7 Pin Trailer Plug: What You Need to Know to Tow (2024)

Today we’re looking at the 7-pin trailer plug. We’ll talk about what it is, how it works, and what it does. We’ll also cover whether all 7-pin trailer plugs are the same and whether or not they’re intended to control your trailer’s brakes.

As a bonus, we’ll even toss in a video on how to wire a 7-pin trailer plug.

That’s a lot to cover, so let’s get rollin’!

What Is a 7-Pin Trailer Plug?

When you’re towing any type of trailer, it’s imperative that your trailer is capable of signaling to drivers behind you what your operating intentions are. So, when you’re about to make a turn or when you’re backing up or braking, your trailer needs to indicate these intentions and actions for other drivers to be able to anticipate. In order to do that, there must be power to the trailer.

A 7-pin plug (sometimes referred to as the “7-way trailer connector”) is the connector and heavy-duty wire that brings the necessary power and related functions to the trailer you’re towing.

The connector is 2″ in diameter and is often found on heavy-duty trailers such as RVs, cargo trailers, aluminum trailers, dump & landscape trailers, and car haulers.

What Does a 7-Pin Trailer Plug Do?

The 7 pins on the plug deliver power/signaling to 7 different actions/connections on the trailer connector. And yes, these do include the trailer lights.

Let’s take a look at the wires of each of the 7 pins of one RV 7-pin trailer plug, in particular, to see what function is powered by each wire leading to those pins.

IN GENERAL, this is the wiring scheme you’re most likely to find on 7-pin RV trailer plugs:

• Red = left turn signal/stop
• Brown = right turn signal/stop
• Green = tail lights
• Blue = electric brakes
• Yellow = backup/reverse or auxiliary lights
• Black = 12V battery connector
• White = ground wire

It’s important to note that not all 7-pin plugs will be wired according to this same color pattern.

Are All 7-Pin Trailer Plugs the Same?

The answer to this important question is no.

First of all, there are different types of 7-pin trailer plugs in general – not all are wired for RVs.

It’s also important to know that not all manufacturers color-coordinate their plugs in the same way. This is frustrating, but it’s an important fact to keep in mind.

It’s always best to coordinate your plug blades/wires with the appropriate functions rather than by wire color. Relying on wire colors may not be appropriate as different plugs use different wire colors for different functions.

So, the most important thing to do when wiring in a new 7-pin plug is to make absolutely sure you’re coordinating the proper pin/wire with the proper function.

There is a raised portion on the circular plug. That raised piece should be at the top of the plug. This may help in orienting the wiring based on the location of the pins.

Does a 7-pin Trailer Plug Control Brakes?

No. A 7-pin trailer plug does not, itself, control or engage the brakes themselves. It simply provides a connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer. A brake controller is necessary to actually modulate/control the brakes for this purpose.

The plug does, however, control multiple light functions, including the brake LIGHTS.

In fact, on some 7-pin plugs, more than one wire provides a signal for braking.

For example, some plugs have a single wiring pin that controls the left turn signal AND brake lights and a single wiring pin that controls the right turn signal AND brake lights. These plugs also have a separate wiring pin to control only the brake lights.

So, while the 7-pin trailer plug provides the wiring to control the brakes, to engage/control the brakes, a brake controller in the towing vehicle is required.

Can I Change My 4-Pin Trailer Plug to a 7-Pin Trailer Plug?

You can. The easiest way to replace a 4-pin plug with a 7-pin plug is to use a wiring kit that makes the change from 4 wires to 7 as seamless as possible. Something like this would make the appropriate connections:

Can I Replace My 7-Pin Plug?

You absolutely can! Plugs may need to be replaced due to damage or other aging conditions. This is something you can have professionally completed, or you can do it as a DIY project.

If you choose to take this on as a DIY project, there are several ways you can go. The most complete would be to replace the entire wiring harness, including the cable itself and the plug:

Or, if the cable itself is still in good shape, but you just need to replace the plug end, you can get a replacement like this:

Or, if it’s the 7-pin port on your towing vehicle that needs to be replaced, you’ll need this:

You may also like to reference a video such as this one from etrailer.com to give you a visual aid. This will also explain how to determine what functions correspond with the pins on the plug.

Important Towing Tips

Anytime we have a chance, we like to refer our readers to our post on trailer sway control. These are incredibly important towing tips to keep you safe on the road.

Since the topic of this post has to do with trailers, we thought we’d take the opportunity to sneak it in again.

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