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How To Relocate Trailer Plug Into Bumper

Wanted you all to know this is the First Mod I did when I got my AVA. I did not like the fact that the trail plug was tied up under the truck onto the wiring harness.
(Did not have a trialer plug like yours though) but same concept  (y)

Great Mod

Sam
 
Ok, I just found this thread, and I have a question. How come you don't notch out the sheetmetal as well as the cladding and install the connector thru both, instead of wedging it between the cladding and the sheetmetal? Is it too thick that way?

Thx
 
I would have thought that it was too thick but it was a big enough PITA to cut the bumper with a hole saw.  I would hate to try to cut the notches out too.


 
The cladding alone is thicker than the original mounting bracket, requiring aome machining of the connector flanges to allow it to fit.

The steel would go away if it needed to with a carbide mill chucked up in a dremel or an air tool.
 
if you use the hoppy connector, it has 4 mounting screws and you just drill a round hole (no notching) and it connects to the factory connector behind the bumper and you get a flat 4 connector to boot! Great mod!
 
hmmm... I think I see my next mod...much better place to attach my "light buster" ! Now that I know it works properly... hehehe ;)
 
Nothing like firing up an old thread...

I have completed this mod quite nicely.  I couldn't find the Hoppy #40955 connector, but the local U-Haul carries a #30955 that works well.  The wiring colours don't match, but the package has colour codes!

Thanks to BigBlackAv and anyone else that suggested the Hoppy replacement.

Now all I need is a trailer hitch to hang our trailer on  :laugh:
 
here you go!
 

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Yup!? That's my truck!? Minus the dual exhaust and the biga$$ trailer thingy? :E:

Even my spare tire lid is faded like that!  :laugh:
 
djhype7 said:
Nothing like firing up an old thread...

I have completed this mod quite nicely.? I couldn't find the Hoppy #40955 connector, but the local U-Haul carries a #30955 that works well.? The wiring colours don't match, but the package has colour codes!

Thanks to BigBlackAv and anyone else that suggested the Hoppy replacement.

Now all I need is a trailer hitch to hang our trailer on? :laugh:
Click to expand...

http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=5265&categoryID=0
 
This one's for Dune? :rolleyes:

Hey BigBlackAv... look familiar?? ?:laugh:? Oh crap, I cropped the black paint and faded spare tire release cover!

And no smarmyarsed comments about that big ugly ball in the bumper, it was there when I bought the truck two weeks ago and I haven't had time to get rid of it and buy a new plastic diamond plate cover thingy to cover up the rusty hole.  I've been too busy doin MODS!  :B:
 

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what do you mean "for Dune"...his pics had light....go do that again, and for god's sake, turn on the flash :p

Nice install though ... and i hear there are some parts from a wrecked Av for sale that you could fix that hole with :p
 
someone, please report that last post to moderator (it won't let me report it :p)...no one should suggest buying anything from that thread!
 
I reported that post.  :eek: Was that your post?  :laugh:

That pic WAS taken with the flash on, but there is so much black it just doesn't show well.. guess I better wait for the sun to come up.
 
I am going to try the Hoppy Connnector in the bumper this weekend.  I have a WBH model.  For those of you that have done the mod, any suggestions?  I am not very handy and a little scared of drilling a 2" hole in the bumper.  It does appear to be pretty simple.

Does the factory wiring harness just unplug from its current harness and plug into the hoppy harness?

Thanks for any tips

Larry
 
It is simple...and yes, the hoppy connector will just plug into the factory connector.  don't forget that you will have 4 little holes to drill too...and I would suggest that since you are only drilling through the metal bumper, it will be easier for you than it would be if you were cladded (but don't that cladded one look good!).

Good Luck!
 
Well thanks to the others that originally did this mod and provided the info.  I just had it done and it looks great.

Earlier today I went to Home Depot and bought a 2" hole saw along with the mandrel and center drill bit- cost was about $25.00.

I started thinking; how much would Uhaul charge for the labor.  So I called them and they said their labor rate is $60. per hour with a $30. min.

So I figured for about the same amount of money, I'll have them do it, they can cut off the old bracket as I don't have a cut off wheel, and they can paint where the weld was as I don't have any black spray paint.

Cost me about the same amount as if I did it mysef ($30.)

So for those not real excited about having to drill a 2" hole into their bumper, just buy the part and have a Uhaul do it for $30.

Thanks again

Larry
 
FWIW most DIYers will already have hole saws (I did) and the old bracket can just be broke off (and look good, that is what i did) and it is a good chance the DIYer will have a can of black primer (like I did).? And also, even if you didn't have the bits and paint and had to buy them, when you are done, you still have the hole saw, bit and mandral (which will work with different hole saws) and paint for the next little project.
Although, once in a while, you may find the opposite to be true, for the most part, no shop likes you to buy your part from someone else and bring it to them (would you bring your grocery store food to a restaurant for them to cook for you?).
I'm glad you had a good experience and even more glad you got it done...this is a great mod!
 
im going to drill out my bumper but im switching my plug to a 7way and a 4way all as one unit and since im at i also orded the t connector with 4way for my lof glad to see we wbh can do this mod :B:
 
I finally took the plunge and tackled this project.  Got the Hoppy 40955 which is now packaged under Hopkins.  This mod was very clean and  I would highly recommend doing it.  The old bracket came off with some tedious work by a Dremel.  Some black paint made it look like it was never there.

The 2" hold saw worked like a charm.  I have the LOF which was no problem with this mod.

From start to finish was less than one hour.  That was with shooting the breeze with my buddy who is anal about detail. 

No worries about getting to my hitch pin.  No worries about breaking off the old mount while off-roading.  An added plus of having both the 7 pin and 4 pin connections.

Thanks to who ever came up with this idea (y)
 
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