Fixing something to fix something has been a very common theme for me over the years, and today was no exception.
I bought an aluminum CargoPro trailer eleven years ago to pull behind the Jeep. It's light at 400lb and is rated (GVWR) for 1,800lb so a good match for the Jeep. I installed a 7-pin trailer connector in the custom bumper of the Jeep around the time that I bought the trailer. A couple of years ago the spring loaded door broke off, and then the trailer end connector housing that came with the CargoPro broke, so it has been annoying to say the least to get the trailer connected. I kept putting it off since I figured it'd be a real pain to replace/pull the trailer end cable all the way back to the connection point at the other end of the tongue. I had purchased a replacement 7-pin trailer connector and a 7-pin silicon sheathed trailer end and cable at least two years ago, and possibly three years ago, but it sat in a box in the garage.
This morning I planned on going to the local landfill to drop off a bunch of trash, so got the aluminum trailer loaded up and ready to go. After filling up the trailer I set about trying to connect the broken trailer end to the broken trailer connector, and once again it was a pain to say the least. After messing with it for 15 minutes I finally told myself that enough is enough! Two hours later I had managed to remove the old trailer end and cable, removed the old trailer connector, run the new trailer end cable through the tongue, soldered the four necessary wires to the factory harness, covered the connections with heat shrink, tapped the four holes in the bumper to use a nicer hex head screw, and installed the new trailer connector. I tested the wiring before buttoning everything up and all is good.
So once again I had to fix something to fix something. I never got to go to the dump but that can wait until tomorrow. I'm pleased to have finally got this done and be outside on such a beautiful day.
I bought an aluminum CargoPro trailer eleven years ago to pull behind the Jeep. It's light at 400lb and is rated (GVWR) for 1,800lb so a good match for the Jeep. I installed a 7-pin trailer connector in the custom bumper of the Jeep around the time that I bought the trailer. A couple of years ago the spring loaded door broke off, and then the trailer end connector housing that came with the CargoPro broke, so it has been annoying to say the least to get the trailer connected. I kept putting it off since I figured it'd be a real pain to replace/pull the trailer end cable all the way back to the connection point at the other end of the tongue. I had purchased a replacement 7-pin trailer connector and a 7-pin silicon sheathed trailer end and cable at least two years ago, and possibly three years ago, but it sat in a box in the garage.
This morning I planned on going to the local landfill to drop off a bunch of trash, so got the aluminum trailer loaded up and ready to go. After filling up the trailer I set about trying to connect the broken trailer end to the broken trailer connector, and once again it was a pain to say the least. After messing with it for 15 minutes I finally told myself that enough is enough! Two hours later I had managed to remove the old trailer end and cable, removed the old trailer connector, run the new trailer end cable through the tongue, soldered the four necessary wires to the factory harness, covered the connections with heat shrink, tapped the four holes in the bumper to use a nicer hex head screw, and installed the new trailer connector. I tested the wiring before buttoning everything up and all is good.
So once again I had to fix something to fix something. I never got to go to the dump but that can wait until tomorrow. I'm pleased to have finally got this done and be outside on such a beautiful day.
