Lights connection adapter

[aramirez626]

Hello all! I am new to the forum and to Airstreaming. We took out our new international out this weekend and everything worked as expected. The only issue we had was the lights cable disconnected while we were on the road. We are using a Mercedez ML 350 and so required the lights plug adapter. The adapter plugged in and stayed, but the Airstream cable came out of the adapter. I tried pushing it in really hard but still did not stay in tightly for the whole trip. I ended up duct taping the whole thing together just to make it home.

Does anyone have this setup and this issue?

Thanks for any help!

[kennethowens]

The little flapper lid (mounted on the tow vehicle) needs to have a catch point to keep the cord from backing out. You may have a very-tired(worn out) connector on the end of the cord(from the trailer). Suggest you replace both sides with new. They age and get loose.

[aramirez626]

Thanks kennethowens. The cable is new so I didn't expect the worn-out issue to be the cause. Also, the flapper thing from the TV does not reach the cable becasue of the adapter in between.

[batman]

Originally Posted by aramirez626

Thanks kennethowens. The cable is new so I didn't expect the worn-out issue to be the cause. Also, the flapper thing from the TV does not reach the cable becasue of the adapter in between.

Adapter? What adapter?? Photos please.
The trailer should have a 7-way plug and the TV should have the same style 7-way receptacle, usually a blade style. No adapters required.
Something like the photo.
If not I would replace one or the other with the standard, or better yet the heavy duty round pin style 7-way connectors. Find them at semi-truck supply stores.

-Dennis

[aramirez626]

batman,

I cant find a picture, and our Trailer is in storage right now. But the adapter is apparently needed to connect the European (Mercedes) tow vehicle to the Airstream lights cable in order to work right.

[batman]

Sorry, no help here.

-Dennis

[gator.bigfoot]

Are you using a adapter for the LED lights on the AS for the incompatibility of the ML electronics? If so I am not sure that this adapter will stay in place. I hooked in a couple of incandescent lights inside the cabin for my ML incompatibility with the LED lights. This eliminates the adapter. I just plug directly into the TV with the standard trailer plug. Loop the wire through the coupler pin so that it doesn't drag or catch on anything.