[VAC] Re: Q: Trailer wiring: New car. Old Airstream?

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson, electrical engineer" <geraldj@xxxxxxxxxx>]

A '63 airstream is not predictable for connection. If it still has the
original connections (and maybe plug) it won't mate with the modern
standard set of connections. But it could have been updated. There's no
way to tell without doing some tests on it. Airstream connectors did not
agree with the modern set of connections.

I've attached a drawing of the modern 7 pin connector and connections.

I don't know about your '96 Land Rover. I suggest you take this picture
to your Land Rover dealer and ASK the service department if this
connection matches. You can determine the physical fit by picking up a
spare plug at a RV shop or Walmart.

Its far easier to install a new plug on the cable than to clean a badly
corroded old plug, so having a new one (for about $8) is not
unreasonable. I would guess that if the Walmart plug fits physically,
then the connections probably match this drawing but you need to be
sure.

4 pin doesn't allow for trailer battery charging, brakes, or back up
lights.

You will probably need a brake controller. There may be a connection
near the steering column to plug it into the new trailer harness.

If you can't solve these electrical problems yourself, you need to plan
to take the trailer and tow vehicle to the closest RV or horse trailer
shop to the purchase point for the trailer and get them resolved.
Driving without brakes and brake lights is extremely unreasonably
hazardous to the Airstream (and you).

Just this morning, a tractor on US 30 pulling a field cultivator and
with strobe, slow moving vehicle sign and marker lights was wiped out by
a semi that ran over the tractor on a clear piece of 4 lane divided
highway. Probably did $100,000 damage to the tractor. Marginal lights
are not safe.

You may also have to work over the lights to get them to work once the
plug is wired correctly. Grounding has been a problem on marker lights
and other Airstream lights. I've posted extensively on that in Tom
Patterson's archives.

Gerald J.