Just got my JK the other day with factory tow package - what's with the weird little 4-pin electrical harness???? It is way too small and wimpy, to say nothing of the fact that it does not remotely match a standard round trailer connector plug. Even if I found some kind of adapter, this little thing would just break right off. What am I supposed to do about this?

 

Actually that little 4 pin plug is more of the standard than the round one. I think the round one only uses four pins anyway unless you were pulling a large trailer that has electric brakes then you would have like 6 pins in action.

 

Yes, I am pulling a trailer with electric brakes. Any idea what I can do? I guess I'm also up s**t creek for connecting an electronic brake controller.

 

4 pin is what you see the most these days. Buy an adapter...

 

You need to install a brake controller and a mating round connector on the jeep.
The flat 4 connector is only good for small trailers with lights only and no brakes.

 

Does the vehicle have wiring to go from the brake controller up front to the harness in back, or am I going to need to run new wires for the electric brakes?

 

A four-pin to seven-pin adaptor is available from any decent RV store. My rig has a four pin that I use when towing my boat or motorcycle trailer. I also have the adaptor for use when towing my camper.

 

The big question here is how does he make the work with the brakes, the adapter will still only use the 4 pins. Someone here will know I am sure.

 

I'm curious about that too, but I can't see the adapter working for me in any case. I tow offroad on wild trails (it's a Jeep!!!) often over some pretty gnarly angles and often put a ton of stress on the power cable. Even with the way the 7-pin connector locks I still pop it off sometimes. At a glance I can tell you that the 4-pin plug on the JK is totally inadequate for real trail stress.

 

You need the mating connetor that goes with the trailer. A flat four will not work with the brake controller. Yes you need to run wires from the controller to the connector.