Trailer reverse lights

[EagleRanger]

Just seeing if anyone here has some ideas

I want to add reverse lights to my trailer, the truck currently has a 7pin connector (no idea if
factory or aftermarket) so I figured this would be fairly easy, but I've run into some trouble, currently there doesn't seem to be power for reverse lights at that 7way.

I took the connector apart and all wires are installed and look in good condition, check with voltmeter and found the 12v, running lights, brake and turn signal wires all working, but with reverse engaged no new wires get power.

I looked up the connector layout and found the center post is supposed to be reverse, so I tried to follow that wire into the vehicle but it goes into the chassis about 6in from the connector without an obvious way to trace it.

I checked all the fuses in the cab and made everything correct (old used truck, several were missing or the wrong rating) dash lights work better now so that was a nice bonus, but still no reverse lights.

Anything else I should check or do before just running a new wire from the left taillight?

 

[2011Supercab]

If it's wired correctly, the center pin should be your reverse lights, It just may not be hooked up.

 

[EagleRanger]

I disassembled the connector and all of the wires are there, the center wire goes from the 7way into the chassis so I couldn't trace it after that.

Do you know where the other end would/should connect?

 

[sgtsandman]

The easiest way to to tap right in to where the reverse wire is in one of the taillights. The cottect way? I haven't had anything big enough to justify a 7-pin connector. So I have no idea. Follow the reverse wire from the teansmission and see if you trace it up into the cab. You might need a wire schematic in order to figure it all out.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Rangers never had factory wiring for a 7-pin plug. At least not the 83-2011 Rangers.

I'm not sure of what kind of electrical load the reverse light circuit can tolerate. I haven't wired up trailer reverse lights on mine yet because I was debating about adding a relay (tap into the reverse light circuit to use as a trigger for a relay). Not sure if that's overkill or not. I also put lights in the rear bumper that I wanted to have selectable either to come on with reverse lights or to be able to just be turned on as needed. Been busy with other stuff and haven't worked on all of that yet.

 

[Mechrick]

Anything else I should check or do before just running a new wire from the left taillight?

That's what I would do, and just run LED bulbs in both the tow vehicle and the trailer.

 

[sgtsandman]

Rangers never had factory wiring for a 7-pin plug. At least not the 83-2011 Rangers.

I'm not sure of what kind of electrical load the reverse light circuit can tolerate. I haven't wired up trailer reverse lights on mine yet because I was debating about adding a relay (tap into the reverse light circuit to use as a trigger for a relay). Not sure if that's overkill or not. I also put lights in the rear bumper that I wanted to have selectable either to come on with reverse lights or to be able to just be turned on as needed. Been busy with other stuff and haven't worked on all of that yet.

I can't find my notes (I probably put them away somewhere so I wouldn't lose them). The reverse light system on the 2011 is either 10 or 15 amps. If the LED lights used are the right amperage, you can run a set of trailer reverse lights and a set of auxiliary lights in the bumper for work/additional backup lights. Switching to LED reverse lights in the factory tail light housings are a given.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I can't find my notes (I probably put them away somewhere so I wouldn't lose them). The reverse light system on the 2011 is either 10 or 15 amps. If the LED lights used are the right amperage, you can run a set of trailer reverse lights and a set of auxiliary lights in the bumper for work/additional backup lights. Switching to LED reverse lights in the factory tail light housings are a given.

Already running LED reverse lights in the housing on the green
Ranger. Interesting though. I might have to hook it up and see what my draw is…