Is there an adapter from the Airstream 7 pin on my '71 Safari to a 7 blade?

[MrJim]

The pigtail on the 1971 Airstream Safari we are buying has a 7 pin pigtail, and the 2005 Honda Pilot with which we plan to tow it has a 7 blade receptacle. Our dealer has offered to replace the pigtail, but I understand from messages here that it may be better to instead add an adapter and keep the 7 pin pigtail.

My question is, what such adapter works? The ones I see in catalogs for 7 pins don't look like they would take the scalloped edges between pins of the pigtail now installed.

See attached photo of the current Airstream connector:

Thanks much!

[Melody Ranch]

Get rid of that round pin connector. They are impossible to meet clean and operational. Nothing modern connects to it. A newer blade type is very inexpensive....easy to install.

[overlander63]

I bought the entire pigtail assembly, this will also update the pin configuration so everything will work correctly.

[wahoonc]

Not sure how your AS is laid out... on my 1975 you need a double ended pigtail, round pins on the AS end and blade plug on the TV end.

Aaron

[overlander64]

Greetings MrJim!

Originally Posted by MrJim

The pigtail on the 1971 Airstream Safari we are buying has a 7 pin pigtail, and the 2005 Honda Pilot with which we plan to tow it has a 7 blade receptacle. Our dealer has offered to replace the pigtail, but I understand from messages here that it may be better to instead add an adapter and keep the 7 pin pigtail.

My question is, what such adapter works? The ones I see in catalogs for 7 pins don't look like they would take the scalloped edges between pins of the pigtail now installed.

See attached photo of the current Airstream connector:
Attachment 188369
Thanks much!

I don't believe that I have seen the style of round-pin connector that is in your photo. The only 7-pin round to 7-blade adapters with which I am familiar utilize a round plug with a square/rectangular reference "bump" to mark the top of the plug. The photo below illustrates the adapter that I utilize as an "emergency" adapter to use in the event that my trailer must be towed by someone who doesn't have a round-pin connector on their tow vehicle.



The adapter is available from E-Trailer as well as several other sources.

I made the switch from the blade-type connector to pin-type connectors over five years ago. Several long-time Airstreamers suggested that I consider making the change when they learned of my frustration with annual replacements of the blade-type connector on my tow vehicle and every-other-year replacements of the blade-type connectors on my trailers (due to corrosion). Since upgrading to the heavy-duty self-cleaning seven-pin connectors, I haven't had to make any replacements of either trailer or tow vehicle connectors. The one thing to keep in mind is that the Airstream 7-pin round connector is not wired to the industry standard for that device so it is necessary to rewire the trailer to match the pin-out for today's industry standard for the round-pin connector.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[RickDavis]

Change to the blade type connector and have it wired to match your vehicle so that it matches the industry standard. That way your trailer is compatible with any vehicle that may need to hook to it.
I have not had any problems with the 7 blade connector that a shot of contact cleaner wouldn't fix plus they are universally available anywhere if you need to replace one.

There is nothing wrong with the old connector that airstream uses except they are non standard since 1984 or so.

The 71 trailers did NOT use the current color code on the wiring so you will have match the function rather than the color marked on the new plug

[MrJim]

Thanks for all the replies. Very helpful!