Change 5-round plug-in to 4-flat plug in for trailer

[BinIdaho]

Need help....some say changing 5-round plug-in on camp trailer to 4-flat plug cannot be done. Is this a true statement? Thanks in advance.

 

[champsman97045]

go to your local auto parts and get a 4 into 5 converter and then just install very simple, or a local u-haul as they should have the parts also.
check also a local trailer parts supply house.

 

[Sloufoot]

Hi Barbara,
It all depends what the wires go to. You might have a charging wire on a camp trailer for a battery on the trailer. If you don't, all you have to have is a RT, LT, Tail/clearance, ground.
If it does have a charge wire find out which one it is & don't use that wire. Like said above, if it is a standard wiring set-up, no problem , just use an adapter. They are cheap.
Ya might have to find a trailer supply to find one tho. NAPA might.

 

[FLTR2008TRIKE]

Adapting 5 Pin Round Connector on Harley-Davidson to 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector | etrailer.com

 

[trikermutha]

You can rewire both vehicle end and trailer end to any type of connector that suits your needs or get a adapter ...

WHITE wireAttach to the vehicle frame (Ground)

BROWN wireAttach to the running lights or parking lights

YELLOW wireAttach to the left-hand turn signal

GREEN wireAttach to the right-hand turn signal

RED wireAttach to the right-hand turn signal

BLACK wireAttach to the accessory terminal on the motorcycle

motorcycle

 

[JUSFUN]

Barbara

they are right you can change the 5 wire on the bike to a 4 wire very easy by just adding a converter . the problem is that your trailer is a 5 wire system and you can not run a 4 wire on the bike to a 5 wire trailer there is not enough wires to make it work . you need a #1 ground #2 taillight #3 brake light #4 left turn and # 5 right turn. if you make the bike to a 4 wire there are not enough wires for the trailer.

 

[BinIdaho]

Hi Barbara,
It all depends what the wires go to. You might have a charging wire on a camp trailer for a battery on the trailer. If you don't, all you have to have is a RT, LT, Tail/clearance, ground.
If it does have a charge wire find out which one it is & don't use that wire. Like said above, if it is a standard wiring set-up, no problem , just use an adapter. They are cheap.
Ya might have to find a trailer supply to find one tho. NAPA might.

I bought the 5-wire round to 4-wire flat adapter at Auto Zone couple weeks ago. "Bob" (who used to be a HD mechanic) stated CANNOT use the adapter from 5-wire (trailer) to 4-wire HD....can go 5-wire round (HD) to 4-wire flat (trailer), but not the other way around. I was hoping for an easy fix.

 

[BinIdaho]

Adapting 5 Pin Round Connector on Harley-Davidson to 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector | etrailer.com

I have to do in reverse order....4-wire flat plug on HD to 5-wire round on trailer.,

 

[BinIdaho]

vehicle wired to 4-wire flat plug...trailer wired 5-wire round. Auto Zone mgr (Bob) stated I cannot use adapter from 5-wire round to 4-wire flat...can do reverse adapter only (5-wire vehicle to 4-wire trailer). So, installing a 4-wire flat plug (trailer) to 4-wire plug (vehicle) person doing the switch would use your instructions below? Thanks

You can rewire both vehicle end and trailer end to any type of connector that suits your needs or get a adapter ...

WHITE wireAttach to the vehicle frame (Ground)

BROWN wireAttach to the running lights or parking lights

YELLOW wireAttach to the left-hand turn signal

GREEN wireAttach to the right-hand turn signal

RED wireAttach to the right-hand turn signal

BLACK wireAttach to the accessory terminal on the motorcycle

motorcycle

 

[BinIdaho]

Barbara

they are right you can change the 5 wire on the bike to a 4 wire very easy by just adding a converter . the problem is that your trailer is a 5 wire system and you can not run a 4 wire on the bike to a 5 wire trailer there is not enough wires to make it work . you need a #1 ground #2 taillight #3 brake light #4 left turn and # 5 right turn. if you make the bike to a 4 wire there are not enough wires for the trailer.

That's exactly what the installer is having issues with....attempting to change the round plug to a 4-wire flag plug (bike). We thought it'd be a easy fix!

 

[msocko3]

That's exactly what the installer is having issues with....attempting to change the round plug to a 4-wire flag plug (bike). We thought it'd be a easy fix!

Why in the world did they put a 4 wire flat plug on the trike? The harness I used on my 2010 Triglide was a 5 wire, they would have had to install a 5 to 4 adapter on the trike to get it down to 4 wires. This is the harness RIVCO Products, Inc. :: Electrical & Lighting :: Plug-In Trailering Wire Harness for FLH/FLT Harley-Davidsons, 1997 & Newer I used when I was pulling my Aluma MCT trailer with the Trigide I had, its 5 wire which the trike is also.

 

[trikermutha]

There is a way to fix this issue may have to change your plug end to do this..Not sure how the switch adapter is setup on your bike??

 

[BinIdaho]

Why in the world did they put a 4 wire flat plug on the trike? The harness I used on my 2010 Triglide was a 5 wire, they would have had to install a 5 to 4 adapter on the trike to get it down to 4 wires. This is the harness RIVCO Products, Inc.*::*Electrical & Lighting*::*Plug-In Trailering Wire Harness for FLH/FLT Harley-Davidsons, 1997 & Newer I used when I was pulling my Aluma MCT trailer with the Trigide I had, its 5 wire which the trike is also.

I had the 4-wire flag plug put on for pull-behind trailer, which was already wired for a flat plug. Bought the pop-up camp trailer which has the round plug. This is the one that has to be converted to 4-flat.

 

[trikermutha]

Sounds easy enough to do..just leave the accessory wire off which most likey is the interior lighting for your trailer. If not you will have to rewire the trike end and have it wired to the switched side of your trike to keep interior lights to the trailer. or run it directly to the battery and switch it at the trailer light>
good Luck

 

[Sloufoot]

There is a way to fix this issue may have to change your plug end to do this..Not sure how the switch adapter is setup on your bike??

No one can make the change on line..... It is going to take someone with a test light and both trailer, and bike to determine how things need to be wired.
I haven't had much luck with the magic keys yet!
You should be able to wire anything you need as long as you watch for incandescent light bulbs, as opposed to LED bulbs. You might need an isolator as to not overload the trike's system. As stated before.
:Trike1:

 

[Sloufoot]

I had the 4-wire flag plug put on for pull-behind trailer, which was already wired for a flat plug. Bought the pop-up camp trailer which has the round plug. This is the one that has to be converted to 4-flat.

Who put the 4 wire flat plug on the bike ??? Call them, & have them tell ya how it is wired ! They should have done the 5 wire as standard. Like M3 mentioned.
Never mind,,,, I re-read your last post !
Anyway,,,,, just do the test light & watch you don't overload !
:Trike1:

 

[trikermutha]

Most if not all trailer wiring is the same. It really isnt that hard if you follow the color codes on the wire harness. This goes the same for the Bike to trailer harness.
I have seen some nice hack jobs on harnesses that need to be corrected. A meter or test light does help if needed.

Trailer Wiring Diagrams | etrailer.com

 

[msocko3]

Most if not all trailer wiring is the same. It really isnt that hard if you follow the color codes on the wire harness. This goes the same for the Bike to trailer harness.
I have seen some nice hack jobs on harnesses that need to be corrected. A meter or test light does help if needed.

Trailer Wiring Diagrams | etrailer.com

Most of of the 5 wire trailers for bikes are L Turn, R Turn, Brake, Running & Ground. If you have an accessory it normally is a 6 wire system such as Bushtech, they have a 6 wire on the trailer and on their bike to trailer harness they jump the running light and accessory together at the plug. A lot of the 4 wire trailers will combine the brake and turn signals together, without a wiring diagram she'll have to get someone with a test light and multi meter to figure it all out.

 

[trikermutha]

Most of of the 5 wire trailers for bikes are L Turn, R Turn, Brake, Running & Ground. If you have an accessory it normally is a 6 wire system such as Bushtech, they have a 6 wire on the trailer and on their bike to trailer harness they jump the running light and accessory together at the plug. A lot of the 4 wire trailers will combine the brake and turn signals together, without a wiring diagram she'll have to get someone with a test light and multi meter to figure it all out.

most wire harnesses should have a industry standard color and should be really easy to follow. But yes to be on the safe side a volt meter/light will help.
Black to neg/ground-red to positive or each wire being tested. So if you push the brake pedal the meter or light will change state light on or meter 12vdc.
Was hoping the wiring diagram would help her out??

Good Luck!!

 

[BinIdaho]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions/comments....decided to rewire the trike to round plug and get adapter for the 4-wire flat plug. Purchased the needed items at O'Reilly's late yesterday.

B