Easy Way To Remember Wiring Of A 7-Way 'RV' Plug (RV Standard)

[@dannymckinnis6050]

Thank you. I tried many ways to make mine work and watched a bunch of videos. After watching yours fixed the plug right away.

[@DarrenMoore71]

Thank You, Thank you, Thank you! Out of all the videos I looked at no one explained it better than you. This saved me. The wiring diagram that came with the plug is totally useless. It might be easy if you hand the old plug still connected but mine ripped off...so just the bare wires. The only difference is I didn’t have a ground (white wire) still worked great without it. Thanks.

[@ajk9591]

Thanks my man!!! Sheesh, spent hours testing, trying different color codes online…..on the 4th try I used your color code and now my camper lights are correct!!!!! Beware of all the wiring diagrams on google!!!! AJK

[@jackdanko2486]

Thank God somebody finally explained that right. I installed a new plug and went by the wire colors and that was totally wrong. You’re way it was exactly right on my truck and trailer.

[@RVingwithG]

You got lucky. On 99.9% of all trailers; the yellow is the left turn and break and green is the right turn and break and brown is the running lights. Blue is trailer Breaks Red is +12volts Black is Reverse …

[@-_.._._--_.-.-_-_-_-...-.-]

This man is not just wise, he is a sage.

[@silverwater5338]

I was having trouble wiring the plug for my camper and came across this, great video and super simple ! Got the job done, thank you.

[@davidk3277]

At 5:15, you called the center terminal (yellow) your "auxiliary". I believe the center (yellow) is your backup lights. The black terminal (constant 12 volt, that charges RV battery), is sometimes called auxillary.

[@dgross53]

Thank you! Your video saved me in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. Lost my pigtail and needed to replace it myself, hour video took us over the finish line.

[@jstar1000]

here is a cool tip for you and everyone else watching. If you take a 10 amp blade fuse (not sure the best amp fuse to use but you will know) you can stick it in the black (12v) and Green (trailer lights) or whatever color is for your trailer running lights openings and it will light them up. I do this at night as its just cool to have all the running lights on at night and sets your RV out from everyone elses. Before you go in for the night you can just pull the fuse out to turn it off. They actually make a device for this purpose that plugs into the end of the 7 way with a switch but its like $30 or so. The fuse is much cheaper of course. If you use the correct size fuse then its safe and protected from getting stupid as the fuse will just blow ands shut off the lights. Boom! my RV tip! lol.

[@JohnHitchcock-x6p]

He's going off what the plug says I go off what I know black is hot to charge and red is reverse tho

[@eesinc.9081]

My first time towing a travel trailer yesterday and I musta kicked out the 7 pin while backing up (badly). Dragged it around for a few miles and destroyed the plug completely. Felt like a brutal initiation into RV life. But thanks for this, I know next to nothing about wiring but this video seems like a great way to learn the right way. Love your teaching style too, very visual... Ok so, pretend I'm the trailer and here is my handle and here is my spout etc etc....

[@stanjarmolowicz]

Thanks Darren , this is most helpful way to clear head about wires and trailer connectors . However i'm worry about fact that sometime you feel like da RV .. and you admit that -HONEST MAN ! Myself i'm bit less honest when comes to times that i would let anybody know about switching identities even for second . i know how to keep secret and i won't tell nobody that yesterday i was a refrigerator and day before i was a John Deer Tractor .

[@jessemcbride6567]

Thanks for all the correct ways to do repairs

[@terrywilson5954]

That sure is easier to remember than just a diagram.. I don't move my trailer as I live in it, but now I have something I can share with others. A thumbs up as usual, and I'm already subscribed.

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Terry, Thanks for the comment and it is good to have you here! More video's coming out soon!

[@kenmatthews6476]

Great help. The repair shop put the pigtail insert upside down so blue wire was in the position of green wire. Thanks for the color visual.

[@Cdepisos]

Thank you so much. I wouldn't have had the confidence to try it myself without your video.

[@jh5881]

World's best RV Repair Man!

[@kevinjervis916]

Thanks! Great easy to follow video! I've been working on old RVs for Playa Slumlord LLC that rents to Burning Man attendees but haven't learned a lot of the electrical systems yet, this was a great video!!

[@youcanthide004]

Awesome great little tool. Obviously, you can always use a tester, etc. but this makes it a lot easier and sort of dummy proof lol especially if you’re testing more than one receptacle.

[@larryrobinson7492]

I have been a auto mechanic most of my life, 21 years in a Ford Dealership (Senior Master Certified) It is strange how these wire colors are totally different from normal trailer wiring. I knew there was a difference between like Commercial vs agriculture type codes but this is CRAZY. Normally with any trailer wiring YELLOW = Left Turn/Brake Lt GREEN= Right Turn/Brake Lt and BROWN=Tail/Marker lamps White is Ground and that is all unless you have electric trailer brakes which is BLUE And of course you Aux 12v+ but as a general rule you only need 3 wires for a trailer yellow, green , brown if you are grounded good through the ball (Redneck Way)

[@RVingwithG]

I’ve been watching videos all day and I agree 1000% I would hope that he would either take this video down or say this is his way and not the standard way.

[@joehead1294]

You should never ground through the hitch ball, that is not an electrical conductor. As a matter of fact, when working on trailer electrical the only thing connected should be the electrical umbilical and nothing else.

[@joehead1294]

@@RVingwithG This video is the correct wiring for 7-way RV umbilical.

[@rickl6697]

Great idea, thanks. Where would you recommend finding the paint pens.

[@cirrus820travelers9]

Nice! A very simple explanation needed to replace rv plug we drug several (100+) miles!

[@roundsm18]

Problems with trailers... plagues RV and Equipment/Trucking mobile service all the same. Except in my world the center pin is backup lights and usually purple. Last crazy one I got someone replaced the pigtail and they went and matched wires by color instead of function. So the running lights were blue and they wired them to the blue trailer wire, then turned on their headlights on the way back from a job at 55. It was a great show.

[@MyRVWorks]

Darren is starting up a new company where he will be making tools for techs. One of the tools he has designed is what he is calling the RV Light-show. The user will connect the 7-way to this test box and select the wiring standard (Cargo trailer or RV). That will change the colors of the LED's when the individual circuit is energized from the text box. He is also making a version of that tool that will pair to a smart phone so you can walk around and energize the different chassis circuits while you are working on them. At last count he told us he was up to 30 different tools he will be developing. Very exciting times. Keep an eye on his new website as he works with our web developers and tool makers and starts adding tools: www.t3interface.com Happy Camping My RV Works Media Team

[@roundsm18]

My RV Works, Inc. The current production tool that does that is a box called the Mutt. Its designed for exactly that purpose. If he can beat the cost of them that would be awesome, cause they’re still a bit steep.

[@tysonmurphy7521]

Easiest to understand by far. Thanks.

[@MyRVWorks]

Hope it helps. Thanks for watching. Happy camping.

[@patwhite8656]

Hello I been watching your videos great job very informative thank you. I'm working on a new light bar for better visibility and wondering if there is a easy way to hook light to light alarm so I don't forget them on . I have a sea Breese national any help would be appreciated.

[@raptureready9502]

Finally a guy who knows

[@sellignomod83]

HI Darren,hope you are doing fine, I have my trailer tail lights that just wont light, although my turn signals, my break lights, my emergency light, my electric break all work perfectly. I had an issue with the connecting cable from the car to the trailer lately. It got tangled up with the hitch and caused a short somehow. Two fuses were busted in the truck fuse box. I replaced them. So I dont know were to look. I replaced the 7 pins cable. Do you have an idea for what I should look for? Thank you in advance an thank you for sharing your expertise, much appreciated. Best regards, Sellig

[@musicfan6575]

Very smart and useful approach. Thank you for posting.

[@thomasross7421]

Awesome explanation of what each wire pin does

[@berniefiorelli3501]

Yes I'm wiring a new progressive dynamics power converter /charger. I'm also rewiring my 7 pin cable on camper side and on my campers wiring diagram it calls for black hot from 7 pin trailer plug to be wired into the refrigerator and lights to camper or to the converter itself. Where would I wire in my black hot into my converter at to my black battery positive lug in my converter?

[@danielalamo2075]

Where did you get your wire colors from? I started in the 70s with GM pickup trucks helping to repair trailer wiring issues on my family's dairy farm. We always just used same color as the trucks and I still do today. Only thing trailer brakes are sometimes red or blue depending on trailer. And 12 volt hot is usually red or black. But everything I have dealt with is green (usually dark) for right turn, yellow left turn, brown tail marker, and ground white. So I was just curious.

[@rileybennis4029]

Iam not sure why but when you look this up it claims his color codes are "standard". I always wired green for right, yellow to the left, brown for tail. Better remembered as green for the grass to the right, yellow for the line to the left, brown for the shit behind you. This is the standard for heavy duty air brake trailers but of course to make shit complicated they need to switch it u. A different industry.. Then blue for brake, and red or black for 12 volt hot. Which ever is left for your center pin or reverse lights.

[@Ryan-cs6en]

The paint pens are a great idea for reference. great video. hope your super busy in PA. I'm in Sequim working on rvs and I'm slammed I'll send em your way if i don't have time to do it all! And boy it's been a hot few days!

[@frankmarti8984]

I just want to say thank you so much for your time and all the information you give us

[@LilyandOllieTv]

yellow left turn green right turn Brown parking lights White ground blue electric brakes purple reverse light black or red 12v power! This is the right way of the wiring code this guy has been wiring things wrong

[@danlindeke4039]

need congress pass law so all trailer s the same. The width of RR tracks and truck kingpins are the same by law.

[@t.s.tractorworkstrickland5828]

I agree with your color code That man don't need to be making videos teaching people wrong

[@Nudnik1]

lee tijerina some are different

[@JB-lr9lx]

lee tijerina you’re right. I was a tractor trailer mechanic and they use seven pin connectors. White ground Black tail lights Brown marker lights Yellow left turn Red stop lights Green right turn Blue auxiliary This was code from east coast to west coast, from the Arctic down to Argentina. You can see where the RV industry has adapted most of this. Brown and black were usually tied together

[@MyRVWorks]

@@t.s.tractorworkstrickland5828 What part of the video was incorrect? As a Certified RV tech I present repairs on RV's and the video I presented was for RVers and the colors I presented followed the 'RV' spec. Have a look at this article on etrailer and click on the box for 7-Way wiring. www.etrailer.com/question-136117.html Look closely at the wire colors in the center 'RV' spec and compare it to the 'Traditional' wire color spec to the left. I don't make the rules but as an RV repair professional I have to know the differences between the two specs and correct all the incorrect wiring that was done by those that are not aware that there are different specs for RV's... Again I don't make the rules but I do know there are differences between SAE and RV. I will be cutting a follow-up video where I will focus on the different 7-Way specs to help enlighten those that did not know that RV's were wired using different color codes. Cheers, Darren Koepp

[@projet2907]

What does Auxiliary do? Thank you for this video, My Chevy Colorado plugs upside down. Re a that don’t know have blown my 30A trailer fuse trying to push it in. I guess the Aux would be the wire to put a switch on to keep the truck from drawing from trailer battery when the battery Voltage goes on low mode (12.1)? I would like to install that or I guess a Dc to Dc charger would resolve that!

[@jackiewagner8657]

Appreciate it man I watched 2 other videos and no luck but your way you explained it was easy and simple

[@davidsizemore9906]

very helpful. MY QUESTION IS ...i share a 16' dual axle trailer with a friend . we both have chevys with a factory 7 pin outlet. he doesn't have a brake box in his truck because he hauls very light loads. i want to haul heavier loads. i DO have an E brake box installed in my truck. if i wire our trailer up with a 7 pin wire set up can we BOTH use it or will he have a problem because he DOES NOT have an E brake box in his truck? thanks a lot.

[@DirectCurrent4u]

I just needed to know which one to disconnect so I am not trying to charge eight 12 volt lithium batteries off of my truck when I am traveling down the road! Thanks for sharing...👍

[@shaunbloedow4023]

Very helpful with color coordination!

[@lostinmyspace4910]

I have one trailer tire that locks up when I go in reverse and not stepping on the truck brake. I had to remove the blue connector in the junction box to get rid of power to the brake. Now it doesn't lock up. Why is this happening? How do I fix it? Thanks, and THUMBS UP!!!

[@angilajordan7184]

This was so helpful to my frustrated husband. Thank you. Off we go with our quad trailer to Brown’s Camp. Happy happy...very happy!

[@seanrinehart2253]

Once again, a great video. I wish I had come across this channel months ago. Thanks you for the video

[@TerrydeAlaska]

Very nice, another electrical code to remember is Copper to Copper = short, Copper to iron = ground, Copper to air = open.....

[@skymiller530]

What is the brand and model of you tester? That sure would be helpful.

[@Sadie04074]

Thanks, I used your video today with success!

[@martinkoche4375]

Yes you are a great teacher appreciate you and your help 👍👍🙏

[@chrisdewalt2489]

This video was a huge help thank you so much for the upload

[@alanosborne1947]

My question is lets say the wire color is not the same. I test each wire on TV looking for lt,rt,marker,hot,trailer etc. Whatever the function for that individual wire it still goes to the same position on trailer plug correct?

[@KINGSTONSPRIDE]

When I plug in my trailer my breaks lock up. Do I switch the black and blue wire pin positions?

[@wintermachine]

I believe this is called Auto-Industry Standard and RV Standard. There are 2 ways to wire a trailer and if you look at what pins on the plug do what job the trailer plug does the same job regardless of which Standard it is wired to. I prefer the Auto Standard as the 4 wires from a 4 pin trailer plug do the same job from 4 pin to 7 pin.

[@gimmeanathlon]

Whoah... Wolverine is working on trailers now?

[@BrandonContracting]

Does this apply to all rv's? I have a 2008 StarCraft trailer

[@Hundert1]

Very nice, thanks. How and where would you recommend tapping into this to install white reverse lights on the back of my travel trailer? Maybe my 7 pin has no reverse wire?? Can you recommend a good KZbin video that shows this install being done?? Thanks much

[@MyRVWorks]

To solve this riddle, I would start with the tow vehicle side of the connection. If you look at the socket, the center pin should be where the back-up lights are wired to. Not all OEM’s agree with this though and some do not even wire it but leave it to you to determine what that ‘Aux’ pin will be used for. In that case you may find a wire coming out of the back of the socket that is available for connecting to ‘something’. So, start with trying to determine if your tow vehicle has that center pin energized when the back-up lights are on. If not than you will need to add that wire from the back-up circuit on your tow vehicle to that center pin - tow vehicle side. Once that tow vehicle step is completed and confirmed, try to solve the riddle by connecting to your trailer. If still no back-up lights when the center pin is energized than you will have to wire your trailer back-up lights into that center pin on the plug. Hope all that makes sense. That center pin of the 7-way really is the best (and only available) pin to control that back-up circuit as the other 6 pins have pre-defined jobs to do. Cheers, Darren Koepp

[@pamil1923]

Is the auxiliary pin 12v hot? What would that be used for?

[@ihateusernames96]

Question...it doesn’t matter if the pigtail goes in sideways regarding the wiring pattern correct?

[@justinsermersheim9220]

This helped out tremendously. Thank you!

[@kirkwesterveltoutdoors]

My Ford F250 is not detecting my trailer when I plug it into the truck. We think the problem is in the truck receptacle. What wire detects the trailer. Thanks Kirk

[@Jtlaptops]

I have a crazy question.. should the 12v run straight to the battery ?

[@tracybrowner5121]

You made it so simple, love the video,

[@Ocalaman]

Thanks. I just subscribed to your channel because you make great videos.

[@MyRVWorks]

Thank you for watching. I have many more on the way.

[@djc6323]

Oh my goodness THANK YOU! It worked

[@gintmurphy8365]

thank you. i was wondering why my used pop-up trailer was not NOT braking during a gain test. "They" snipped my light blue.

[@bobpulford3288]

Thank you for helping me understand! I was lost.

[@DarrenKoepp360]

Hi Bob, Glad it helped!!! Cheers, Darren

[@silverstonehtpc6889]

I've seen other videos that use the same "remember" method, but the color of wires are different. Same functions though.

[@gregbeever9448]

Great job explaining the 7-way plug. Very helpful. Thank you!!!

[@9ml22]

I don't have a blue wire on my Kaufman What other color could it be?

[@BlairSjostrom]

thanks but i have a orange wire in the center? and the white and black where wire}ed the same where just the ground is i put on a new plug but i dont have the 12 volts

[@brucekellyhillyer7779]

Great video, easy to follow and very clear!

[@richardswenson4669]

Great tip. Installing lithium batteries for trailer and solar. To avoid damaging tow vehicle alternator could I disconnect black accessory wire at trailer? My goal is to not have alternator charge batteries. Thanks rick

[@MyRVWorks]

Yes you would be very wise to do that. The black wire is typically the battery charge wire from the tow vehicle. But you might want to double-check that with your meter when the engine is running, and not running, from the tow vehicle.

[@tobygloriakitt9267]

Green and brown and mixed up I think. Both trailers I’ve wired up this week, green was right turn

[@sanjeevsingh8712]

Well Done and very useful video. Thanks

[@masonjustlikethejar201]

Sir, enormous thank you for your video ! You have saved my tail twice now!

[@gailjohnson6670]

Thank you. Blessings to you.

[@michaelmitra9147]

fantastic made my life a lot easier

[@daktari3055]

I just bought a 2005 Rockwood pop-up trailer. I have a 2016 Nissan rogue. The harness on the Nissan is four prong and the 7 pigtail on the trailer don’t match. So what do you suggest I do to plug these two together?

[@brendanwalsh1675]

Thank you! Simple explanation!!!

[@Ravenmayps5]

What is the middle mean what does it really do or help with

[@daviddion3731]

As usual, great job. Please advise, since the tester tool is female I can see how it would test the tow vehicle but how would it be used to test the RV cord since it is also female? Pls advise. Thank you.

[@tomoverholt5123]

The tester tool can only test the vehicle, once you know the vehicle works correctly then you plug the trailer into the vehicle and check for power to each light on the trailer with a tester light or meter

[@maksimlbk7533]

You r the best explained!!!!!

[@theejmaenpaa]

Hello. Is there a way to make a 7 pin act like a 5 pin as far as lighting? I'd like to have dedicated brake lights and other as just turn signals. Thanks

[@Eric-4501]

I am wondering why RV plug wires do not correspond with the other industry trailer wiring guidelines? Example, green and yellow for turn signals and brake, brown for running lights.

[@azteca132525]

Fantastic. This is exactly the info I came here to find. Your great

[@lockwoodcox]

2018 Ram 2500: my 7 blade (on the truck), right blinker doesn't work. I removed the back female plug from the plate that is attached to the truck (behind the bumper). Using a tester, I determined that the left blinker worked but not the right. The truck's blinkers work, left and right, but the female harness right blinker wiring doesn't. I ordered* a female 7-blade plug and I am going to remove the old female and replace it. Lastly, I used my other Ram truck (1500) and verified that the trailer lights worked --- problem is with Ram 2500. I just ordered* Hopkins 40985 Universal Multi-Tow Harness Connector from Amazon. Thoughts before I start cutting? Thanks from Texas!

[@MyRVWorks]

Hey Woody, sorry for the delayed reply, been a but busy up here this week. The circuits to the tow vehicle pig tail are usually individually fused. So look in your operation manual for the 2500 for the fuse location/legend to determine if you are dealing with a blown fuse for that right blinker circuit on that connector. Cheers, Darren

[@lockwoodcox]

@@MyRVWorks You had it right - one of the mini/mini/mini --- SMALL fuses was blown. I checked all of them but my have not touched that one just right --- SO SMALL nowadays. Thanks for the REPLY.

[@rajinkajin]

This is probably a stupid question, but I've asked them before! How do you connect that gizmo to the trailer (the Tekonsha emulator)? Is there an adapter?

[@RTAlabama]

The emulator is to test continuity for your tow vehicle. There is no 12V DC coming from the trailer to light the LED's.

[@OVERTIMEAUTOMOTIVE]

Great video

[@tivogod]

is there an device to test the trailer plug?

[@backintherv5222]

Thanks for your videos. You explain things very well, and have helped me keep my rig up and running well all summer and helped with my confidence for full time living!! Arlie Davidson.

[@soccerdad8374]

Nice job, very helpful.

[@MrScottee411]

Yes you make our rv's work!

[@markseagle6589]

Awesome job!

[@19Lawn70]

Thanks... that’s making it simple

[@Shmadam727]

Is this the same for a 16 foot trailer just like a covered utility trailer, we had the seven pin come out of the bumper and the guys at work drug it for 30 feet so we had to change the truck and the trailer now am I guys why did wrong and I need to fix it

[@arroyofive9259]

Your video was the best one I found well done . Gave you a like and I subscribed thanks..

[@DillonFinnegan]

You are the man

[@sonyaderhammer5915]

thank you

[@RussellDuren]

Thanks Darren! Going to go see if my pigtail is following the rules.

[@CalvinsCorner72]

Helps a lot but what is making my truck say that the trailer is disconnected? What wire or terminal would I need to check that’s not making? Thanks

[@MyRVWorks]

That really depends on the OEM side on your truck and how they have it 'programmed'. On my 2015 F-350 service truck I was getting a trailer disconnect notice and it turned out to be a failed brake pad on the trailer - that is what led me to make all those video's on the 7-Way, the Brake away R&R and the repacking of the trailer bearings etc. If all of your lights are working than perhaps lift up the trailer wheels and see if when you pull the brake away they lock up. It is possible you may have the same issue that I did. Here is a link to the brake issue I was having: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn7Ml42Jn5ljbaM Best of luck! Cheers, Darren

[@CalvinsCorner72]

My RV Works, Inc. ok ty it’s on my camper trailer so it’s possible

[@gator962]

I have only the black wire hot per circuit tester. Nothing else lights up tester. This is my running lights. No sense. Why would everything else be dark?

[@DarronRansbarger]

Perfect explanation! Just what I was looking for.

[@wayneelledge4126]

made it easy thanks

[@hatteraslabuf]

Can you help me find the same tester? I like that there is an impression in the plastic to help remind me what the illuminated light is referencing - Robb from Virginia

[@MyRVWorks]

Hi Robb, I picked up the one I am using at a local auto parts store when we lived in Texas. I just now did a search on Amazon for 7-way tester and found several to choose from - some even fancier than mine for under $10. I have also made a really fancy test box that I use in my diagnosis and troubleshooting but that is for another topic/video at a later date when I make some video's on my tools. Thanks for watching and Happy Camping! Cheers, Darren Koepp