trailer hitch

[wiredgeorge]

I am thinking about a trailer hitch. See the Can-Am hitch is over $500 on eBay and includes the electronics module (whatever that is). I see you can get an aftermarket hitch for about $200. Since there is little chance I will be buying a Can-Am trailer due to its insane cost, is there a how to for wiring up a trailer using a standard 4 pin connector. The connector will have a left turn, right turn, brake running light and brake light wire. If you tap these wires on the Spyder without isolating, are there negatives? I also saw a 5 wire Can-Am wiring conversion kit on eBay. What do these wires do beyond the 4 pin connector and is an isolator necessary? For you guys who have built your own trailer and used a car top carrier OR use a non-BRP trailer, how did you wire them?

 

[garb55]

They do make 5 pin to 4 pin connecters
However
On my 2008 GS I simply taped into the 5 wires on the Spyder
Left Turn Light
Right Turn light
Running lights
Brake Lights
Ground Wire
I had all LED lights on my Trailer
Had no problems with the electrical on the bike and the trailer
Don

 

[PMK]

They do make 5 pin to 4 pin connecters
However
On my 2008 GS I simply taped into the 5 wires on the Spyder
Left Turn Light
Right Turn light
Running lights
Brake Lights
Ground Wire
I had all LED lights on my Trailer
Had no problems with the electrical on the bike and the trailer
Don

I don't know for fact, but would bet the LED bulbs are the key to not needing the BRP wire harness (not counting the connector style).

Having seen the plug and play adapter harness from various companies that supply LED lighting, you should be able to use those and easily build a harness yourself, or maybe someone else has done it differently and easier.

We are still not sure on the trailer thing. I know the wife is a bit PO'd she refused to be awoken to hit the Buy It Now Saturday night for the RT622 for $1500.

Myself, I am leaning more towards a smaller camper style that will allow s to take the tandem bicycle also. Who knows???

PK

 

[billybovine]

The Can Am hitch give you every you need. Hitch, ball, mudflap and wiring harness for a 4 wire trailer, power isolated/converted. So if you have a 4 wire trailer nothing else to buy.

Show Chrome hitch is what I installed on my ST and I made my own wiring harness, 4 wire power isolated converted. The parts that did not come with the hitch I got at an autoparts store.

Show Chrome has a trailer wiring harness for RT only that is power isolated but is not converted, ends in 5 bare wires. So if trailer is 5 wire just need connector. If trailer is 4 wire, need converter and connector.

 

[wiredgeorge]

The Can Am hitch give you every you need. Hitch, ball, mudflap and wiring harness for a 4 wire trailer, power isolated/converted. So if you have a 4 wire trailer nothing else to buy.

Show Chrome hitch is what I installed on my ST and I made my own wiring harness, 4 wire power isolated converted. The parts that did not come with the hitch I got at an autoparts store.

Show Chrome has a trailer wiring harness for RT only that is power isolated but is not converted, ends in 5 bare wires. So if trailer is 5 wire just need connector. If trailer is 4 wire, need converter and connector.

On my GL1500 Roadsmith trike, the on-bike harness for the trailer hitch was isolated... essentially run off its own relay (can't recall one or two relays) and then the same wires out. I am not sure I understand the "converter". What does it convert?

 

[billybovine]

The Spyder and many modern vehicles have gone to amber left/right turn signals. Compared to older vehicles that had turn signals and brake light combined in red. So in NA it is legal for trailers to be either way. If your trailer has amber turn signals it is a 5 wire as follows:
1. Left turn
2. Right turn
3. Brake
4. Running
5. Ground
No need for a converter.

If your trailer has the brake and turn signals combined. It is a 4 wire as follows"
1. Left turn/brake
2. Right turn/brake
3. Running
4. Ground
Then you need a converter to change the Spyder native 5 wire to 4 wire.

 

[Vt. Rider]

Just put an aftermarket (Big Boy) hitch on my '14 RT. Piece of cake.
Also put on the ShowChrome wiring harness.....it's a 5 wire.
My trailer was a 6 pin plug, but by splicing he blue and brown wires (running lights) together, I was able to purchase a 5 wire flat plug for the trailer and the RT.