4-Way and 5-Way Trailer Wiring

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I have my truck rigged with a 4-way wire harness for pulling my boat. A friend wants me to pull his boat that is wired with a 5-way (his trailer has brakes, mine does not). Does anyone know of a solution short of rewiring the harness on my truck? Any conversion without cutting wires? Thanks.

[NCLaker]

I think my son-in-law ran into this. He misplaced his 5 wire adaptor plug (has a chevy truck it was the piece that goes into the bumper wire socket), but was able to scrounge a 4 wire plug that worked. He plugged it in, attached it to the trailer and drove home with out any trailer brakes. I guess it was fine because he had a big truck with brakes that could handled the added boat weight and was only using for this isolated incident.

[Payday]

The 5th plug controls the brake lock-out so you are able to back the trailer up.

There is a manual lock out located near the coupler that you will need to use if you are using the 4 plug.

The brakes will still work when pulling forward as that is not effected by the missing 5th plug.

[Valv]

Is the 5 way a round plug or a flat plug. If it's a round plug it means it has electric brake control, you can find an adapter easily (parts store, Walmart, Fleet Farm, etc), if you don't have a brake controller box, brakes won't work, but you can pull it with no broblem.

If it's a flat 5 prong plug it in as normally, and you will have the 5th connector free, which in this case is only to "unlock" the surge brakes when you back up.