Community Forums

dpinvidic · 03-20-2016, 09:16 AM

I am all about making thing clean and simple.
instead of messing with an adapter, just install a new trailer plug on the dolly frame.

Then when you load the car, plug the towing lights into the plug on the dolly.

A variation would be....

Install a permanent harness on the car with a plug on both ends.
wire in a hanging pig tail on the dolly which will connect to the front plug on the car.

This way there are no patch cables to lose.

Dan

nothermark · 03-20-2016, 09:25 AM

Switch the tow vehicle over to one of these:

https://jet.com/product/detail/2c462...FUwvgQodF-8KnQ

Wryly Blithe · 03-20-2016, 07:13 PM

THANK YOU EVERYONE for the excellent suggestions

Mel S hit the nail on the head for what I was originally looking for, and that would be super simple to do, but I really like Forza Tom's idea of wiring a 4-pin directly into the dolly... that's very doable.

Most of all I really like nothermark's link for the 7:4-pin adapter - that seems to me to be the best of it all. I just have to do a little research to see if it'll physically fit on my coach. If it does, that's the ticket!

Thanks again everyone. I can stop banging my head against the wall now

Wryly Blithe · 03-20-2016, 07:35 PM

Quick follow up:

I went out to the car I'm planning on towing (to research possible mounting places for the lights) and I realized I have a tow package on it, meaning there's already a 4-pin connector already wired into the car.

I'm wondering what would happen if I hooked up my rig up to that connector... I know it's designed to work as an "output" power source, but could it also work as an "input" from the rig to the car's lights?

Probably end up blowing some fuse or something... right?

Kiawah · 03-20-2016, 07:39 PM

I use those exact lights, here's my setup:

1.) I spliced into the dolly light wiring, and attached a plug where the magnetic lights can plug in.

2.) I put a receiver on the TOAD, main purpose to be able to easily move the dolly around if I needed/wanted to, or when not towing to handle a bike rack. I bought a piece of angle iron at home depot, think it's 4' long. With some threaded rod, permanently clamped it to a standard 2" receiver and ball, which is slid into the toad. (The angle iron runs parallel to the bumper).

3.) The magnetic lights sit in the |_ of the angle iron, as I didn't want to risk scratching the car finish. I had painted the angle black to match the receiver. The wiring runs thru the trunk and car and out one of the front doors, to connect into the plug as described in #1.

I leave the wiring in the car and actually tucked it under the carpet and door jams as it runs thru the car. The lights when not used, are just unattached from the angle iron and placed in the trunk. The front connector just lays under the front floor mat.

If I need to move the car dolly around any significant distance, just attach the dolly to the toad ball, and move it wherever.

The hitch with angle iron attachment, is easily removed from the toad with a pull of the receiver pin.

Works very efficiently, and can hook it up in a couple mins. Probably don't really need the magnetic lights, but they were cheap enough and easy enough to add on I figured I'd just give it a try.

Wryly Blithe · 03-20-2016, 11:39 PM

DaveB, that's a great idea. It just so happens that I was looking at the car a little while ago trying to figure out how I could use the receiver hitch... I hadn't yet thought about angle iron running parallel to the bumper. EXCELLENT IDEA! Thanks