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On 8/11/10 4:45 PM, wrote:
I am re-wiring the trailer. I need to decide which trailer connector
(4-, 5-, 6- or 7-pole) to use. The trailer has a surge brake that is
a disc brake. The minimum requirements for the new wiring are to do
these:
Left turn signal
Right turn signal
Running lights (marker and clearance)
Brake signal
Disengage the disc brake when the car is in reverse

Optionally I would like to be able to do this:
Power an electric winch

Which trailer connector do I need to match the minimum requirement?
Which trailer connector do I need to also match the optional
requirement?

I am under the impression that as a minimum, I should use 5-pole flat
connector and use the 5-th wire to connect to the reverse circuit in
my car in order to disengage the disc brake when the car is in
reverse. But there is one thing that I don't understand: The 5-th
wire (the blue one) is supposed to be for brake. Does this mean that
I don't have any more brake light if I use the 5-th wire for reverse?
Is that 5-th wire for "electric" brake that is irrelevant to me and is
OK to use it for reverse?

If I really want to use the electric powered winch, I need to go for 6-
pole or 7-pole trailer connector, right?

Sorry if these questions are too basic. I am very surprised that I
cannot find any info about these when I "google" or "wiki". May be I
didn't use the correct key words.

By the way, my car is a 2008 Highlander that can handle up to 5000-
lbs. And my boat is 18-ft fiberglass center console weight around
2300-lbs. I am not sure if these info are relevant or not.

Thanks for any info in advance.

Jay Chan

I'll be glad to jump in here, especially since I've never had a boat
trailer with a power winch.

I've looked at several power winch/trailer setups at the local boat
ramp. When I had a 25' trailer boat, the possibility of an electric
winch intrigued me. It seems to be that the winch was hooked up to its
own plug at the back of the vehicle, and not to the trailer lights plug.
I don't see how the typical trailer lights plug could handle the amperage.

Be careful with that 5000-pound capacity. Is that 2300 pounds the total
for your boat sans engine, gas, batteries, gear? You probably have a
400-pound outboard. Gas is roughly 6.5 pounds a gallon. Batteries are 50
pounds each. And your trailer probably weighs at least 1,000 pounds.
You're damned close to the limit for your vehicles.