Hitch wiring plug options

[Lainey]

As some of you know, I towed my dearly departed Boler with a Rav4 (also departed, but not missed so much). Now I am looking to move into a 17’ trailer, towing with my Nissan truck and I want to get a hitch ready in the next couple of days but need some advice please.

My main issue is the mounting of the wiring plug. On the Nissan factory hitch the hitch end of the plug is built right into the hitch bar. If I go to one of the local hitch shops they will have to fabricate a bracket or mounting plate of some sort to put the plug receiver end onto. I know on the Rav4 the hitch shop made a mounting bracket that bolted onto the hitch, but it always seemed like an add-on, wiggly and not too sturdy.

Are there other pros or cons to either situation that I should be considering? (Besides the obvious, dealer being more pricey)

Thanks for any input

[Frederick L. Simson]

Here is my electrical socket, clamped onto the hitch receiver next to the stinger socket.





It is a standard accessory I got at my local trailer supply retailer and installed myself.

[John Perry]

My main issue is the mounting of the wiring plug.
Are there other pros or cons to either situation that I should be considering? (Besides the obvious, dealer being more pricey)

Thanks for any input

I have a boat so like mine as high as possible. If you do not mind drilling a hole in your bumper here is the way I do it. Very sturdy!
John

[Darwin Maring]

The story that they have to devise a way to mount it is a cryptic message that when decrypted means that they want to get a little deeper into your pocket.

I really like the example where it is mounted to the bumper.

Go to WalMart and look at the 7 pin receptacles and you will find that they either come with or that you can purchase a metal bracket that allows you to mount it to your tug and they also have the plastic box where you can store the cable.

[Lainey]

Thanks for the replies. I like the bumper mounted example also, very clean!

I wonder why the hitch shop did such a scabby job on the Rav4 plug mounting if there are parts so readily available. Probably to increase their shop time...

There are 2 major hitch outfits in the city here, plus the option of going through the dealer. One thing's for sure, I won't be going back to the shop that did the Rav's hitch (which is sad because the owners are from my town and it's always nice to support the local guy).

Still debating with myself what to do, I think I will go pay the other hitch outfit a looky lou visit and check out how they would be mounting the plug.

[Pete Dumbleton]

I wonder why the hitch shop did such a scabby job on the Rav4 plug mounting if there are parts so readily available. Probably to increase their shop time...

There are 2 major hitch outfits in the city here, plus the option of going through the dealer. One thing's for sure, I won't be going back to the shop that did the Rav's hitch (which is sad because the owners are from my town and it's always nice to support the local guy).

One thing I've noticed about folks in a business like this is that they often get habitual, both in how they do it and where they get the parts from. They may not even be aware that there are better equipment choices available, so it might be worth stopping by and telling them about it, both for your benefit and theirs. It isn't always about increasing the 'billable hours', as the lawyers would say!