Pugga

iTrader: (1)

It's all related. If the wiring is too short, chances are the chains and break away cable will need to be addressed as well.

jay1028

I did remove one of the cable clamps that tied it to a rail, but only gained a few inches at the most. Don't feel comfortable about it on turns. Btw, the chains and breakaway reach fine. It's just that the truck connection is up high and my previous tow vehicle had the connection below the bumper and was perfect. Don't know why these things happen. Now I will have to orient an extension.

BadFish523

Trace the pigtail back further, see if one of the clamps will give you the ability to pull a little more slack. Not necessarily from removing the clamp but maybe there is some slack behind one of the clamps and if you loosen them you can pull the slack forward then tighten the clamps back down? Just trying to help keep you from having to buy a 3 foot cord when you may only need a foot or less.

lutter5-0

When you guys say clamps, do you really mean zip ties? lol


Like the guy above said, see if you can get any slack from whereever it runs to, or re route it in a way that gives you more slack.

Tiderunner222

Nope, they are talking about cable clamps like these: http://www.wiringproducts.com/loom-and-cable-clamps

jay1028

I very much appreciate everyone's help here. The cable is taught at the only other clamp and that one is about a foot out of the electrical junction box. It is a 20 yr old trailer and all I can figure out is back then, all connections were made below the bumper for tow vehicles. It's crazy that I only need about another 18-24 inches. If I never had to make a turn, it would be fine.

acdii

Just get one of these and replace what is there.

https://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Hopkins/H20046.html

Much better for the single reason you don't have something else that could fail. If the connection is too long, it could snag and fail, or get pinched and fail, and take out the fuses. Sounds like the trailer was setup specifically to a certain vehicle without regards to varying socket locations.

On my 14 I wound up pinching it between the hitch and socket due to excess slack, but with the 16 and up in the bumper, the same length cable loops easily around the jack and remains clear of the hitch, while giving plenty of slack for tight turns.

jay1028

Looks like we think alike. I ordered that same cable. After it arrived, I set it next to the original and found it to be the same length. Without first measuring the original cable, I just assumed it was six feet and that eight feet would solve the situation. Now I have an eight foot extension. Well not really, I just ordered a 7way socket and will make up a short extension cable. Looping around the jack sounds like a good idea. Right now things are a little disorganized, but I'll get a photo when I get the extension assembled. Don't really like the idea of another connection, but it is either that or cut the connector off and splice in a section of the new cable.

acdii

Or, get another outdoor box with two watertight connectors, and splice the new one in. Hard to believe and 8' came up so short.

jay1028

That's a good one I had not considered.