Update: Trailer/Truck Issues

[Labswine]

Well, just talked with the dealership and was told that they (in conversation with the trailer dealership...actually went there to talk to them and test my trailer too) concluded that I must've put the 7 pin plug in upside down causing the right turn signal to blink when the left one on the truck was selected and, that shorted out everything in the harness causing the fire.

Well, having read here many times about a few of youse guys, on very rare occasion, accidentally putting the plug in the wrong way, I am VERY cognizant of how I put the plug in, the little square jog to the bottom so it slides in easily...so I cannot fathom that I did try to put it in upside down...besides, one would have to REALLY SHOVE IT IN HARD to get it to go ??? so, I think I'd've realized that at the time, if indeed I did...

As far as the trailer running lights coming on when initially plugged in and the vehicle turned off, I was told that the electrical bus in the truck can remain energized for anywhere from 20-40 minutes after turning the vehicle off but, that still doesn't explain why the running lights came on this time, and NEVER before AND, the brakes on the one side of the trailer locking up when vehicle brakes were not applied except for putting the vehicle in to gear (and then only after around 50' of moving forward). Plus, before moving the trailer, I did the safety inspection of checking the proper functioning of the lights, and all was fine.

Now the really bad news...a new wiring harness, for the WHOLE TRUCK, is $787. Labor at the dealership is $190/hr and it's an 8-9 hour job as they have to replace the WHOLE wiring harness and cannot just replace the wiring harness to the flat-4/7-pin. So, I'm looking at at least $2,600 in repairs ? ??

It's gonna be at least a week to get the harness then a day or so to do the work

My next call is to my insurance company to see if they'll cover this (they cover hitting a curb to replace tires and wheels so...) but, the worst thing they can tell me is, "No." Worth at try at least ???

So, again, BE AWARE of how you plug in your trailer to your truck.

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[Labswine]

Nice note...the service manager at the Jeep Dealership suggested I call my insurance company to see if they'd cover this because there was a fire...

AAA Insurance is going to cover all but my $500 deductible

 

[Snake Eyes]

the 7 pins from trailers always have a flat edge on the side that goes directly under the truck 7 pin cover because it helps lock it in as the lid from the truck pin cover catches over it.

I guess you could paint the top bright yellow, but the flat piece should always tell you what part goes directly under the cover and in the case of the gladiator that is up.

IT should be almost impossible to put in in wrong as the flat piece would not go in.

 

[Labswine]

That's a great idea to paint the TOP a bright color so there's no guessing

Gonna happen as soon as I get the trailer home again.

Note: Pending UAW strike could potentially delay my dealership getting in the new wiring harness

I was told it would be in late next week but if they do go on strike, well...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I found at least 3 instances of it happening.

The descriptions were pretty much identical.

As far as having to push hard - not to make some contact as remember, the ground is always the ground and the hot is always hot and flipped, those pieces stick out far enough to make some contact even if the plug isn't seated.
Not saying that's what happened, but people say "can't be done" - they need to look around a bit and see where others have done it. It can be done, and it is done at times and there's proof out there in admissions and photos.

As far as the right turn signal blinking when the left was on - that won't cause a fire! That's low current. Having current go to the wrong bulb is absolutely not the cause. All that would happen is the wrong bulb by triggered. How could that cause a fire? You can swap the wires around manually so that if you turn on the truck left signal the right trailer bulb will blink.
There's only one way that the truck left could be on and the trailer right be on, or the truck right be on and the trailer left be on.
Check out what would happen if the connector was up-side-down.........
Turn on left turn signal and the pulse goes to the RIGHT trailer turn signal.
Turn on the right truck turn signal and the power goes to the left trailer turn signal.
Just like ground and power get flipped, the turn signals get flipped.

What are the odds of a burned harness flipping the turn signal signals to the trailer? Almost nil. Those two wires would be in contact with each other meaning if you turned on either turn signal, then power would go to both trailer bulbs. Think it trough logically.
Burn the wires so the turn signal wires going back there touch - now turning on either truck turn signal sends power to both trailer turn signals because the wires are in contact.
In order for ONLY the wrong bulb on the trailer to come on, the connections have to be flipped, not merged.
Forensics - been through decades of it.

the 7 pins from trailers always have a flat edge on the side that goes directly under the truck 7 pin cover because it helps lock it in as the lid from the truck pin cover catches over it.

I guess you could paint the top bright yellow, but the flat piece should always tell you what part goes directly under the cover and in the case of the gladiator that is up.

IT should be almost impossible to put in in wrong as the flat piece would not go in.

They don't all have such a profound "flat part" like pictured. Some are lower....
It can be done, it has been done, I've found 3 people who did it, and admitted it, and showed pictures, there's threads on the RV forums about this.
Someone says "it can't be done" and someone else sheepishly says "oh, yes it can, I did it and fried my wires"
I've got pictures from at least a couple of those threads just to prove to people it can be done, it has been done, and what the results are.

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