trailer harness
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3096
Printed Date: 25 May 2025 at 4:48pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: trailer harness
Posted By: anchorout
Subject: trailer harness
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2012 at 10:39pm
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Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 1:02am
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What are your plugging in to? My pod plug will only go into my Ford rece[toicle one way. And it has to be just right. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 8:41am
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Mine will also only go in one way, and additionally it has a blue dot on the "top" side of it so that I don't have to figure out the top & bottom every time. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 8:48am
Mine will not plug in anyway but the right way. Maybe the vehicle plug is broken. Also it is a pain but I have never seen a factory wired trailer that used the standard colour codes. It is a pain I know but all manufacturers reserve the right to create their own wiring colour codes  ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 9:07am
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As others have already pointed out, it's an issue on your end. No problem here, as the plug will only mount the TV recepticle one way.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 9:31am
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I have dealt with no less than a dozen 7-way connecttors over the years, not a ONE of them could be inserted wrong.
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Posted By: Racer|X|
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2012 at 7:59pm
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Only one-way on my Ford. ------------- |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2012 at 10:48pm
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anchorout, glade that you got the problem solved. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2012 at 6:46am
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I don't know..... I might be able to force the connector in the wrong way, but it has the locking tab top dead center to help you orient it properly, (as well as to keep it connected during travel). Plus, and call me paranoid, I try the brake, both turn signals, and running lights before every tow and Joyce calls out the AOK. ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2012 at 10:57pm
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I test every time, too. If I'm by myself I'll just turn on the hazard lights which will confirm the connection at the Bargeman connector. If my wife or kids are around I'll do a full brake & turn signal check.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2012 at 8:56am
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There have been times when our trailer lights haven't worked,,,mostly the issues are with our boat trailer that sits there all summer. So we always do a light check, so little time, but so worth it. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2012 at 9:32am
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I bought a Bargmann test plug at my local RV dealer. It plugs into the rear of my tow vehicle. Colored LEDs lite up when the various circuits are activated. Gives you the knowledge that everything is correct coming from the TV if you are having electric problems in your Pod. ------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 19 Nov 2012 at 8:18pm
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Thats a good tip Tidalwave. Thanks. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Racer|X|
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2012 at 6:10pm
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I have one of those too...it was on one of the new RV owners checklist, so I got one. Works nice. ------------- |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2012 at 6:15pm
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One of the bennies of having the clearance lights on the front of the Pod fenders is that I can see from the cab if I am plugged in. I still do the walkaround to make sure all the lights are working. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: anchorout
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2013 at 11:37pm
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2013 at 10:08am
I don't see any problem with the replies, anchorout. I just re-read the entire thread, twice, to be sure there weren't any less-than-polite replies that I somehow missed at first. Just like you related your experience, others related their experiences saying they didn't have the problem and couldn't - unless the Bargman was improperly formed. Learn from it, move on.  ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: anchorout
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2013 at 9:44pm
| The problem is on your end. I'll move on. |
Posted By: anchorout
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2013 at 10:08pm
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Posted By: anchorout
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2013 at 10:09pm
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2013 at 10:16pm
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LOL.. I remember my first day on the internet.. ------------- |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 6:00am
I don't think the problem is on my end. My connector is able to fit one way and one way only: the correct way. Not upside down. If any connector can be connected more than one way it needs to be checked out by a professional and replaced with one that works correctly. I hope the OP did that. It would be most unsafe to proceed without repair. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: tsunami123
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 10:05am
 The Bargmann connector that came with my Pod from FR was a piece of junk. It was slightly smaller in diameter than a regulation Bargmann. It wobbled badly when inserted into the TVs Bargmann! In fact, it was so poorly made that I actually could insert the plug in upside down.Luckily the TV's lights were not turned on. When plugged in correctly, the plug flopped up and down, so much so that the 'key lock' sometimes would not hold. Within a few trips, the flopping had broken some of the plug wires! That is how I found out that FR does not follow SAE Industry color coding. I went to my RV dealer and bought a replacement plug. This one fit snuggly and was impossible to insert incorrectly. So if your Bargmann feels loose and wobbly you probably got one of the 'bad' batch. Most products now come from China and they only use metric measurements. If they need SAE measurements they use the closest metric tools in their possession. I think the Chinese manufacturer simply molded the connector to their next smaller metric and so the plugs were smaller than the SAE male connector on American TVs. I have even had Chinese SAE wrenches which were well made but were forged to the nearest metric measurement. So the wrenches never really gripped SAE bolts etc. correctly. I micrometered the wrenches and found that, for example, the stamped 1/2 inch box wrench was actually 13mm. Which meant that it was a sloppy fit and always tended to round off bolt heads. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 10:51am
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Interesting info on the tools, I'll have to double-check mine... ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 11:23am
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While we are talking connectors and stuff. My new Pathfinder has a factory tow set up with 2" receive and 7pin. It comes prewired for brake controller and included a harness for that in the glove box. Question #1 Will I get 12v from the car to the battery on the pod so the battery will stay charged while moving. Question #2. Does the 2013 R-Pod have 12v LED bulbs both outside and inside? If I should have started a new topic rap my knucles and move this to a new thread. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 11:48am
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Thinker you have a factory tow package so the charging line should be active, I have not seen a 2013 POD so I don't know about the LED lights. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 12:15pm
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Question #2. Does the 2013 R-Pod have 12v LED bulbs both outside and inside? 2013 PR-172 delivered in October 2012: Tail/stoplights are LED. Running and clearance are incandescent. Rear spoiler too high to look at in daytime. All interior and porch lights are incandescent from the factory. I've replaced them all with LEDs from SuperBrightLeds.com. What a difference! DC current reduced by 85% and better light to boot. http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-18-smd-led-wedge-base-tower/397/ http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/tail-brake-turn/1156-led-bulb-single-intensity-45-smd-led-tower/526/ I'll probably replace the exterior bulbs with LEDs when they burn out, only for the convenience of long life and reliability ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Thinker
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 1:50pm
Thanks Charlie, any idea how many I will need of each. I don't pick up my rig until tomorrow. I will place an order now for some of each. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 4:57pm
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On the tow package and charging.. look in the owners manual to see if any circuit breakers or relays need to be added. We had to instal one of each on our Expedition. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 6:21pm
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On my Suburban I had to clip two zip-ties that were holding wires in bundles, pull the wires up to a fuse box under the hood and attach them to two bolts. The two fuses were already in place. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 7:25pm
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[QUOTE=Thinker]
[QUOTE=CharlieM]
Question #2. Does the 2013 R-Pod have 12v LED bulbs both outside and inside? Thanks Charlie, any idea how many I will need of each. I don't pick up my rig until tomorrow. I will place an order now for some of each. I'm not totally familiar with the 171. You will need two of the first types (194 replacement) for each dual light fixture. My guess, only a guess, is there are three dual ceiling fixtures so you will need six for them. The kitchen and bath each have a single fixture so there are two more. Don't know about the bed area. The porch light needs one type 1156 AMBER replacement, the second link in my email. My suggestion is to wait until you get the Pod, then count the required bulbs. These LEDs are a bit pricey, but I have tried several other "cheap, direct from China" lights and found them seriously lacking. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2013 at 8:03pm
Inside my 171, there are 10 bulbs, all wedge-sockets (194s):
Personally, I bought fan-shaped, single-sided, warm LEDs from an eBay seller in Senzhen, China. They're very bright and have a warm (slightly yellow) colour to them; I find them to be a very good replacement bulb for both quality of light and quantity. I've had them for a full season and have been very happy with them. The ones I bought are ( http://www.ebay.ca/itm/10x-T10-194-921-W5W-Bulb-Lamp-12-5050SMD-LED-Warm-White-Y-/181047420669?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a274466fd&_uhb=1#ht_2806wt_1245 - here ), but I'm sure that there are many other sellers with similar product. Outside the trailer, there's just the porch light which is an 1156. The stock was amber, but given the amber cover, I put a clear replacement in there without trouble. I picked up a LED replacement at a local auto supply store. I was never very happy with the LED outside (not bright enough) and I swapped the original back in after a few camping trips. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |