4-pin connector mounting method?

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454cid

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I recently pulled my box, bumper, and receiver to do the fuel pump. I had a 7 way connector mounted on my bumper with a steel bracket that came with the wires epoxied in place in the plastic plug. I had to cut the wires that go to the engine compartment, so the rest of the wiring could stay with the box. They're not connected up front, and I don't have a brake controller... I've never even pulled a trailer with brakes. The bracket on the bumper is trash and the plastic cracked when I tried removing screws, so what I have really needs to be replaced.

I see no sense in getting a new 7-wire connector and bracket. The trailer I occasionally pull is only a four wire. I could easily get a 4 wire flat pigtail for a few bucks and splice it in. However, I'd rather not just have it hanging there. I'm not seeing much for mounting a flat 4 connector, it seems like you're supposed to let them hang out in the trunk... well trucks don't have trunks. What do you do with it?
 

df2x4

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I always just loop mine up around the trailer hitch out of sight, they stay put pretty well and I have yet to have any moisture issues inside the plug covers.

You shouldn't have to do any splicing to speak of... Should be able to just unplug the remains of your seven wire setup and replace it with a four wire one. There's a plug in the rear of the truck in the brake wire harness that most of the kits T off of.
 

454cid

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I always just loop mine up around the trailer hitch out of sight, they stay put pretty well and I have yet to have any moisture issues inside the plug covers.

I might be able to shove it inside the tube of the receiver. I've found some online that fit into a license plate light hole, although, the most recent reviews on Amazon say it no longer is flush like the picture.

You shouldn't have to do any splicing to speak of... Should be able to just unplug the remains of your seven wire setup and replace it with a four wire one. There's a plug in the rear of the truck in the brake wire harness that most of the kits T off of.

Originally, I just had wires folded up inside the frame rail... that was the way GM did it on our trucks. GM didn't start putting a connector on the trucks until the 800 or maybe the 900.
 

df2x4

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GM didn't start putting a connector on the trucks until the 800 or maybe the 900.

They put it on both of my '97s... Both of my trucks use a four pin kit that looks just like this one.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1912700&cc=1031555&jsn=582&jsn=582

Just undid the connector in the harness, plugged this into both sides, and connected the ground.

EDIT - Or did you mean the seven pin connector? Either way I'd imagine you should have the plug I'm talking about to hook the four pin setup to.
 
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454cid

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They put it on both of my '97s... Both of my trucks use a four pin kit that looks just like this one.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1912700&cc=1031555&jsn=582&jsn=582

Just undid the connector in the harness, plugged this into both sides, and connected the ground.

EDIT - Or did you mean the seven pin connector? Either way I'd imagine you should have the plug I'm talking about to hook the four pin setup to.

That just plugs in between the harness running to the rear of the truck, and the tail light harness. That's not a GM provision, that's just an aftermarket company taking advantage of the GM design. What I have, and you likely do too, are wires that GM provided for the trailer connection, but didn't actually wire up with a connector... probably because trailer wiring isn't a solid standard. Check inside your left frame rail. It's possible that's only with a certain RPO. I also have a couple of wires that run all the way to the engine compartment near the fuse and relay box that are for the power wires for the brakes. GM left them disconnected.
 

454cid

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I'm kind of leaning towards something like this, but checking websites I'm not finding it locally. On Amazon it's an add-on item, and the reviews say it's not flush anymore.

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df2x4

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That just plugs in between the harness running to the rear of the truck, and the tail light harness. That's not a GM provision, that's just an aftermarket company taking advantage of the GM design.

:lol: I know what it is, I was just saying that you should have a place to install a four pin harness without splicing anything if you wanted to. We had a bit of a miscommunication because I didn't realize any of these trucks came with factory trailer wiring. I'll have to check but I don't think either of my '97s have it.
 

BadDecisions

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Curt and a few other companies make a flat four mounting bracket - https://www.google.com/search?q=cur...o5rjAhXbLc0KHfY7DbMQ_AUIEygE&biw=1366&bih=652

I got a generic bracket like that at the local U-haul a couple years ago for like $5. Still hanging on the pegboard in the garage...never did use it, lol. Got it for a Chevy Tracker I was running for a bit, but ended up selling it selling it shortly after. My other tow rigs already have 6 and 7 pin connectors installed.

I was actually surprised that all of their towing accessory bits were surprisingly cheap. Some stuff was even less than what I would have paid at the parts stores or Walmart.
 
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