PT
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1964 Aloha & 1962 Holiday House
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Post by PT on Sept 10, 2016 7:35:50 GMT -8
Howdy everyone -
I'm switching over to a 7 way tow wiring setup with a junction box and was curious where most people are putting their junction box?
Thanks!
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nccamper
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Post by nccamper on Sept 10, 2016 8:51:03 GMT -8
I put the box just under the camper tucked into the framing. On the driver's side.
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Post by vikx on Sept 10, 2016 20:01:49 GMT -8
I put mine near the tongue on the underbelly. Usually it has a backer of some sort, glue and screwed to the belly. With a metal belly, I anchor it to a floor joist. You can usually find them by the tacks/staples holding the belly up.
Also, I use an 8' 7 way cord and adjust the length with a clamp. That way, you can loosen the clamp and adjust for more than one vehicle.
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Post by danrhodes on Sept 10, 2016 20:26:10 GMT -8
The one I got on Amazon ended up being huge. I guess I could mount it under the floor, but then you're on your back trying to work with it. I'd rather a way to secure it (sideways in this case) to the rails and am considering something as lame as tie wraps.
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PT
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Post by PT on Sept 10, 2016 21:40:52 GMT -8
Yep - I got the 8 footer from Amazon and it's a whopper. I like the idea of clamping and being able to vary the length for different tow vehicle setups. I see the cable running along the the forward outrigger with hose clamps that could be moved back and forth to free up or take in slack.
I was trying to figure a way to get the junction box inside the trailer under the dinette seat with the other 12V electrical (my anal retentive nature likes such orderly things) - but I can't see a clean way to get it there... I'll scope out a good spot under the front end and will probably end up groveling in the dirt to set things up :-).
Thanks!
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Post by vikx on Sept 10, 2016 23:32:34 GMT -8
PT, if your tongue isn't too long, you can probably weasel the cord up into the dinette. Trouble ensues when your tongue is longer (mid 60s and later)...
I like to have at least 30" past the tongue because I use a 12" extender and some vehicles require that because of spare bump out. Then the clamp (you know, those metal, rubber covered type) can adjust. They get pretty tight on a 7 way cord.
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goshawks
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Post by goshawks on Sept 11, 2016 4:39:15 GMT -8
We put ours under the street side front dinette seat. Easy to get to, out of the weather, and near other interior wiring junctions. A small 5/8" drilled through the floor allowed me to run wire into cabin. Also once in caulk around both sides of the hole to seal it.
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chriss
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Post by chriss on Sept 11, 2016 9:47:41 GMT -8
Under the front gaucho. Follows the framerail and pokes up through the floor. I use a round 4" electrical box cover with a romex clamp in the center screwed to the floor. I have an 8ft cable and the clamp lets me adjust the length I need. The excess is coiled up under the bed. I use those euro style setscrew type connection blocks to junction the wire.
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PT
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Post by PT on Sept 11, 2016 13:07:20 GMT -8
Cool - I think I'll take the challenge and get it under the curbside dinette. Going through the floor sounds like the way to go. At first I thought about going through the wall down low - but then I'd have the skin to contend with so liking the floor idea better.
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theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on Nov 28, 2016 18:27:57 GMT -8
Cool - I think I'll take the challenge and get it under the curbside dinette. Going through the floor sounds like the way to go. At first I thought about going through the wall down low - but then I'd have the skin to contend with so liking the floor idea better. PT, did you end up going up through the floor to place your junction under the dinette? If so, how'd it work out for you and do you have any photos of the finished product?
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PT
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Post by PT on Dec 3, 2016 18:14:12 GMT -8
Hey Theresa - Just seeing this... In a moment of weakness I placed it under the trailer for the time being and I'm glad I did. The junction box I bought didn't follow the proper color code so I wasted an afternoon trouble shooting why it wasn't working right (the ground port on the plug went to the blue wire in the box for instance). Having it outside the trailer let me see the lights working as I tested each contact. If I hadn't tested first and set it up under the dinette seat I would have been very, very angry and that's not a good thing ;-). Buy this 7 way plug and junction box at your own peril. Nicely made but a PITA to trouble shoot! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D2I75Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Post by vikx on Dec 3, 2016 22:33:00 GMT -8
Thanks PT,
Doing your own connections inside a 2 gang box is so much easier. Wing nut and you're done...
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PT
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Post by PT on Dec 4, 2016 17:57:15 GMT -8
If I'm crazy enough to dive into another trailer I'll definitely keep it simple with a two gang box. I saw a photo of how you use them a couple days ago and thought to myself - "boy that would have been a good idea" and a lot cheaper too!
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theresa
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Post by theresa on Dec 4, 2016 17:59:36 GMT -8
Hey Theresa - Just seeing this... In a moment of weakness I placed it under the trailer for the time being and I'm glad I did. The junction box I bought didn't follow the proper color code so I wasted an afternoon trouble shooting why it wasn't working right (the ground port on the plug went to the blue wire in the box for instance). Having it outside the trailer let me see the lights working as I tested each contact. If I hadn't tested first and set it up under the dinette seat I would have been very, very angry and that's not a good thing ;-). Buy this 7 way plug and junction box at your own peril. Nicely made but a PITA to trouble shoot! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D2I75Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Thanks for the head's up; that is one that I'd had my eye on.
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PT
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Post by PT on Dec 22, 2016 7:25:25 GMT -8
Hey Theresa - Just seeing this... In a moment of weakness I placed it under the trailer for the time being and I'm glad I did. The junction box I bought didn't follow the proper color code so I wasted an afternoon trouble shooting why it wasn't working right (the ground port on the plug went to the blue wire in the box for instance). Having it outside the trailer let me see the lights working as I tested each contact. If I hadn't tested first and set it up under the dinette seat I would have been very, very angry and that's not a good thing ;-). Buy this 7 way plug and junction box at your own peril. Nicely made but a PITA to trouble shoot! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D2I75Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Thanks for the head's up; that is one that I'd had my eye on. Hello everyone. Please disregard my comments on this junction box being wired incorrectly by the manufacturer. It's an excellent unit and there is nothing wrong with the wiring or color codes, etc. - I just had it wired wrong :-(. - PT
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