Of course my 96 ranger didn't come with a trailer hitch (finally got one made, just haven't been able to get under there for pics) or a trailer wiring connector, so I'm gonna have to hard wire in my own.

I have a couple of 4 wire trailer wiring connectors laying around (yellow = left stop & turn, green = right stop & turn, brown = running lights & white = ground), but I can't figure something out....

All the trailers I've seen (not to mention the cheap towing lights I have) all have 1157 dual filament brake/turn lights plus the side & rear running lights.

How in the world is a 4 wire plug going to be able to power 2 brake lights, turn signals, running lights & common ground at the same time??
Looks like it would require at least a 5 wire connector to control everything. Or use the running lights wire to for both brake lights.

I found this (link) which takes the OEM wiring & adapts it to a 4 wire harness... but I have a budget of $0 to get this done.

Do I really need a T connector diode/resistor box or am I missing something?

 

No no, you can wire it directly Im pretty sure you dont need the T connector for the normal 4 Flat wireing. I read it somewhere when I was wiring up my trailer lights. I went from the 4 way to a 4 and 7 Round on my truck, so its also wired for Reverse, a better ground, a constant power.

But for a flat 4 its runs with

Constant ground( usually white)
Tag/Park light ( brown) hook it up to any running light, your licence plate or the wire going to you tail lights for park lights,

Left Turn & brake ( yellow) hook it up to you tail light bulb wire the one that blinks!
Right turn and brake ( Green) hook it up the the Right wire that blinks!

Here's the link
http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm

Can anyone conferm this will work without burning the stock wiring?

 

imo easier to get the plug in t connector. i had it on my 94 and it works awesome. no dinkin with the taillight wire harness.

 

I grabbed myself a T adapter/box off the EVILbay real cheap....
So far, it works like a charm.
Didn't even have to change to an electronic flasher.

Best $14 I spent this year.

Why would Ford put the wiring harness on the outside of the rear cross member?? Even with a bumper on, if somebody rear-ends you, all the wiring is gonna get torn up.

 

x2 on the T its plug and play