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Old 05-25-2018, 05:59 PM   #1
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New FW owner with a 7 Way Plug problem

My DW and I just purchased our first "adult sized" RV (we owned a couple of pop-ups in the past.) We purchased a lightly used 2014 Wildcat Maxx RK282. Today was the first day hooking it up to our 2007 Ram 2500 with a Superglide hitch and things went pretty well for a couple of newbies. Even got parked along side our driveway which is perpendicular to the street and a pretty tight fit. Let's just say that it's good we live on a street that has no through traffic and that our neighbors, by being at work, missed the opportunity to count how many times I pulled forward to get things lined up.

The only real problem was that I was unable to get the plug on our FW into the socket in the sidewall of the bed of the Ram. It seemed that the plug was too big to fit into the opening. I did verify that the form factor of six blades and a center post was matching on both plug and socket. Is there a chance that my plug is slightly bigger than the socket or some other change in form took place between 2007 & 2014? Any advice is welcome and thank you in advance. We're looking forward to our maiden voyage in a couple of weeks.
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Old 05-25-2018, 06:32 PM   #2
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Don't want to insult your intelligence as not sure of your experience level. Did you try to rotate the plug 180 degrees? The plug and receptacle are keyed. It'll only fit one way. Can you post pics?
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Old 05-25-2018, 06:37 PM   #3
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Don't want to insult your intelligence as not sure of your experience level. Did you try to rotate the plug 180 degrees? The plug and receptacle are keyed. It'll only fit one way. Can you post pics?
No insult taken.
I did make sure the "key" on the plug was oriented properly and the plug went in about 3/8". I'll snap some pictures later on and maybe that will reveal the issue. To my eye the plug and socket looked identical.
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Old 05-25-2018, 06:40 PM   #4
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Only one size plug that I know of.
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Old 05-25-2018, 06:48 PM   #5
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No insult taken.
I did make sure the "key" on the plug was oriented properly and the plug went in about 3/8". I'll snap some pictures later on and maybe that will reveal the issue. To my eye the plug and socket looked identical.
Normally the cover of the receptacle has a small flange that engages the back of the plug preventing the plug from falling out unless you lift the cover. Is that engaging? If so then it's in all the way.
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Old 05-25-2018, 06:52 PM   #6
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I have had the tabs inside the plugs bend and also had one break preventing the plug to go in.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:01 PM   #7
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here are the pictures.

I may have to find a smaller plug or make the one I have a little smaller

Looks like there may some bent tabs in there blocking my way.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:02 PM   #8
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:02 PM   #9
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I have had the tabs inside the plugs bend and also had one break preventing the plug to go in.
X2 - I had one blade in the receptacle out position a smidgen and that prevented the plug from going in. I forgot about that.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:02 PM   #10
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You have bent/damaged tabs. See post #6.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:05 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by DuckNV View Post
here are the pictures.

I may have to find a smaller plug or make the one I have a little smaller

Looks like there may some bent tabs in there blocking my way.
Definitely the one at 11 o'clock. Use a screwdriver to move that one half tab back out like the others.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:07 PM   #12
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The one at 5 o'clock could be a problem too. Some of the others might be a little too spread apart too.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:07 PM   #13
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The one at 5 o'clock needs screwdriver work, also.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:18 PM   #14
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I would just replace the plug on the fifth wheel. They are cheap and it's easy. That plug looks a little worse for wear and will probably cause you problems or arcing later.
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:28 PM   #15
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I would just replace the plug on the fifth wheel. They are cheap and it's easy. That plug looks a little worse for wear and will probably cause you problems or arcing later.
X2 - good advise as always from NMWildcat!
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Old 05-25-2018, 07:44 PM   #16
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Replace it, it looks like it's been hot, I can see several spread apart, a couple look to be split, you might have been using it somehow where there was a little over current for whatever reason or it's possible it's just not a good quality product. That spring tension to keep connections tight is required for long life and safety.
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Old 05-26-2018, 12:27 PM   #17
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advise

Looks like the pins are bad ...you can buy a new cord..open up the box and replace the cord...splice the wires one at a time color for color....
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Old 05-26-2018, 12:35 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat View Post
I would just replace the plug on the fifth wheel. They are cheap and it's easy. That plug looks a little worse for wear and will probably cause you problems or arcing later.
We had the same problem with our Rockwood on the day we picked it up. Dealer did some trimming, filing, sanding and finally get it to go into the connector on my truck. I bought a decent connector and changed the trailer side and problem solved. Factory connector cheap and obviously wasn't a good fit.
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Old 05-26-2018, 01:02 PM   #19
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I would just replace the plug on the fifth wheel. They are cheap and it's easy. That plug looks a little worse for wear and will probably cause you problems or arcing later.
Not only the arcing but the annoying noise when the vehicle no longer detects the trailer so it beeps, then reconnects, then beeps, etc. etc. etc.

To insure you get it connected back correctly I cut off the leads from the old plug and then, matching the wires color for color, one at a time, I connect the new cable and plug.

Here is a diagram to tell you what each color does:

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/gr...ver2_2_800.jpg

Use the center one for your RV
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Old 05-26-2018, 01:23 PM   #20
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here are the pictures.

I may have to find a smaller plug or make the one I have a little smaller

Looks like there may some bent tabs in there blocking my way.

you have 3 damaged blades.
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