Dear Dave,
Should I repair or replace this 7-pin cord that goes from the trailer to the truck? If repair, what is the best way? —Michelle, 2021 Lance 1985
Dear Michelle,
I would replace the entire 7-pin cord as this is a molded plug and the exposed wires indicate that there was either stress from the cord being pulled, or wear from it moving back and forth.
Why 7-pin cord should be replaced
Some would say to just use electrical tape or even a heat shrink material. However, since you cannot see inside the actual plug, you cannot verify the individual wires have not pulled away from the metal tabs. Even a slight pull would cause a loose wire, in which case it would cause resistance and eventual failure.
With this gap, you cannot verify the integrity of the wires going back to the trailer, as well. A new molded plug and cord can be purchased for under $40 on Amazon here.
It is a fairly easy swap with the wires typically going to a junction box either under the tongue or inside the front cap. Verify the color code for your tow vehicle and trailer. However, here is a typical setup:
This should be identified on your tow vehicle plug plate. Then you can match the wire of the new cord to the appropriate connection.
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7-pin connector plug coming apart. Can I fix it?
Dear Dave,
I accidentally pulled away from my trailer with the electric cable still connected and partially separated the cable from the connecter housing. However, everything still works fine. How do I reinforce this connection to prevent further damage? —Tim
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Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
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It might have been pulled but it could also be caused by the normal shrinkage of the sheath that takes place over time.
There are replacement plugs that are totally water proof and probably stronger than the original. They use a large cap nut, plastic retainer and rubber grommet.
https://www.amazon.com/CXTM-Trailer-Waterproof-Connector-Harness/dp/B0CKWXS1SH?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=bing_fplfs&tag=usdedynamicse-20&th=1
Thanks, that is definitely the way to go
Thank you for the advice, Dave! We had the same thing happen to our power cord plug. An electrician friend advised us to have the plug replaced, which we did. Unfortunately, doing so slightly shortened our power cord. However, that is a small price to pay for a safe power cord plug. Have a great day and safe travels!