Will the Spyder's 4-pin harness work with a 5-pin trailer connector?

[DaveS]

2018 Spyder RTL - I just bought a Third Wheel Trailer, and it has a 5-pin connector on it. Will the 4-pin Spyder Plug and Play harness work with the 5-pin trailer connector? All the online dealers only have a 4-pin trailer harness for the Spyder, and they say I should rewire the trailer to a 4-pin connector.

Any info or advice on this would really be appreciated.

Dave

[pegasus1300]

Actually Value accessories has a plug and play 5 pin, I used it. I prefer a 5 pin system as most bikes still have a separate turn and brake light.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

2018 Spyder RTL - I just bought a Third Wheel Trailer, and it has a 5-pin connector on it. Will the 4-pin Spyder Plug and Play harness work with the 5-pin trailer connector? All the online dealers only have a 4-pin trailer harness for the Spyder, and they say I should rewire the trailer to a 4-pin connector.

Any info or advice on this would really be appreciated.

Dave

In short your choices are 1) rewire the trailer, 2) use the harness pegasus mentions, https://www.bigbikeparts.com/trailer-wiring-harness-41-162, to which you will have to add the proper connector to match the trailer, or 3) buy these two items, https://can-am-shop.brp.com/on-road/us/en/219400853-control-module-harness-spyder-f3-t-f3-limited-rt-2018.html and https://namzcustomcycleproducts.com/product/namz-trailer-isolatorsnamz-universal-trailer-isolator-bare-wires-without-a-connector/#. With this last choice you will have to cut the Deutsch connector off the BRP Y harness and splice the Namz harness to it. You'll also have to add a connector to match the trailer connector. The big difference between 2) and 3) is 2) connects into the wiring at the taillights, and 3) connects into the harness under the seat. The practical difference is essentially none.

There is no quick and easy way to mate a Can-Am Spyder to a 5 wire trailer. BRP went to a 4 wire trailer harness configuration about 10 years ago and has not provided any plug and play means to use a 5 wire trailer since. They did actually use a 5 wire configuration on their trailer for a couple of years but the control module on the bike wasn't durable so when they went to a better module they also went only to 4 wire.

When I made a 5 wire trailer back in 2014 I fabricated my own harness using the BRP Y harness and a Goldwing control module.

[DaveS]

Thanks for the great info IdahoMtnSpyer and Pegasus1300, looks like I'll be buying the Big Bike harness.

[Bangorbob]

Yes it will. The fifth wire on a trailer is usually for the brakes or back up lights. That's what I found out while messing with 4 and 5 pin connectors.

[askitee]

2018 Spyder RTL - I just bought a Third Wheel Trailer, and it has a 5-pin connector on it. Will the 4-pin Spyder Plug and Play harness work with the 5-pin trailer connector? All the online dealers only have a 4-pin trailer harness for the Spyder, and they say I should rewire the trailer to a 4-pin connector.

Any info or advice on this would really be appreciated.

Dave

These look like a dam nice trailer. Any chance you can post a update on how it goes after you've done a few trips?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Yes it will. The fifth wire on a trailer is usually for the brakes or back up lights. That's what I found out while messing with 4 and 5 pin connectors.

Oops, you need to double check that. What you are referring to is not the standard configuration known as 5 wire trailer. A 5 wire configuration is left and right turn signals, usually amber, brake, taillight, and ground. The brake and turn do not use the same bulb or filament. A 4 wire configuration is left turn/brake, right turn/brake, taillight, and ground. In a 4 wire setup brake and turn use the same bulb/filament. The configurations you mention are standard 4 wire with an added circuit.

[EdMat]

Oops, you need to double check that. What you are referring to is not the standard configuration known as 5 wire trailer. A 5 wire configuration is left and right turn signals, usually amber, brake, taillight, and ground. The brake and turn do not use the same bulb or filament. A 4 wire configuration is left turn/brake, right turn/brake, taillight, and ground. In a 4 wire setup brake and turn use the same bulb/filament. The configurations you mention are standard 4 wire with an added circuit.

If the 5 wire setup has 4 light assemblies the 2 that are hooked up as turn signals will function as turn, stop and tail lights while the other 2 will function as tail lights when it is hooked to a 4 wire connector

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

If the 5 wire setup has 4 light assemblies the 2 that are hooked up as turn signals will function as turn, stop and tail lights while the other 2 will function as tail lights when it is hooked to a 4 wire connector

True, you can do that if the turn signals are red, or the lens can be changed to red from amber. The existing brake lights (filaments) will remain non-functional. Most 5 wire systems use amber turn signals, which of course cannot be used as brake lights.

[EdMat]

True, you can do that if the turn signals are red, or the lens can be changed to red from amber. The existing brake lights (filaments) will remain non-functional. Most 5 wire systems use amber turn signals, which of course cannot be used as brake lights.

Point well taken.

[IGETAROUND]

Thanks for the great info IdahoMtnSpyer and Pegasus1300, looks like I'll be buying the Big Bike harness.

Dave S,just get a 4 to 5 connecter from E trailer an plug it in, will work fine without any other wiring or harnesses. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Wiring/Hopkins/47515.html

Al in Kazoo

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Dave S,just get a 4 to 5 connecter from E trailer an plug it in, will work fine without any other wiring or harnesses. https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Wiring/Hopkins/47515.html

Al in Kazoo

Sorry, that adapter does not actually convert from a 4 wire configuration to a 5 wire configuration since it does not modify the brake/turn configuration. All it's good for is to make the connection to a trailer that has a 4 wire configuration plus backup lights, or brake release, going through a 5 flat connector. Backup lights are not a standard part of trailer wiring.

[DaveS]

I emailed Third Wheel and it looks like the tail lights are all LED. Will the https://www.bigbikeparts.com/trailer-wiring-harness-41-162 wiring harness from Show Chrome still work with the Spyder? I've emailed the asking the same question but haven't heard back from them yet.

[DaveS]

Sure will askitee

[BertRemington]

This is easy, although it would be easier if the specific trailer model was identified.

Be that as it may, Canada requires turn lamps to operate independently from the brake/tail lamp. Therefore IdahoMtnSpyder's Choice 2 was the correct answer.

There's no need to drag this discussion on for another day.

[DaveS]

Well actually Bert, IdahoMtnSpyder's Choice 2 isn't the only answer, his first suggestion worked just fine. I bought the https://www.bigbikeparts.com/trailer-wiring-harness-41-162 which is made for 5 wired trailers and installed it following the instructions and it works just fine. So now we don't have any need to drag this discussion on for another day!