Best Trailer Pigtail Protection ?

[fidowanttobe]

So, has anyone out there figured out a way to protect a trailer pigtail? Not the large rubber wrapped ones on RV's and GN's, but the 4 prong types. I have tried garden hose, hydraulic hose and I think miles of the irritating split loom crap. Sun and very cold winters don't like any of these. What have you guys found that works? Thanks.

 

[GLyford]

I have seen two versions that seem to hold up well.

1. Run all the lines from hitch to tail in conduit (either emt or pvc).
2. Run all lines with pieces of extension cord.

In all cases, running a ground wire along with the signal wires greatly improves your service. You can still ground it at the lights, but having a return wire means you are not at the mercy of loose bolts and rusty brackets.

I have had good luck using an 18" or 2' 4-wire extension piece at the hitch. The trailer piece ends just short of the hitch, and is tightly mounted, so all the flex is in the extension. The extension wires are readily available and can be easily replaced if damaged. If you have a friend or relative who is allowed to use your trailer but always wants to "fix" the trailer to work with their vehicle, have them do it on the extension piece, and put a good normal one back on when they are done (I've not had to deal with that, thankfully).

 

[jwstewar]

Cut it off and replace it with a 7-pin RV plug.

 

[bdog]

If you are talking about the wire itself and the four colored wires molded together I would cut that off and replace it with a SJOOW cable. It remains flexible and is sunlight resistant.

 

[Ford850]

For the few feet of pigtail itself, I've had good luck with split loom and quality electrical tape. I fully wrap the loom with the tape which creates a much more sturdy and protected pigtail. It is still pliable enough to coil or snake around whatever is needed when hooked up, and not as stiff as the hoses you listed. I continue the wrap from the plug all the way back to just past the first wire anchor point on the trailer. That way there isn't stress on uncovered wire at the exit point from the trailer (flex point).