OEM trailer harness???? special????

[6cuda6]

Is there anything special about the OEM trailer harness??? Or will an aftermarket one work just as well??? Does the OEM one allow for electric brakes without a complete re-wire???thanks, Dean

[Disco Mike]

Dean, I think you will have to wire in your brake unit still. As for aftermarket or factory, if you are using a trailor with more then one set of lights go factory or you won't have enough voltage to drive all the lights.
Mike

[Funrover]

yo can put aftermarket on...but not worth it!!

[Angel of Death]

Originally Posted by 6cuda6

Is there anything special about the OEM trailer harness??? Or will an aftermarket one work just as well??? Does the OEM one allow for electric brakes without a complete re-wire???thanks, Dean

I picked up the OEM-style (plugs right into the truck) from British Atlantic. Someone on here suggested it to me. $107 shipped the next day to my father's house.

[Disco Mike]

Originally Posted by Angel of Death

I picked up the OEM-style (plugs right into the truck) from British Atlantic. Someone on here suggested it to me. $107 shipped the next day to my father's house.

I was the one who suggested your purchase, you will like it. When are you getting out of the servie?
Mike

[ChuckD]

Originally Posted by 6cuda6

Is there anything special about the OEM trailer harness??? Or will an aftermarket one work just as well??? Does the OEM one allow for electric brakes without a complete re-wire???thanks, Dean

You will find no wires for railer brakes in the package. The only hard part of a brake installation is running a fairly high-capacity 12vdc wire from the front of the truck. Suggest tying in at the battery with an independent fuse or circuit breaker. There's also an issue of getting wires in and out of vehicle interior. Routing wires must be done with care if you run themunder the vehicle. Good luck.

[Angel of Death]

Originally Posted by Disco Mike

I was the one who suggested your purchase, you will like it. When are you getting out of the servie?
Mike

Hi Mike! I thought it was you! Thanks again for the suggestion! My old man said it should take about 4 minutes to wire up. Great kit he says!

I'm out of Bolivia first week in Dec and out of the Marines first week in January. I can't wait! My truck will have about 500 miles put on it in its first year and then 3000+ the first week of the second year. I hope she doesn't break down towing a Uhaul trailer! That would sucks so bad.

Erik

[Muddy Oval]

Originally Posted by Angel of Death

I picked up the OEM-style (plugs right into the truck) from British Atlantic. Someone on here suggested it to me. $107 shipped the next day to my father's house.

You could have saved yourself a lot of money by buying a $17 Hoppy at Wal Mart instead- it's the same thing except they added a plug. Without the plug, it takes 3 minutes more to install. The REAL problem is that the AB/Hoppy solution can't deliver enough power to run more marker lamps than what a small utility trailer would have. If you tow something with several marker lamps, you'll ruin the Hoppy box and possible damage the computer in the Rover. The Genuine kit can handle the current draw of larger trailers.
I learned this the hard way- hotwiring the trailer marker lamps to a 12V battery on the side of the road in the middle of the night so I'd have some lights working.

[Angel of Death]

Originally Posted by Muddy Oval

You could have saved yourself a lot of money by buying a $17 Hoppy at Wal Mart instead- it's the same thing except they added a plug. Without the plug, it takes 3 minutes more to install. The REAL problem is that the AB/Hoppy solution can't deliver enough power to run more marker lamps than what a small utility trailer would have. If you tow something with several marker lamps, you'll ruin the Hoppy box and possible damage the computer in the Rover. The Genuine kit can handle the current draw of larger trailers.
I learned this the hard way- hotwiring the trailer marker lamps to a 12V battery on the side of the road in the middle of the night so I'd have some lights working.

I don't care how much I wasted in $$. I just wanted to make installing the kit as easy as possible for my father who's nice enough to store my truck while I"m serving overseas. Ah well.

[Muddy Oval]

Well, the plug does make it easier- you might want to give him a quick 'heads-up' about keeping the current draw on the trailer low... if it has clearance lamps in addition to the lower corner markers, he should disconnect them or re-wire them to a constant 12v feed using an RV plug.