How to Wire a U-Haul Trailer Hitch

A U-Haul trailer must be properly wired so its brake lights and turn signals will work with the towing vehicle's lights.

The U-Haul company provides a number of services to help install a trailer to a motor vehicle. One of the important aspects of the hitching process is wiring the trailer hitch to the vehicle. If you fail to connect the vehicle's wires to the U-Haul trailer's wires, the trailer's turn signals and brake lights will not illuminate.

Instructions

1. Gather all pertinent car information about your car. U-Haul needs the year, make, model, and any specific back-end features to your motor vehicle. U-Haul has a number of hitches that cater to certain types of vehicles, so knowing the details of your vehicle helps U-Haul determine specifications.

2. Back your vehicle to an appropriate distance from the trailer. You might need a second person to help you back up your vehicle so the trailer hitch is near the hitch ball on your vehicle.

3. Mount the trailer hitch to your motor vehicle's hitch ball. This way, your vehicle and the trailer hitch are on the same balanced level.

4. Attach the chain of the trailer hitch to your motor vehicle. This securely connects your vehicle to the trailer hitch.

5. Expose the circuits of the trailer hitch. Do this only if your vehicle does not have a circuit plug. There should be three to seven wires right at the tip of the trailer hitch. Each wire represents the left and right turn signals and the brake lights.

6. Connect the trailer hitch wires to the color-coded wires in your vehicle. This depends on the model of your car, as the brake wires may be in your trunk or within a cover outside your vehicle.

7. Plug in the car's automatic brake plug. This step is only done if your vehicle has a braking-system outlet at the back of the vehicle. Newer model cars usually have an electrical brake outlet instead of wires. U-Haul will provide a trailer that has a plug that simply connects to your car's brake outlet.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not worry if you have seven wires on the trailer end and only four wires on your vehicle. You should just match the wires to your car in number.

• Always make sure the colors of the trailer wires are connected to the corresponding colors of the wires in your vehicle; otherwise, the lights will not work.

References

• Hitch Info: Hitches and Towing 101
• Popular Mechanics: Wiring Your Trailer Hitch
• UHaul: Trailer hitches