bannerd

Hey all,

After much though I decided to buy a sawmill. I already put a down payment on it and will be picking it up in "October/November". What I need help with is hooking up a 7-way trailer hookup. Anyone know of a kit or where I can obtain this? I don't want something cheap and I'm willing to pay for a better product if needed. Currently I have a 4 wire with a ground which seems to work okay. I saw some adapters at runnings BUT it's missing PINS. I would like to have the full spectrum.

Thanks all!

sooty

auto parts stores like oreilly or trailer supplies have what you need, besides the wires your using, you will obligate a charge wire, substantial bigger ground wire, and brake power, most 7 pin connectors will capacitate 20 amp charge, brakes can use 15 amp, youll need a vehicle electric brake controller, unless trailer is surge hydraulic. keeping all the combined loads in mind, the ground would need to be 10 gauge, i use 20 amp breaker type load controllers to keep charge current within wire capacity.

bannerd

What do you think of this kit?

https://www.etrailer.com/p-ETBC7.htm...del=Ram+Pickup

thrashingcows

That looks like a pretty good kit and that is basically how I did mine, but I also installed the OEM 4 pin adapter harness that plugs into the tailight plugs for my 4 pin connection. You will need a brake controller as well, I run a Prodigy 2 unit....really like it as it adapts to how many axles you have and if it senses load on the brakes or not, and the is easily adjusted to dial things in the way you like it.

u2slow

My tailight wiring was already hacked, so I didn't use a kit. Bought a $50 brake controller and a $10 7-pin receptacle. Wired it in with supplies I had.

bannerd

Yeah, I have the adapter already with the 4 pin. I bought the kit so I'll give it a go! Thanks all.

1STGENFARMBOY

Cool, I have a Woodland Mills bandsaw mill, nothing that falls is safe from me, I love using it.

congrats.

tophat

I got to jump in here and second the prodigy 2 brake controller. I hate the cheepie "time delay" brake controllers. The prodigy 2 senses how hard you are stopping and will apply the trailer brakes appropriately. Cheap controllers apply the brakes using a preset "ramp up" of brake power, no matter how hard you are actually stopping.

u2slow

The cheap Reese controller works way waaaay better than no controller. And its legal. I have nothing to compare it to.

Don't forget the breakaway battery device on the trailer.

edwinsmith

Years ago I had an old Tekonsha brake controller that hooked up to the hydraulic brake line in the truck. That pushed on a piston which operated a reostat. It worked well.

Now I have a Tekonsha electronic controller but I don't have enough experience with it to tell how well it works. Seems like it has lots of adjustments.

Edwin

u2slow

I play with the adjustments every time I haul something different or load/unload the trailer. Usually back it right off when towing light.

If you're just testing, use a multimeter to see the voltage change at the plug.

bannerd

I bought a TimberKing 1620 which should be done around Christmas. In the mean time I'm getting my business ready to go which consists of a Dodge W250, Ramcharger and a old C60 I'm restoring (chevy.. I know i know!). Some crazy crap going on in today society and I refuse to obey.

bannerd

Question on that prodigy, is there a setting on there where I can override the brakes and lock those brakes on the trailer. In a scenario where I start to jack knife it might be helpful to drop the brakes on the trailer and straighten everything out. I'm not sure if it works like that, we use to do that on big rigs but this is a touch different

1STGENFARMBOY

that's a NICE.... machine, if I do a live edge table that's 35-40 inches I have to cut one side and do a mirror image joint in the middle, I would like a little wider saw but I can make due. you could do a 60+ inch table with a joint.

with lumber prices like they are its nice to have the option to cut your own, I have built a barn and my sawmill shed and done a bathroom makeover for zero dollars so far.

u2slow

The major feature of electric brakes is to have in-cab override control. (Unlike surge brakes) I would be surprised if prodigy didn't have this ability. My Reese does.