Ameri-trail Trailer

[mvermeer]

I am going to be pulling my boat behind my fifth wheel camper this summer.  It has a receiver hitch and electrial wiring for the lights.  The only problem is that the electrical connection is for a four prong connection and not the five prong that is on the boat.  I know the lights and everything will work with the four prong, but my question for those of you that have this trailer is whether I will have problems with the brakes locking up or causing any wear to them?  When I bought the boat, the dealer I bought it from told me that the fifth prong allows the driver to back the trailer up.  If the fifth prong is not there, the brakes lock when backing up.  Any suggestions?

[HCollado]

The dealer is right. With out a 5 pong conector you will not be able to back-up. They do sell a converter at most camper /trailer stores.

Let me get this right, the boat will be behind the camping trailer that is been towed by your Truck? That is one hell of a convoy!!!

[Bitzco]

There is a whole thread on this somewhere. My advice to you is to get the fifth wheel rewired to a five prong. Without that, backing up is a nightmare. There is a metal "key" you can get that will allow you to back up without the brakes locking up, but then you have to get out, put the key in, get back in and try to back up. Hopefully, the key will not have fallen out, although it often does. I got so sick of the problem, that I took my Landcruiser to a trailer shop and had it rewired for $80.00. It was about the best $80 I've ever spent.

[mvermeer]

That is right, truck, fifth wheel camper, and then the boat.  It is about 70 feet long.  We only go about 30 minutes from our place, so it is not to bad.  It is better than taking two vehicles with the way gas prices are these days.

So would I be alright pulling the boat with just the four prong because there is no way I would be able to back up the camper and boat together anyway?  Or do I need to get an adapter?  The only problem I see with an adapter is that there will be no fifth wire from the camper to connect with the brakes of the boat.

[Bitzco]

It won't hurt you to tow with the four prong. I did it for a year. It is just frustrating. I'm pretty sure they could wire the camper for it. All they really do is hook that fifth prong to the backup light circuit. If the camper has a backup light, it shouldn't be a problem.

HCollado, I notice your avatar has been drowned again. What a bummer. Shriven twice. That girl probably drinks 1% milk because she thinks she's fat. She could drink whole cuz she isn't.

[highflyn]

Is it  even possible to even back that convoy up??? What sorta semi do you pull all that with?

[mvermeer]

Thanks guys for the information.

I am actually pulling it with my GMC 1500.  I have talked with quite a few of my friends and dealers and they say that it will be a load for it, but it should handle it as long as I am not making any long trips.  Like I stated before, we usually only go about 30 minutes from our house anyway, so we should be fine.

[2000epic]

that fifth wire on the five prong just goes to a positive wire on your reverse lights, so wiring is easy like a sunday mornin'. 

Stupid WA state won't let us pull a combo like that

[cyclone]

There is a way to just stick the four pin on the truck to the 5 pin on the trailer so that you can back up. You have to have the lights on, basically the 12vdc for the lights pulls in the reverse lockout. I can't remember exactly how to do it, but you could experiment and figure it out.

If you have the round 7 pin connector on the trailer, you can buy an adaptor that goes from round 7 pin to flat 5 pin. West marine and trailer stores sell them.

[highflyn]

2000EPIC
Why didn't you say your a local. That makes 3, you , Cal, and I.  What's your home lake??? If the weather is good on Friday im going to hit LW for the official PP test and some riding. Your welcome to come along if you can make it..
Terry

[2000epic]

I'm 60 miles north of Seattle.  I ride mostly Lake Samish near Bellingham.  Can't go this weekend, but keep the offers coming, always looking for new people to ride with, and I would love to see what PP can do.  Never ridden LW but I test drove my Epic there when I bought it.  You guys will have to come to Samish sometime, of all of the western WA lakes I've ridden so far it's my favorite.

[phenom_1819]

Deal!!

There's actually about six of us in WA state.  I've listed everybody before... I'm too busy to search right now.  Gotta get fixing the PP install.  But it's on here. In addition to the list I've written, I think curtis is from Seattle as well.

[highflyn]

I know the lake. Have never ridden there but pass it on the way to Whistler. LW is usally great in the mornings during the summer. wind kicks up in the afternoon.
I will definitley keep the envites comming. Im always looking for folks to teach me something new.
Do you know a wakeboarder up your way by the name of Brian Smith?? He was an old friend from middle school (I grew up here, then moved to portland for 12 years and got back here about 3 years ago) and I heard he moved out to Mt Vernon a few years back.
Terry

[lesman01]

If i remember correctly, if you just move the 4 prong plug over one slot,  and turn your lights on, it activates the backup light that ingages the brake bypass. I had to do it for a summer until I spent the $60 to have the right plug put on my truck. Never used any pin.

Like Pete said, just play with it until you figure the right combination, It's easy enough to test out.

[HCollado]

That is correct, move the plug one place over or reverse it. Don't forget to turn your parking lights on.

About the avitar ...  It's better that she stays off the site. I put her back in the bottle 

Good skiing to all.