Any advantage to hooking up 7pin vs 4pin?

[Raspy]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

What difference does that make ?
I was taught to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do
I have brakes on my utility trailer not because of some law but because it’s just common sense .

Yep. Thank you. Common sense.


And just to muddy the waters further concerning charging. Neither my Oliver, or my Black Series were connected in the trailer to charge the batteries from the seven pin. The seven pin in my truck has the charging wire, but the trailer side was not connected. So, it's not a given that the batteries will charge if plugged in.

This is where a simple volt meter plugged into a cigarette lighter style socket in the trailer is handy. When the seven pin is plugged into the tow, the volt meter will begin to rise above 12.6 volts, indicating the batteries are charging. It's a very simple way to check it.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

.
You can not addapt [sic] a 4 pin unit to a 7 pin..
..

That is basically correct when talking about temporary use to tow a trailer with a 7 way, using a tug with a 4-way only.

But for permanent installation you can use something like this. It is the way my vehicle is done. The 4-way on the tug is attached and then wrapped up and secured, and you add the 5th, 6th or 7th connections to the 7-pin according to your needs.

[chrisblessing]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

What difference does that make ?
I was taught to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do
I have brakes on my utility trailer not because of some law but because it’s just common sense .

I'm sorry if you're offended. I was simply pointing out that trailer brakes are not a legal requirement on all trailers, in all states, as implied in an earlier post. That you choose to have brakes because it's the "right thing to do" is admirable. I too added brakes to my trailer, not out of legal obligation, but, like you, because it's "just common sense".

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by chrisblessing

I'm sorry if you're offended. I was simply pointing out that trailer brakes are not a legal requirement on all trailers, in all states, as implied in an earlier post. That you choose to have brakes because it's the "right thing to do" is admirable. I too added brakes to my trailer, not out of legal obligation, but, like you, because it's "just common sense".

I wasn’t offended , it’s just that too many times on this forum the debate is between doing the right thing (think safety) on one side and I don’t want to spend any money unless I am forced to do the proper thing on the other side
You see this playing out on threads about tow vehicles, trailer tires , trailer brakes and paying camping fees
My opinion has always been that if you can’t afford or refuse to own / buy a proper tow vehicle , or maintain your trailers safety equipment or replace your trailer tire or camp in designated areas , Etc , Etc then they shouldn’t buy a trailer. IMHO

[chrisblessing]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

I wasn’t offended , it’s just that too many times on this forum the debate is between doing the right thing (think safety) on one side and I don’t want to spend any money unless I am forced to do the proper thing on the other side
You see this playing out on threads about tow vehicles, trailer tires , trailer brakes and paying camping fees
My opinion has always been that if you can’t afford or refuse to own / buy a proper tow vehicle , or maintain your trailers safety equipment or replace your trailer tire or camp in designated areas , Etc , Etc then they shouldn’t buy a trailer. IMHO

I understand. I didn't detect that in this thread, but I get the safety vs cost/convenience debate. And I'm with you on this: I'll err on the side of safety.

Cheers

[gordon2]

First, Steve makes the "legal requirements" argument (bolding added):

Originally Posted by Casita Greg

Casitas, (and most other travel trailers out there,) have legally required electric brakes. Not only are the trailer brakes a DOT requirement, but the required "break-away" connector is also a legal requirement, just like having a good functional working trailer battery, (which would power the electric brakes if the trailer were to come off the hitch.) You are required to have a break away pull-out switch, which will activate the trailers electric brakes in the event of the trailer becoming disconnected from the tow vehicle. ...

Chris makes a logical response:

Originally Posted by chrisblessing

I live in Arizona. Under state law there is only a requirement for independent electric brakes and breakaway for trailers with a gross weight of over 3000 lbs and above. "Legal requirements" differ from state to state.

Steve says that legal requirements dont matter.. he does what is the right thing regardless of the legal requirement.

Originally Posted by steve dunham

What difference does that make ?
I was taught to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do
I have brakes on my utility trailer not because of some law but because it’s just common sense .

Which makes me wonder.. why did Steve first focus on the legal requirements (which do vary from state to state and country to country)? The better argument might well be based on physics rather than a hodgepodge of laws.

[Darwin Maring]

The thing about having brakes on the trailer, When you really need them you will wish you were smart enough to have them. Worth their weight in gold in that situation.

[Markz]

Its more pleasant to tow a trailer with brakes than without. You don't have that constant rattling and banging behind you and you know you are safer in a sudden braking situations.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Darwin Maring

The thing about having brakes on the trailer, When you really need them you will wish you were smart enough to have them. ...

Ah yes... the not-so-famous last words.....

[Kommander]

I installed an Autowbrake unit in my 1974 Trillium this year. I have a seven pin connection but noted in the installation manual that you CAN install Autowbrake using a four pin connection. You have to keep the lights in the tow vehicle turned on for this to work. Here is a link to Autowbrake's site...scroll down a bit and you will see what they have to say.

https://getautowbrake.com/pages/installation

Murray

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Kommander

I installed an Autowbrake unit in my 1974 Trillium this year. I have a seven pin connection but noted in the installation manual that you CAN install Autowbrake using a four pin connection. You have to keep the lights in the tow vehicle turned on for this to work. Here is a link to Autowbrake's site...scroll down a bit and you will see what they have to say.

https://getautowbrake.com/pages/installation

Murray

It also says this:

You must also know if you fail to turn the tow vehicle lights on while towing you will also not have functioning trailer brakes.

So yes, you CAN do it.. but you can do a lot of things that are not a good idea.

But its even worse than that... you run the risk of blowing fuses or having vehicle computer control problems when you add that much draw to a lighting circuit. Just dont do it.. add a wire from the tow veh battery with a auto-reset breaker inline. Its only one more wire and its by far the safer way to do it.

[chrisblessing]

Originally Posted by gordon2

It also says this:...Just dont do it.. add a wire from the tow veh battery with a auto-reset breaker inline. Its only one more wire and its by far the safer way to do it.

Agreed, and it's very easy and inexpensive to do.

[floyd]

Yeah! And those attorneys are likely the same ones who made the LoneStar restaurants quit allowing peanut shells on the floor.
Forget them and get a real 7-pin and be sure all functions work, you will be much happier, safer, and have less wear and tear on your rig.

[Josh B.]

I recently switch to a 7 pin on my 2001 Toyota LandCruiser even though I only have the 4 wires hooked up currently. The campers I build come with brakes and a 7 pin so it makes transporting with my vehicle easier. Additionally, I like the snap down 7pin door on the vehicle side and the way the connection stays cleaner over the years. I installed mine slightly off to the drivers side at about a 45 degree angle. Works great, looks fine.

[lfkwtz]

Originally Posted by Reinout

@lfkwtz Which 4runner do you have? If you have a 4th or 5th Gen 4runner although you have the 7 and 4 pin options, you will still need to connect a brake controller. With the weight of the trailer I would say it's a good option to "upgrade" to the 7-pin. It's nice with our 2007 4Runner to have the extra brakes AND it charges the battery in the trailer. It's not too daunting to hook up the brake controller. Talk to the folks at etrailer.com they set me up right.

I think others have mentioned this already but, go with 7 pin. It'll allow you to tow anything with 7 pin or 4 pin (with adapter) and use all the functions.

I have a 2016. You're saying the 7pin isn't enough?

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by lfkwtz

I have a 2016. You're saying the 7pin isn't enough?

I believe he’s saying the brake controller is a separate installation. But if it has factory 7-pin wiring, there is likely a connector under the dash or behind the kick panel. No new wires to run.

E-trailer has good model-specific Instructions for installing a brake controller. Regardless of whether you’ll do it yourself or pay someone else, it’s good to know what’s involved.

[RogerDat]

7 pin also provides a charge line to charge the house battery while driving. Not having to worry if battery will be charged during the days travel after night in rest area or rustic site is nice. Is Walmart rustic or primative?

I have brakes on my 13 and wouldn't own a trailer without them given a choice. I have an 8x10 utility trailer and grumble every time I tow it about the lack of brakes.

Driving a divided highway such as M-59 through the northern suburbs of Detroit with all the traffic lights is not fun, but it isn't fear inducing either with the camper because I can stop for a yellow light instead of trying to beat it with a trailer in tow because I won't be able to stop in a "normal" distance the yellow light assumes with its timing.

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by RogerDat

... Is Walmart rustic or primative?

Definitely primitive...