Trailer Electrical Coupler wiring: 88 Carrera?

[Geneman]

Hello All, Picked up a really sweet tire carrier +aluminum tool box at Hershey from a Pelican gentleman. I need to wire in a standard coupler for the brake lights etc. Anyone know where i would find out how to do this. ( or other advice ..say take to a hitch store and have them do it?) Thanks! Frank

[Quicksilver]

I would muscle through it myself before I ever allowed a generic shop access to work on anything in the car.

If I was doing it I would look at the wiring diagrams but ultimately I would probably access the wires by pulling the turn indicator housings.

[kidrock]

are you planning on pulling a personal trailer or a rental?

The reason I ask is because most trailers have several ways of hooking up to the vehicle. By far, the easiest thing you can do is to go to your FLAPS and purchase the tail light bulbs which have the trailer wires already attached. You can neatly tuck the wires into the housing when not in use, and you can quickly remove the housing and drop the wires when you plan on trailering.

Now, I did this with an old Ford truck that I had. Getting this with OEM Porsche bulbs would probably be impossible. BUT....the bulbs are actually pretty similar in size, and you could possibly avoid contact issues by attaching a proper o-ring to the bulb base. It's cheap, easy and worth a try in my humble opinion.

[bkreigsr]

plenty of good diagrams for the 4 and 7 plug connectors on etrailer.com
Bill K

[Tom '74 911]

Geneman -

I've done this w/my Porsche to pull a tire trailer that's probably similar to the one you just got. I went to my local NAPA and bought a 4-pin trailer connector that matched the one on the trailer. There was a diagram on the box and even on the connector itself if I remember correctly. Then it was just a matter of splicing into the taillight wiring in the engine compartment. Having a wiring diagram is definitely handy to know what to connect to where etc.... Not hard, just need to pay attention during the process & be neat about it etc.. . .

I just let the connector dangle from under my closed decklid when I'm towing and then tuck it back up on the side rail in the engine compartment when I'm not.

I can take some pics if you need, but it's not too hard to visualize. . .

Tom

[Dublinoh]

Tires, bike, and beer?

[Geneman]

Thanks all exactly what i needed .. yes Tom that is exactly the one i picked up. I will do as you suggested Cheers Frank

[rusnak]

It's easy with a test light and a second person to hit the brake and turn signals. Or you can get an adaptor plug and skip re-wiring. Adaptors are available at Napa and O' Reily's. But you must have a trailer socket on your tow vehicle.

[Jesse16]

Hey Tom, I'd be interested to know how or what you bought or welded yourself as a hitch bar to your car. I'm taking a welding class so have the opportunity to fab something myself for a light trailer in the future. Getting up under, looks like plenty of room for a square tube to reside behind the bumper and then a small cut-through behind the license plate. Any great ideas on how to attach the ends of the bar to the car ? Maybe bolted/clamped to the round posts for the bumper springs ? Maybe plates that attach to the steel adjacent to those posts in some manner. I haven't actually seen a decent photo of a hitch attached to the car steel itself.
Do you have a photo of how your hitch attaches ??

[Geneman]

hey jesse tom i bought this hitch for my 88 from this guy on pelican it references the guy who makes them. i have not yet installed mine but looks simple and the product is sturdy and well engineered. it clamps over both bumper shocks between faring and muffler. i have a BB-HP 2IN2 out muffler and there is plenty of room . its not something that you take on and off.. it stays..see link: its a bit pricey new.

F/S 911 trailer hitch

[Jesse16]

I think I can see how the clamping is happening. Looks like two clamps with 2 bolts each per side to the bumper tube. I was thinking the same but without the plate. Just get it up there along the same centerline as the tube maybe, put the clamping action there. Since my class is in a metal shop, I could go crazy and even put a nice mild swoop on the tube. The idea is to do a project in class so thats my interest.
Got 3 weeks of class left, have to get moving.

[Tom '74 911]

Originally Posted by Jesse16

Hey Tom, I'd be interested to know how or what you bought or welded yourself as a hitch bar to your car.

Check out this thread for pics & info etc...

911 Trailer Hitch

[Jesse16]

Ahhh, upon closer inspection I can see that you've done one of the "external" bar versions. I had actually seen your thread in the past, just wasn't on my radar then. I'm going to keep thinking about my idea for a "hidden bar". Just don't know if I can make it happen real quick. Thanks