Trailer cord replacement

[John in Santa Cruz]

so I got a replacement trailer to truck cord with a junciton box (my 2014 has the OE cable hard wired in junction box under the bed)... I was going to install this new junction box inside the left arm of the frame, betweent he propane tanks and storage box but there's no room there with the Andersen hitch ... and the propane hard line is on that rail, too, so now I'm not sure where I can put it. I guess I can put it on the outside of the frame, or on the right arm. The 8 foot pigtail is way too long, but thats the shortest one I could find, so I guess I'll knock a foot or two off it, and put new ring terminals on it.

 

[Rossue]

The junction box under the bed for your (and mine) is an unfortunate location. It is almost impossible to access without dismantling the bed frame. You could maybe do it from the outside hatch, however my neck hurts just thinking about that. By 2015 ETI moved the junction box outside.

At first I ordered the Curt 6' from Amazon then realized it wasn't long enough and ordered the 8' instead.

It wasn't fun and in hindsight I should have put the junction box outside in case I have to do it again. I guess that's why I now ziptie my 7-pin at the plug into my TV. At $2.50 for 100 pack at Harbor Freight it is cheap insurance.

Good luck; the way the bed frame is done is unusual and if you do dismantle it take pictures or mark pieces so you know how to put it back together easily.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

At one point in the middle of my major electrical redo, I removed all of the surface plywood from the bed. It really wasn't that hard. It was a whole lot of screws, but what was left behind wasn't very sturdy until I put it all back together. I did get into that junction box, and I have no intention of ever doing it again. For this new pigtail my plan is to cut the old one off with plenty of room to spare whack the insulation back sort out and fold all the wires to the right length for the ring terminals to line up with the terminal box, and mount the terminal box outside somewhere.

The problem is, figuring out where exactly to put that terminal box outside.

 

[Thane-ESC]

Would something like this mounted on the frame work?

https://www.amazon.com/MICTUNING-Wa...ical+trailer+junction+box,aps,163&sr=8-8&th=1

 

[Rossue]

Where is ETI mounting it now?

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

Would something like this mounted on the frame work?

https://www.amazon.com/MICTUNING-Wa...ical+trailer+junction+box,aps,163&sr=8-8&th=1

thats pretty much exactly what I have. the question is, where it put it on the A frame. on the left inside where the existing pigtail cord is, there's also the propane hard line, and the wiring for the breakaway switch. I can probably fit it on the right inside under the cargo box, but access will be difficult to wire and mount it due to the propane and cargobox. in between them is my Andersen Hitch antisway attachments.

 

[SRS]

Where is ETI mounting it now?

Mine is mounted on the inside of the DS frame under the storage box.

 

[brroberts]

I think the difference is John’s trailer uses a copper propane line and not a flex hose. He might have to resort to mounting it on the bottom of the propane tank tray or the storage box. I have the flex hose and mine’s on the inside of the DS frame. I did add chafing protection to my hose under there where it runs across things like the junction box.

 

[Ron in BC]

He might have to resort to mounting it on the bottom of the propane tank tray or the storage box.

That'd be feasible but I'd use a 90* bracket to keep the orientation the same.

Ron

 

[Rossue]

Mine is mounted on the inside of the DS frame under the storage box.

Should have specified a 21C; where are they mounting that now?

 

[SRS]

Should have specified a 21C; where are they mounting that now?

I think most newer Escapes have the pin-out box in the same location. However, it can't be easily seen without crawling under the trailer and looking for it. Follow the trailer cord and see where it leads. If it doesn't go to a pin-out box then maybe inside the trailer. Just a suggestion, YMMV

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

I think the difference is John’s trailer uses a copper propane line and not a flex hose. He might have to resort to mounting it on the bottom of the propane tank tray or the storage box. I have the flex hose and mine’s on the inside of the DS frame. I did add chafing protection to my hose under there where it runs across things like the junction box.

actually I'm not sure it is a copper hard line, it might just be a stiff hose thats secured tightly to the trailer A arm. I haven't really started to dig in, I think I'll have to take the propane bottles off, and maybe the bottle mounting plate, to get better access down there. I might end up mounting the junction box on the curbside arm, kinda depends on what it all looks like when I'm down there.