vtrider
04-17-2017, 07:14 PM
It is always comforting when you have an idea to save some money, and when it is all planned out it turns to success in the end result. Success! is what I had when adding my trailer hitch and tail light converter from my 2013 Rt to my new Spyder F3T. The dealer told me I would need the correct hitch and wire harness assembly to work with the F3. Well! I knew I wasn't going to spend another $500 or so on a new hitch assembly when I had one in hand from the RT that I knew would fit on the F3 swing arm. The issue I had was how I would make the RT tail light converter work for the F3. I did some research and found the Deutsch mating connector and socket pins that I needed from this company to make my own wire harness for the F3 to have a plug and play setup for the tail light converter. https://www.prowireusa.com/. This is what I came up with to make this all happen.
This is the Hopkins tail light converter that I had on the the RT, which I would be using on the F3
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01802_zpsdjnitxvd.jpg
The tail light converter already had the trailer connector. I just needed to build a harness to connect from the F3 to the converter. I did this with the correct mating Deutsch connector and pins. I had a new flat 4 color trailer wire that I had in my garage which I used for the brake, tail/marker, left turn and right turn signals from the connector coming from the tail light converter. I then purchased some 14 gauge red and black wire which I used for the connection to the battery.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01798_zpsfgs09xbh.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01799_zpsvqc6egzb.jpg
I installed the converter underneath the rear tail section on the F3 in the area where a CB or radio amplifier would go. I ran the battery wires through some split wire loom to give it a clean finished look and to protect the wiring from any damage.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01805_zpsdqnztzjo.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01807_zpsmpvhdk0e.jpg
Inside the side saddle bag compartments where the wiring connections were made, was all plug and play. I ordered the 5-pin mating connectors from Value Accessories that I needed to connect all the wiring from the converter harness without having to cut into any wiring from the F3.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01804_zpsci2tioss.jpg
The trailer cable from the tail light converter was routed into the left saddle bag compartment and out through the back and was secured to the hole that was already on the saddle bag compartment for the trailer connector.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01810_zpsczpo8swc.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01811_zpseksebmfy.jpg
While I was at it, I added the Power Plate that I ordered from Lamonster Garage and ran the wiring for that through the front part of the wire loom coming from the tail light converter, just keep everything clean going to the battery.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01806_zpsdfkorrog.jpg
When all was completed I tested the harness on my RT622 trailer and everything worked as it should, brakes, turn signals and running lights. The power plate on the handlebars will be mainly used to keep my cell phone charged and to charge the battery on a battery tender when it is needed. Anyhow, I thought I would share this story. I enjoyed working on this project. Sometimes, even when your told something won't work, you just have to think out of the box and make it work. Using these forums and the vendors, with lessons learned over the years from working in electronics and mechanical assembly over my career has helped me with these kind of projects. What makes all this an even better success, is that I can now haul my RT622 trailer with my F3T.
This is the Hopkins tail light converter that I had on the the RT, which I would be using on the F3
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01802_zpsdjnitxvd.jpg
The tail light converter already had the trailer connector. I just needed to build a harness to connect from the F3 to the converter. I did this with the correct mating Deutsch connector and pins. I had a new flat 4 color trailer wire that I had in my garage which I used for the brake, tail/marker, left turn and right turn signals from the connector coming from the tail light converter. I then purchased some 14 gauge red and black wire which I used for the connection to the battery.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01798_zpsfgs09xbh.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01799_zpsvqc6egzb.jpg
I installed the converter underneath the rear tail section on the F3 in the area where a CB or radio amplifier would go. I ran the battery wires through some split wire loom to give it a clean finished look and to protect the wiring from any damage.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01805_zpsdqnztzjo.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01807_zpsmpvhdk0e.jpg
Inside the side saddle bag compartments where the wiring connections were made, was all plug and play. I ordered the 5-pin mating connectors from Value Accessories that I needed to connect all the wiring from the converter harness without having to cut into any wiring from the F3.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01804_zpsci2tioss.jpg
The trailer cable from the tail light converter was routed into the left saddle bag compartment and out through the back and was secured to the hole that was already on the saddle bag compartment for the trailer connector.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01810_zpsczpo8swc.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01811_zpseksebmfy.jpg
While I was at it, I added the Power Plate that I ordered from Lamonster Garage and ran the wiring for that through the front part of the wire loom coming from the tail light converter, just keep everything clean going to the battery.
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd343/vtrider_photos/DSC01806_zpsdfkorrog.jpg
When all was completed I tested the harness on my RT622 trailer and everything worked as it should, brakes, turn signals and running lights. The power plate on the handlebars will be mainly used to keep my cell phone charged and to charge the battery on a battery tender when it is needed. Anyhow, I thought I would share this story. I enjoyed working on this project. Sometimes, even when your told something won't work, you just have to think out of the box and make it work. Using these forums and the vendors, with lessons learned over the years from working in electronics and mechanical assembly over my career has helped me with these kind of projects. What makes all this an even better success, is that I can now haul my RT622 trailer with my F3T.