Trailer harness plug?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Joined
Aug 16, 2017
Threads
14
Messages
330
Location
Austin, TX
Never towed with my 97 yet and it never had a hitch until I built the Labs rear bumper.

Is what Im looking at a plug for trailer connector? Its roughly center where the cross member was before I chopped it off. Has wires running from both frame sides and looks like has connectors running up to each taillight area.

Tried searching and looked in my fsm with no luck. Might be getting ready to tow a uhaul box trailer and trying to work out what I need. Seems like I can get a harness that will plug into this connector in picture that will end at a 4 pole trailer plug, thoughts?

F718B756-1607-4D07-961E-893A5F7179B8.webp


153732A6-406D-4D57-B0E6-2DBFB9A76BBB.webp
 
That plug is not a trailer connector. It is an unused plug for the factory auxiliary fuel tank that was never offered in NA.

You can purchase a plug and play trailer converter harness that will end up with a flat 4 plug. Look up your year on etrailer.com and it will give you a few options.
 
You MAY already have a trailer harness and plug. Sometimes they are buried in the rear quarter panel, below the tail light assembly. Most often on the passenger side, but could be the driver side. Pull out tail light assembly and shine a good strong light down in the bottom of the rear quarter. You may have to gently pull up on the tail light harness and see if there is an extra sub-harness plugged into the middle of it. If it is there. fish it out thru the rubber plug that is on the inboard side of the rear quarter just behind the wheel. I have found them on several rigs, that did not have any trailer wiring exposed.
 
When I built my 4x4 labs bumper I installed a 7/4 pin connector like those on the Tundra. You can get them from Etrailer. Ford uses the same on their trucks. Running the harness under the bumper to where ever is a surefire way to damage it. If I smash this somehow it should be easy to source a replacement.

P1010226.webp
 
Saw the diagram in the manual but figured it was worth an ask. Theres a few youtube videos of hooking up trailer harnesses in fzj80s as well.
 
I used the t4 connection when I install my rear bumper. Make sure it is clean, as it can pick up quite a bit of grime if it wasn’t covered.
 
When I built my 4x4 labs bumper I installed a 7/4 pin connector like those on the Tundra.
View attachment 1888039

Nice Work! That is a super clean install!

I took a different route with the stock bumper/hitch setup.

My 7/4 connector is installed on a strong "retrieval magnet" that I painted to match the hitch. When not is use, it tucks up on the backside of the hitch and out of harms way. If needed, it attaches to the bottom of the hitch. In many thousands of miles towing it has never shifted from where it was stuck.

Off road towing this setup would hang too low, but for street towing it works great.

20150328_172637024_iOS.webp
 
When I built my 4x4 labs bumper I installed a 7/4 pin connector like those on the Tundra. You can get them from Etrailer. Ford uses the same on their trucks. Running the harness under the bumper to where ever is a surefire way to damage it. If I smash this somehow it should be easy to source a replacement.

View attachment 1888039

You have more photos of this set up, I’m interested in doing the same thing on mine.
 
You have more photos of this set up, I’m interested in doing the same thing on mine.

Not much more to know. It’s welded into the bumper pretty much just like the receiver hitch. Weld on a back plate with the right cut out and done. Just watch your clearances.
 
I put in a 7/4 connector in my slee rear recently. My thread might help you with some ideas.

 
Back
Top Bottom