What kind of hitch & brakes does the T@B have?

GaiaGoddess

I am going to be buying a T@B S model (not sure what year but most likely a used one), and so I went to Uhaul today to get a hitch installed and they said they can't even do it until they know what kind of hitch it is, and then he said I need to know if it's a 7 pin or not and if the trailer has electric brakes or not. Not all the ads I see say if they have electric brakes or not, so is it safe to assume some do and some don't? And if the owners manual doesn't even say if the hitch is a 7 pin or not, how is the owner going to know? I have never even heard this term before and I've been researching these trailers for for years now. I wish I had known this was an important factor in getting a hitch installed or I would have asked first and then went to get it put on. 

rkj__

It depends how old you go, but the newer trailers have a 7 pin connection, and electric brakes.  

GaiaGoddess

Most of the ones I have been interested in have been 2015. I don't even know which years they made the S model (with the wet bath and indoor stove/sink).

Cyclonic

All the T@Bs require a 7-pin connector, and if you are getting a T@B newer than 2014 it will have electric brakes (they changed to electric sometime in the 2014 model year).  Also, the ball size for the T@B is 2".

HR_Taly

@GaiaGoddess since you said you hadn't heard the terms before (and if you are like 95% of the population that hasn't towed yet, I understand!) the "7 pin" that they are referring to is the power cable that is usually located right next to your car's tow hitch near the back bumper.  They come in two flavours a 4 Pin and a 7 Pin.

A 4 Pin is very basic, and this is usually for the little utility trailers people tow.  The trailer will have a plug that plugs into the outlet near the back bumper of your car (don't worry - sounds like your hitch installer was good and was making sure you were going to get the proper connector along with the hitch, too!). A 4 Pin is basic because this is what makes the little utility trailer's brake lights light up, and turn indicators light but that's about it.

A 7 Pin is used for pretty much anything bigger than a utility trailer.  Why?  Because these will *also* carry a lot more info!  Not only does this do everything the 4 Pin above did, but this also allows power to go from your tow vehicle to your T@B so you can, for example, run your refrigerator while you're driving down the road.  Also, a 7 Pin will carry information for the braking system so that the T@Bs brakes will go on at the same time as your car's brakes (now, you may likely need an extra item called a "brake controller" in your car - some cars have them built in - but if you don't know, always search the forum or just ask!).

I would tell your hitch installer you need a "Class II or preferably Class III Hitch, as I'll be towing a small travel trailer that is around 2,000 lbs that has electric brakes.  It requires a 2" ball and I need a 7-Pin connector".  That should get you sorted!

GaiaGoddess

Thanks Cyclonic and HR_Taly! These were the exact answers I was looking for. I did tell the guy the exact model I wanted and that it weighed just under 2000 pounds, he did something on the computer with my vehicle type and came up with the right hitch and all that, the only info he needed was if it's a 7 pin or not, and electric brakes, but now that I know after 2014 they had them, I can call them back and schedule it. I don't think I want anything older than a 2014 anyway. Thanks so much for your information!

2Cougs

@HR_Taly and @Cyclonic - Great explanations!  

Photomom

You will also want to tell them you need a 12 volt connection (with fuse) run from your tow vehicle's battery back to the 7 way connector. This allows you to run your refrigerator on 12v while driving without depleting your T@B battery. 

I THINK that 10 gauge is correct for this, would someone confirm?

Ratkity

Photomom said:

You will also want to tell them you need a 12 volt connection (with fuse) run from your tow vehicle's battery back to the 7 way connector. This allows you to run your refrigerator on 12v while driving without depleting your T@B battery. 

I THINK that 10 gauge is correct for this, would someone confirm?

10 g is recommended in all vehicles I've owned to tow. 

Sharon_is_SAM

Yes.  We had 10 gauge for the charge line and it works well to charge the Tab battery and our ARB frig.