't say this is a reason I bought the truck, but it was one of the 'little things' that I thought was a nice feature. However, if the only way to replace it is to cut into the harness, and slice in, it kind of spoils the ease of replacement, and integrity against the elements.

I'll likely call some other dealers, and maybe contact Ford directly if this is the same response I receve from them. It's stuff like this that affects all of us in the long run....I can see a $20 part now being a $250 replacement when they are damaged in a car accident, and our insurance rates go up accordingly.

Mark

[K-Star]

try wrecking yards. I was looking for a wiring harness when I had my GMC. Dealer wanted $500 for the harness. Got one [online] from a wrecking yard in TN for 50 bucks.

[WesWesthaver]

I think this might be what you are looking for:

Ford 7-Pin Socket

This includes a wiring harness that you won't need, but I think the socket is the same as the Ford OEM socket as it has a harness plug behind the socket.

[Ray,IN]

If your quest fails, I solder each wire connection, rinse off flux, and use liquid tape to seal everything. Never have had a problem with my tow vehicles, just the trailer's cheap snap-on splices. Every time one causes a problem it gets the same fix.