I have a few questions concerning the seven way socket for my fifth wheel. I bought a Reese socket, it's real cheezy and I don't think it will last one season. I would like to do this right and do it once. My questions.. 1) Who makes a decent seven way socket that has brass or stainless connections and where can I get one? 2) With all of you braineacks out there how do I make it neat, long lasting, do it once, connection to my truck? I do have a fifth wheel connection that came OEM.

I prefer the plastic ones to the metal ones myself. I buy Hoppy as they seem to be the best and they have plastic spacers in between the connections where you hook the wires up. No chance for shorting. I drill a hole (can't remember size 2 1/2" maybe?) in the side of the box. Run the wire up from the frame (if you have the 5th wheel wiring provisions) through the hole. Then make all your connections and screw it down. I also cover the wire in split loom. Another thing I do is leave enough extra and bundle it up so you can cut the ties and pull it out far enough to work on it in the future. Mounted in front of the wheel it should last for a very, very long time. I have done several hundred this way for a local trailer manufacturer and I have never had a failure. It is flush in the box and looks good. The only downfall is you have a hole in the side of your box. Plastic box liners also complicate it a bit.

I also buy the black plastic sockets. I just purchased mine at the local autoparts store. 1 7/8" hole saw and two little notches for the screw heads in the side of the socket to fit through for a tight fit, or a 2" hole and no need to do any notching. I put mine in the side of the box just above and in front of the wheel well on the drivers side of the bed. Used 4 stainless steel sheet metal screws to secure it to the bed wall. Here is a pic...nice and clean install...


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Bed_Plug_after_Line-X.jpg

On my 03s I ran the wire up thru the drain hole in corner of bed and put the plug on it.


The cord will fit if u cut the heat-shrink off the ends.


It was loose because when I put truck camper on the cord on it was short so I used the excess truck wire to let it reach the camper.


Worked fine but u have to watch throwing junk in the bed didn't crush the plastic.

Mine is located a little further back than 4x4man's... See my truck pictures below... I used the Pollack Electric female plug in the bed (brass connectors)... Bargman makes one also.......Triffid

I put mine exactly where 4x4 man did his.