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Chevy Astro: Trailer Hitches

21 messages,  Last post on May 05, 2012 at 11:11 PM

You are in the GMC Safari & Chevy Astro Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Astro, Towing, Van

Messages Page 3 of 3

#12 of 21 Re: Trailer Wiring Question [ordonez] by cob

Mar 16, 2007 (9:27 am)

Replying to: ordonez (Mar 16, 2007 8:57 am)
I have the 7 pin connector with trailer brakes which stay inside the van until I tow the trailer. Then I open the right back door and run the wire between the 2 doors and shut the door over the wire (it does not damage the wires been doing it for 4 years now). This keeps the wire harness and connector out of the elements the 90% of the time it is not used. I don't worry about the weather corroding the connectors.

#13 of 21 Re: Trailer Wiring Question [ordonez] by spike99

Mar 23, 2007 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: ordonez (Mar 16, 2007 8:57 am)
.
 
Hi there (re: #11 of 13 Trailer Wiring Question by ordonez Mar 16, 2007).
 
I have a 2001 AWD Safari and installed my own Class III hitch, and installed my own 7-pin connector wiring. Before I answer your question, here's something else to consider.
 
The normal 7-pin connector and the wires that one adds themselves often "rust out" over time. Even if you load the area with TAR and keep it well protected from the elements, the wire contacts within the 7-Pin connector will eventually get shorts. For me, I visited my local RV Dealer. He sold me 15 feet to "factory molded" 7-pin connector with attached pig tail wiring. Its the same wiring they sometimes install in the back of some Pickups - for onboard campers. If you can, buy that factory molded / factory pressed pig tail wiring cabling - like I did. It's a little more expensive but near impossible the back of the 7-pin connections will rust out. Worked great for me.
 
To run the wiring from the van's JACK area to the outer rear bumper area, I used my air compressor and my air chissel. Using this tool, I created a hole approx 1" across. Here's the trick. Find an old "thick" garden hose approx 6 feet long and slide the 7-pin wiring pig-tail in this garden hose. Then, slide the garden hose protected wiring upwards - into the jack area. Apply a Plastic pull-tie at the top of the hole - around the garden hose. Apply a Plastic pull-tie at the bottom of the hole - around the garden hose. This stops the garden hose from sliding up/down in the hole. Using an applicator, apply tar around the top of the hole and around the bottom of the hole - from under the van. This tar stops any possible exhaust fumes coming back into the vehicle. Connect the wires, twist tie the rest of the wires, etc. All done. Some folks like using large rubber gromets but for me, I like using a large garden hose "wire sleeve" instead.
 
If you want, I'll take a few pictures and post them. Sometimes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. Especially when trying to explain something like this.
 
Hope this helps...
 
.

#14 of 21 1999 Chevy astro trailer wiring question by keico

Dec 02, 2007 (2:38 am)

I have the Quick-Connect Trailer-Wiring Harness
7-Way Adapter bought from uhaul. Is there anyone that has step by step instructions on how to install. I have a 1999 chevy astro van

#15 of 21 99 AWD SAFARI TRAILER WIRING by cabsman

Jun 30, 2008 (5:08 pm)

I HAVE THE WIRES IN THE JACK STORAGE AREA BUT THE TAG IS NOT READABLE AS TO WHAT COLOR GOES WHERE AND I DON'T HAVE AN OWNER'S MANUAL. CAN SOMEONE HELP IDENTIFY THE COLORS FOR ME?

#16 of 21 Re: Wiring for a trailer Hitch [moe15] by teal96

Jul 05, 2008 (8:38 pm)

Replying to: moe15 (Jun 03, 2006 10:48 am)
7 pin??? ok,, well, pop open the panel where your jack is hidden, in there you should see a wireing harness, it has instructions on it,, read them,,,,you will need to drill a hole to push it out the bottom.
 
Brown is Marker
DARK Green is right turn
Yellow is left turn
Large white is ground,
Should be all you need for a boat.

#17 of 21 Re: Wiring for a trailer Hitch [teal96] by smash591

Sep 14, 2009 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: teal96 (Jul 05, 2008 8:38 pm)
I have a 95 Chevy Astro without the aforementioned wiring harness. I need help locating the appropriate wires to splice onto in order to hard wire a trailer connector to this van. Any help will be appreciated.
 
I checked the major trailer manufactures and no one makes an easy wiring connector for this van. Argh!

#18 of 21 Trailer brake controller question by hlrjmulder

Feb 17, 2010 (3:28 pm)

I have a 99 Astro and does anyone know if there is a plug to plug a trailer brake controller into or do I just have to splice wires. Don't like to if don't have to.

#19 of 21 Re: Trailer brake controller question [hlrjmulder] by spike99

Mar 18, 2010 (10:13 pm)

Replying to: hlrjmulder (Feb 17, 2010 3:28 pm)
I did have a 2001 Safari AWD a few years ago. During its days, I used to pull a 21ft TT with it. Thus, it too needed an onboard brake controller with 7 pin connector on its rear hitch.
 
For my preivous van, I connected its 7 Pins "lights" wires to the van's rear light wires - located behind its spare tire area. These wires had to be spliced in - after confirming different wire colors with an pen light tester.
 
For my van's onboard brake controller, I had to install a double insulated 2 x 10 guage 12V wire under my van. One wire for its brake controller wire and its other wire for 12V "+" fused wire. For a visual of this double insulated 10 guard wire, surf: http://www.etrailer.com/p-10-2-1/Jacketed-2-Wire-10-Gauge-Brake-Wire---per-Foot.- html
 
Hope this helps - with your GM van....
 
.

#20 of 21 astro trailer wiring by rhengerer

Jan 27, 2012 (2:16 pm)

There is a orange #10 wire that comes from the trailer harness to the area under the brake pedel. This orange wire has a female quick connect on it and it's intended to be pluged in somewhere in the area of the brake pedel. I cannot find where to plug it in. Ther's a 30 amp fuse dedicated for this circut, that fuse is located under the hood. Where does this wire hook to. I want to use it to run a winch on my trailer.
 
Rhengererhotmail.com

#21 of 21 Re: Astro trailer wiring [ceetee25] by crappiemike

May 05, 2012 (11:11 pm)

Replying to: ceetee25 (Oct 04, 2006 8:55 am)
I have a 1999 astro conversion. (gulf stream). I opened the tail lite to access the wires. there is no jack housing in this van so I had to tap into the wires at the tail lite. I needed to open the wood paneling at the area to feed the trailer hook up. I am just wiring for a 4 prong so it was easy to pass it under tail gate. If you are hooking up the 7 prong i am not sure where you are going to attach that.

Messages Page 3 of 3

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