flagmanruss Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 I bought a new 7 pole RV plug for the trailer project. I wired it all up. The &^%$#! plug would not go into the trailer receptacle on my 01 truck. I don't have the packaging but think it came from WalMart or Harbor Freight. The noticeable thing about it is the silver (plated) contacts which extend beyond the cutouts in the plug body. I tried beveling edges, went over it with a digital caliper... every dimension is +.001 strong. I removed the round center pin just to try but still no go. After taking the wires out, I was able to force it into the socket... but I'm not going to use it. Before I went to the store, I looked in a box with my spare brake controller (took back off my half ton when I had to give it to my ex-w in the settlement... it was not bought with a trailer set up, she didn't get it with a trailer set up.) It shouldn't have been in that box but I found an almost new trailer plug... This used plug fit & I used it. It had all brass contacts & brass screws, everything. I have no clue what trailer I had it on... maybe my old stock trailer that I sold. I thought the plug went with it but maybe not. If I had to guess, I'd say the non-fitting plug is foreign made on metric machines. I wasted a lot of time on that plug so an very unhappy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Mopar1973Man Posted October 17, 2013 Administrator Share Posted October 17, 2013 You might have to consider calling around to a local trailer shop and seeing what they have for plugs and such. Like myself if I've got to do it again I would head down to BigTex factory in Nampa, ID and just pickup a new cord for a trailer. All sealed connector and cord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dripley Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Good find on the old plug. I seem to manage finding a few things like that when doing a project that got put off. Just lucky to find it while doing said project and not the next day while cleaning up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagmanruss Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 The new plug that was + on the tolerances appears to be from WalMart. At least the one on the display in automotive had that kind of over wide contacts. I'm just Amazed that what measures to be .001 big is that critical a fit. MY take away... is to test that part immediately, no matter what the source... darn near everything is made in China. If it does not fit, back in the box & return it, PRONTO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joecool911 Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Napa has decent plugs. I've never had an issue with any I've bought. But never bought from harbor or walmart either. A new plug fits snug. Sure you just aren't pushing hard enough? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagmanruss Posted October 18, 2013 Author Share Posted October 18, 2013 Yeah, I'm sure. You should not have to drive the plug in. I've used RV plugs since the early 1980s... never had this problem before or with any other plug. And the used plug works fine, as do the ones on my horse trailer, camper, 16' landscaper trailer & the extension harness that plugs into the OEM plug to power the RV plug I installed in the bed to power the 5th wheel without running over the tail gate (I ran the harness down inside the fender to the OEM under bumper receptacle). My wife climbed into the bed & the WM plug would not go into the receptacle in the bed at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Board Of Directors IBMobile Posted October 20, 2013 Board Of Directors Share Posted October 20, 2013 For all my trailer needs I go to the local MOM & POP shop, Freeway trailer supply in Escondido. They have the right stuff at a fair price and they know what their talking about. NAPA is over priced on most of their parts and a lot of it is made in China and when I go into Walmart they ask if I want to super size my order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hex0rz Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Big R for me! NAPA, Walmart, BIG R all carry Curt brand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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