The RVers Corner
Beginners Guide to RV Wiring

General Trouble Shooting

This guide is not meant to be a full training manual on all aspects of RV wiring, rather it is designed to help the average do-it-yourselfer find and repair the most common wiring problems. If you are not comfortable using tools or if the problem is found to be in the wiring harness of the tow vehicle, it is recommended that you seek the help of a professional.

Most problems with RV wiring originates in the tow vehicle socket and/or the trailer plug. With all the rain water, road salt, and grime thrown up by the tires, these components are subjected to the worst conditions for an electrical connection.

First, check the inside connections of the tow vehicle socket for corrosion, broken wires or other obvious problems.

Then inspect the trailer plug for the same conditions. Any deterioration of the terminals or the wires themselves should be repaired now. It is often more economical (and less stressful) to replace the entire plug/socket and make any needed repairs to the wires at this point. Often the problem is solved before delving deeper into the wiring maze.

Wiring the RV Trailer Plug

It's not as hard as you think!

Tools you will need ...

  • Wire strippers
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Flat screwdriver
  • In-line fuse holder or circuit breaker.

Wiring the 4 pole utility trailer plug

Wiring the 6 pole horse trailer plug

Wiring the 7 pole RV Tow Vehicle Socket

Toad wiring made easy

Emergency Flasher for your RV

Wiring the 4 pole utility trailer plug


4 pole wiring diagram

Pin locations for the flat four pole plug

The four pole plug is a simple connection for a boat or utility trailer and is used for lighting only. It is a flat connection with four wires.

Terminal
Wire Color
Function
Location - Truck
Location Trailer
1
White
Ground
uncovered pin
covered pin
2
Brown
Running Lights
1st covered pin
1st uncovered pin
3
Yellow
Left turn/brake light
2nd covered pin
2nd uncovered pin
4
Green
Right turn/brake light
3rd covered pin
3rd uncovered pin

Wiring the 6 pole horse trailer plug

6 pole plug
Pin locations for the 6 pole plug
ASME wiring color code
Terminal Marking
Wire Color
Function
GD
White
Ground
TM
Brown
Running Lights
LT
Yellow
Left turn/brake light
RT
Green
Right turn/brake light
ST
Blue
Brake Control
Aux
Black
Power


Pin locations for the 6 pole plug
RV wiring color code
Terminal Marking
Wire Color
Function
GD
White
Ground
TM
Green
Running Lights
LT
Red
Left turn/brake light
RT
Brown
Right turn/brake light
ST
Blue
Brake Control
Aux
Black
Power

Wiring the 7 pole RV Vehicle Socket

There are two wiring codes for different 7 pole plug sets.

Most RV's use the RV wiring code for the type of plug/socketthat has 6 flat contacts surrounding the center round pin.

Semi's and other commercial trailers use the ASME
(American Society of Mechanical Engineers) type of 7-pole plug set.
This plug has 6 round contacts surrounding the center pin.
The wiring color code for this plug is not the same as the
RV 7 pole plug described below, and will be included at a future time.

View looking into the front (contact) end of tow vehicle socket.
7 pole RV plug/socket.
Terminal
Wire Color
Function
Location - Truck socket
Location Trailer plug
1
White
Ground
7:00 o'clock
5:00 o'clock
2
Blue
Brakes
5:00 o'clock
7:00 o'clock
3
Green
Running
10:00 o'clock
2:00 o'clock
4
Black
Power
2:00 o'clock
10:00 o'clock
5
Red
LT & Stop
9:00 o'clock
3:00 o'clock
6
Brown
RT & Stop
3:00 o'clock
9:00 o'clock
7
Yellow
Aux or BU
Center
Center

Toad Wiring Made Easy

Note: a "toad" is a small vehicle towed behind a motorhome.

Instead of hooking in to the cars existing system you can simply mount a very nice set of lights under the rear bumper, below the existing light array, and run separate wires under the toad chassis.


toad lights


This method would eliminate the neccessity of installing diodes into the toad lighting circuits to prevent feedback problems. A four pole connector at the front of the toad connects the add-on lights to the motor homes circuits.

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