How to Wire a Hidden Hitch Trailer Hookup
Hidden Hitch is a company that manufactures tow packages, also known as tow bars or tow hooks, that are attached to tow vehicles. The company also manufactures the wiring harnesses, properly called hitches, that connect the necessary electrical functions from the tow vehicle to the trailer. Although variants exist, hitches used in the United States are most commonly flat, four-pin configuration or round, seven-pin configuration.
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Things You'll Need
- Cable splicers (4 off)
- White wire (optional)
- Blue wire (optional)
- Brown wire (optional)
- Black wire (optional)
- Yellow wire (optional)
- Green wire (optional)
- Purple wire (optional)
- Zip ties
Instructions
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1
Route the four wires protruding from a flat, four-pin hitch to the taillight clusters at the rear of the tow vehicle. The white and brown wires can be run to either cluster. The yellow wire must run to the cluster on the driver's side and the green wire to the passenger side.
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2
Locate color-matched wires behind the two taillight clusters at the rear of the tow vehicle. Use cable splicers to join the wires from the Hidden Hitch trailer hitch to the color-matched wires behind the light clusters.
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3
Route the seven wires necessary to hook up a round, seven-pin hitch to the location of the hitch from their individual sources around the tow vehicle. The color codes and recommended gauges of the wires are as follows: 10-gauge white to ground, 12-gauge blue from the electric brake control, 14-gauge brown from the taillights, running lights and license plate, 10-gauge black from a 12-volt hot supply, 14-gauge yellow from left-turn and brake light, 14-gauge green from the right-turn and brake light and 14-gauge purple from the backup lights.
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4
Attach the seven wires to the terminal hub of the round, seven-pin hitch as follows: white to terminal No. 1, blue to terminal No. 2, brown to terminal No. 3, black to terminal No. 3, yellow to terminal No. 5, green to terminal No. 6 and purple to terminal No. 7 (in the center).
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5
Secure all wire runs with zip ties so they cannot create trip hazards or contact hot or moving parts.
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Tips & Warnings
Insulation tape is not necessary with proprietary cable splices.
Large trailers with numerous running lights may overload the fuse capacity of the tow vehicle. Check the owner's manual to determine the electrical rating necessary for proper operation.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit camping,trailer image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
