Drill big honking hole in rear bumper for trailer wiring connector?!

[bass-o-matic]

I'm going to put a sassy 5 pin round wiring connector on my 2002. I don't like the looks of hanging it UNDER the bumper. I want to drill a hole IN my rear bumper and put it there.

Thoughts?

I'm guessing a big ass drill and a step bit.

Question 2. I need an electrical engineer type for this one. The fifth pin I'm going to use to power reverse lights on the trailer and possibly electric brakes in the future. However... when the trailer is parked I would like to be able to flip on the rear lights on the trailer from the inside with a switch. I suppose I need a big diode? So I'm not sending power back to my reverse lights on my truck?

 

[85RedRunner]

What is the diameter of the plug? Most of those veri bits only go up to 1"

 

[GangsterOfLove]

You'll probably be better off with a hole saw.

Use plenty of cutting oil and go slow.

 

[having fun]

If you plan on maybe trailer brakes in the future, why not just go up to a 7 pin as most electric brake trailers usually run off of them.

And since your going to have to design a switched lighting for your setup.

 

[bass-o-matic]

I don't see the diameter


Pollak 5-Pole, Round Pin Trailer Wiring Socket, Concealed Terminals - Chrome - Vehicle End Pollak Wiring PK11502

1.5 inches at the most?

 

[GangsterOfLove]

If you plan on maybe trailer brakes in the future, why not just go up to a 7 pin as most electric brake trailers usually run off of them.

True, and 7 pin connectors allow for larger wire in the charge line. They're also more common - 5 pin connectors are oddballs.

For the reverse lights the easiest thing to do is use a double-throw switch. When you throw the switch one way it connects the battery line to the reverse lights and disconnects the reverse line from the truck. Throw it the other way and it does the reverse.

 

[bass-o-matic]

Cool. The more I look at drilling into the bumper the more i think I'm being ridiculous.

I think I like this one and I'll just mount it under the bumper and relax my head like normal people.

OCD is a beeeyatch!

https://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/Hopkins/HM40975.html

 

[GangsterOfLove]

That's the spirit!

 

[Hardluck]

That's what I did with my FJ Cruiser. I used a step bit to drill the hole for a 7-pin connector socket and then drilled and tapped 4 holes for the screws. This was into a metal All Pro bumper. Was easy to do and I like the clean look of it. The only thing to be careful of is that the hole you drill matches up with the existing holes in the bumper crossframe.

 

[Coffey50]

Cool. The more I look at drilling into the bumper the more i think I'm being ridiculous.

I think I like this one and I'll just mount it under the bumper and relax my head like normal people.

OCD is a beeeyatch!

https://www.etrailer.com/Custom-Fit-Vehicle-Wiring/Hopkins/HM40975.html

Probably a much easier mount to pull off. Less nerve racking as well.