Euro 13 pin Trailer harness on a US Mountaineer

[Fozz]

Hello! I am currently working for the US Army in Germany and want to install a Euro 13 pin plug on my Mountaineer. The problem is the 13pin kits here in Germany are only made for Euro spec Explorers. The main difference is that the Euro spec trailers all have different wires for the brakes and for the blinkers and are not combined like the US trailers.My truck does have the towing package. Has anyone here ran into this problem? I am guessing I will just have to splice into the light harness and run a relay. Any other suggestions? Thanks!

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I am not even famillar with the 13 pin connector- what all functions does it support?

 

[CDW6212R]

If you can find the wiring schematics for both 13 pin harnesses, you should be able to wire it up properly. I don't know where to look for that, but good luck.

 

[Fozz]

Here is what all these pins are for:
http://www.western-towing.co.uk/acatalog/Caravan_13pin_wiring_diagram.html

 

[Betty Boo]

Try this one too.

http://www.tridenttrailers.com/trailer-wiring-diagram.htm

 

[Mbrooks420]

What's the advantage of the Euro connector ?

 

[Betty Boo]

The advantages are:

It locks on securely, it's watertight both when connected and diconnected ensuring positive electrical contact almost every time without having to fiddle about wiggling wires.
Compared to the older UK system which also has two connections to do the same job but they don't fit as well compared to the German system which is far superior.

We changed a few yrs ago after towing with a BMW using the euro system and its now been proven to be better than the two lead system so the UK Caravan & trailer industry is slowing beginning to change over to it.

We have a German caravan so needed to use the Euro connection anyway.

Not sure how that compares to the US system as your wiring is so completely different to ours.

Hope that helps.

 

[gijoecam]

The European 13-pin is everything in a standard 7-pin, plus reversing light, fog light (bright red light on the rear), a main ground wire for the lights, and both a switched and full time hot, each with their own ground.

I recall seeing some older popups that use two connectors... One connector has the standard 7-pin Bargman connections, and the other was a six-pin setup that had the extra goodies plus a ground. If my memory serves, I want to say it was Apache trailers that had that setup here in the states, but don't quote me on that one....

Anyways, as for an adapter.... oof, that's gonna be a tuffy. I hope you like running wiring through your truck.

Now, that being said, I wonder if the Ex is already wired for it? I have no idea... I'd have to dig a little deeper at work tomorrow and see if I can find some euro-spec stuff...

-Joe