[VAC] Re: Early 60s Bargman plug hook-up

[Jim Dunmyer <jdunmyer@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Andy,
  You certainly have more experience than most of the folks here, but:

Why does "everyone" use the Bargman connector? I believe that's what's 
provided on a vehicle with a "factory tow package", is it not? The 
connectors that I use have a spring action to them and are as 
self-cleaning as anything else that I've seen.

I'm not saying that they're not without fault; I've had connectors that 
physically plugged together but didn't pass electricity. And not 
necessarily from failure per se, but some sort of mismatch. There are 
differences in brands, of course, and buying the ones from our friends 
in China probably isn't the best idea.

Anything that has 12VDC on it and is exposed to the weather will want to 
corrode, that's why the smart folks use dielectric grease or something 
to help prevent it.

Also, I don't know about anyone else, but when travelling, we stop about 
every hour or hour and a half. EVERY time we start out again, I pull the 
light switch and peek at the trailer's clearance lights in the mirror, 
THEN press the manual button on my brake controller. EVERY TIME!

If Tom & Linda do elect to install some sort of bastard connector (look 
up 'bastard' as used in this context), I'd hope they'd purchase an extra 
set of male and female parts and make up an adaptor cable. Sooner or 
later, they'll either want or HAVE to tow their trailer with a different 
vehicle, or want or have to tow a different trailer. That adaptor 
pigtail will come in handy in either case.

                                <<Jim>>