Trailer plug - Adapter or New Plug??

[Jason1101]

My '76 has the original round connector with sockets for round "pins." (From memory it's 6 or 7-pins. Sorry I don't have the trailer so I'm not sure. I can get a photo from previous owner if necessary.) My tow vehicle is a 2001 GMC factory-equipped with the 7-pin round connector with flat "blades."

Is there an adapter plug availble that will work without rewiring? (They have bunches of different ones at my local mega-mart.)

I seem to remember posts mentioning the brake connections being in a different location on some older Airstreams?? So is this a bad idea? Should I just buy a new style 7-pin plug and take the time to rewire the Sovereign to match the GMC? (Obviously, any guidance on the new wiring diagram is really appreciated!)

I know this has probably been answered dozens of times, sorry to ask again. But as always, I appreciate the guidance...

Thanks!!

[Gene Wissink]

Ours has the round plug on the trailer with a connecting cord out of it to the truck, this is where you would make your change over to the flat blades on the cord end pluging into the truck.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Jason, its probably better just to rewire your trailer to the 7 way flat prong round plug. There are some threads on this, but
1) If you use different trucks to tow your trailer, you will have a universal plug to go into any of them.
2) I believe that the AS round plug may have different wires going to each prong, making a miswire if an adapter is used.
3) There is a wiring diagram at www.airstream.com Look under FAQ's for the wiring diagram. You may want to test each lead, as they could be wired differently from the diagram.

[overlander64]

Greetings Jason!

I would definitely recommend that you rewire the plug to the current standard using the typical (for today) 7-blade plug design. I have done this with both my '79 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre, and '64 Overlander. I had the additional incentive that not only were both trailers not to current standard - - there was a different standard for '64 when compared to '79.

The wiring diagram for the plug used in 1966-1981 can be found at:

Airstream Umbilical Cord Wiring Diagram 1966-1981

The wiring diagram for the modern 7-blade connector can be found at:

Wiring Diagram for Standard 7-blade Trailer Connector

While an adapter might be a stop gap, it will double the potential for problems due to corrosion and "fit" problems between the various components. I find that I have enough problems with corrosion utilizing the "direct" connection method.

Kevin

[Jason1101]

Exactly what I needed to know and fast, Thanks!! That really saves me some diggin' around time!

I was hoping to do a lot of work - new tires, check brakes, repack (replace?) bearings, change plug, change battery, check lights, setup hitch and brake controller - and bring her home all in one day. It's slowly starting to sink in that I should allow myself at least two trips. (She's only 1.5 hours away, I'm just anxious to get her home!!)

Also, after I looked at the diagram of the existing plug, I don't think there is an adapter. (not at the mega-mart anyway!) It only makes sense that they're designed to allow connection between the different "new" style connectors. (i.e. 4-pin flat, 5-pin flat, 6-pin round and 7-pin round, if I remember correctly?) That way somebody with multiple vehicles/trailers doesn't have to convert all of them to one style. I doubt if there is much of a market for "old Airstream" 7-pin to "new" 7-pin.

Anyway, Thanks again!