I am requesting help in locating the fuse panel for 7 Pin Trailer Plug that is mounted on the rear bumper. The manual shows a picture of the battery/electrical bay (which is the last basement door on the drivers side) which shows three small (2 x 4 inch) white fuse boxes and a six panel buss bar of some kind. The Chassis Wiring Diagrahm shows a drawing of the these three fuse panels and the six panel buss bar (Labeled BB on the diagram). A Freightliner customer care representative said the trailer fuse panels are usually black and labeled as trailer wiring. The motorhome is a 2012 Winnebago Journey 34Y.
Fuse Panel for 7 Pin Trailer PLug Connector
- Thread starter LOG-WO
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Your info is accurate as far as it goes. On the FL chassis the trailer fuse boxes are usually at the rear of the coach on the driver side. The trick is that they seem to move around depending on the year, engine config, etc. On my 04 they are in the very rear of the coach next to my side-mounted radiator.
I think on Journeys they have found them in the power bay. Look around that area for a screw panel on one of the bay walls.
I think on Journeys they have found them in the power bay. Look around that area for a screw panel on one of the bay walls.
Morich
Senior Member
I tend to know little about the rear engine pushers so tend to let those who own them jump first but it seems that is not coming around, so maybe a bit of info I do see may help?
You may already know it doesn't, so no guarantee!
I see nothing on the drawings as I might expect as the trailer wiring would be assumed to be chassis and Winn doesn't go very far on that and leave it to chassis builders!
But does this clue point to something that helps?
Does this label point to one you may be overlooking?
Click this snip to see better!
Something under left rear valance door?
That might seem like a good place to connect a trailer connector?
You may already know it doesn't, so no guarantee!
I see nothing on the drawings as I might expect as the trailer wiring would be assumed to be chassis and Winn doesn't go very far on that and leave it to chassis builders!
But does this clue point to something that helps?
Does this label point to one you may be overlooking?
Click this snip to see better!
Something under left rear valance door?
That might seem like a good place to connect a trailer connector?
Thank you Morich.
That left rear valance door is the rear basement door. And that is the battery/electrical bay where I have been looking.
I know the valance door is the basement door because I called Winnebago and asked them if they are calling the basement door a valance door. The customer service rep told me that was correct.
That label you posted, and the owners manual, both indicate that the fuse panels are in that bay, but I have yet to find them.
That bay is open to the engine. There are no wall panels that come loose with screws. The starter bypass solenoid, charging solenoid, batteries, engine air filter, etc. are in that bay. As well as the things I listed in my opening post.
That left rear valance door is the rear basement door. And that is the battery/electrical bay where I have been looking.
I know the valance door is the basement door because I called Winnebago and asked them if they are calling the basement door a valance door. The customer service rep told me that was correct.
That label you posted, and the owners manual, both indicate that the fuse panels are in that bay, but I have yet to find them.
That bay is open to the engine. There are no wall panels that come loose with screws. The starter bypass solenoid, charging solenoid, batteries, engine air filter, etc. are in that bay. As well as the things I listed in my opening post.
Morich
Senior Member
Snagged the owners manual here in case you don't have it handy:
https://www.winnebago.com/owners/owner-resources/manuals-and-diagrams/operator-manuals
I picked some info but you may have been there already.
Plucked a couple pic to send along!
This in back but I think you know about it!
So this one sounds hopeful but up front what they are not too much help on exactly where!
Front left exterior compartment?
This be under that black cover and the next picture of the inside of that black lid?
Some pushers have various relays, etc. in a liftup cover just outside the driver's window. Spot anything like that?
They say it is Conveniently located!! Right, if we know where!!
Most of the power to the hitch connector are controlled by dash switches, so maybe they did run wires to the front for the controls and picked power close by? Maybe one of those relays at the side if not a fuse/breaker problem?
https://www.winnebago.com/owners/owner-resources/manuals-and-diagrams/operator-manuals
I picked some info but you may have been there already.
Plucked a couple pic to send along!
This in back but I think you know about it!
So this one sounds hopeful but up front what they are not too much help on exactly where!
Front left exterior compartment?
This be under that black cover and the next picture of the inside of that black lid?
Some pushers have various relays, etc. in a liftup cover just outside the driver's window. Spot anything like that?
They say it is Conveniently located!! Right, if we know where!!
Most of the power to the hitch connector are controlled by dash switches, so maybe they did run wires to the front for the controls and picked power close by? Maybe one of those relays at the side if not a fuse/breaker problem?
RayIN
Senior Member
Is the trailer plug OEM or aftermarket? An aftermarket might not have/use that fuse panel.
The trailer plug is OEM and installed by Winnebago.
I have talked to Winnebago and Freightliner customer service. I have the Winnebago operators manual. I have all of the Winnebago electrical and chassis diagrams. I have looked in every bay on the motorhome.
I have researched and read every thread on this subject I have been able to find. On this site and other sites. I have seen pictures of what a trailer fuse panel looks like. I just have not been able to find it.
What I need to know is exactly where the trailer fuse panel is located on a Winnebago Journey 34Y or similar Winnebago Journey Models.
I have talked to Winnebago and Freightliner customer service. I have the Winnebago operators manual. I have all of the Winnebago electrical and chassis diagrams. I have looked in every bay on the motorhome.
I have researched and read every thread on this subject I have been able to find. On this site and other sites. I have seen pictures of what a trailer fuse panel looks like. I just have not been able to find it.
What I need to know is exactly where the trailer fuse panel is located on a Winnebago Journey 34Y or similar Winnebago Journey Models.
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I do not know if this will help or not but I will try.
On my 07 Meridian, sister to Journey, look in the bay that has the power cord.
Remember this is my set up hope its close to yours. If you look straight in you will see where the power cord is connected to the unit. To the right side of the bay there is a black metal cover held on by screws. On mine there is no label telling whats behind. When I unscrew the front screws (no need to do back screws) it reveals the fuses for the 7 pin connection.
Hope this helped somewhat
On my 07 Meridian, sister to Journey, look in the bay that has the power cord.
Remember this is my set up hope its close to yours. If you look straight in you will see where the power cord is connected to the unit. To the right side of the bay there is a black metal cover held on by screws. On mine there is no label telling whats behind. When I unscrew the front screws (no need to do back screws) it reveals the fuses for the 7 pin connection.
Hope this helped somewhat
Morich
Senior Member
My thoughts were that the trailer connector is often on a stripped chassis that is meant to be a truck, etc. That often means it is on a panel with the other chassis fuses. Many are out under the hood on gas RV.
Since the connector has much of the same circuits as a car, head/tail lights, turn signal and running lights, putting them in the same box as the rest of the RV would seem right.
So have you found the automotive fuses as in those pictures? That would seem to be the logical place for trailer connections.
But it might not just be a fuse problem, so can you tell us more about the reason for wanting to look at the fuses? Several other points like a bad ground might make the connector stop working.
That's where we can help better if we know more about the question or problem!
Since the connector has much of the same circuits as a car, head/tail lights, turn signal and running lights, putting them in the same box as the rest of the RV would seem right.
So have you found the automotive fuses as in those pictures? That would seem to be the logical place for trailer connections.
But it might not just be a fuse problem, so can you tell us more about the reason for wanting to look at the fuses? Several other points like a bad ground might make the connector stop working.
That's where we can help better if we know more about the question or problem!
On the motorhome, the tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals all work.
On the toad, the tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals all work.
On the 7 pin to six pin harness, all pins have continuity.
When the toad is fully hooked up to the motohome, the tail lights and turn signals work. The left and right brake lights do not work on the toad. They all work on the motohome.
A test recepticle pluged into the 7 pin plug on the motohrome shows the left and right tail lights and left and right turn signals work. The left and right brake lights do not work.
On the 7 pin plug connector, the left turn signal and left brake lights share the same pin. The right turn signal and left turn signal share the same pin.
What else could it be other than a fuse?
i did not share this information earlier because I did not want the conversation to drift from finding the fuse panel. The fuse panel may not have a brake light fuse. Or if it does, maybe the fuse is good. At that time, I will direct my efforts to other causes.
On the toad, the tail lights, brake lights, and turn signals all work.
On the 7 pin to six pin harness, all pins have continuity.
When the toad is fully hooked up to the motohome, the tail lights and turn signals work. The left and right brake lights do not work on the toad. They all work on the motohome.
A test recepticle pluged into the 7 pin plug on the motohrome shows the left and right tail lights and left and right turn signals work. The left and right brake lights do not work.
On the 7 pin plug connector, the left turn signal and left brake lights share the same pin. The right turn signal and left turn signal share the same pin.
What else could it be other than a fuse?
i did not share this information earlier because I did not want the conversation to drift from finding the fuse panel. The fuse panel may not have a brake light fuse. Or if it does, maybe the fuse is good. At that time, I will direct my efforts to other causes.
be happy,
There is only one panel in that bay that appears to come loose.
It is pictured in post #3 above.
I have not tried to remove that panel because I have a hard time believing that Winnebago would put a fuse panel behind something that large and hard to remove. Look at all the things wired to that panel.
There is only one panel in that bay that appears to come loose.
It is pictured in post #3 above.
I have not tried to remove that panel because I have a hard time believing that Winnebago would put a fuse panel behind something that large and hard to remove. Look at all the things wired to that panel.
Morich
Senior Member
Okay, thanks for the info as it seems to match what I have found on other pushers that is different than any other car/truck I've worked. I normally expect the wiring from the back lights to meet wiring for the connector very close at the rear of the RV or car/truck.
But on pushers, I find they do not use the same wires and circuits/fuses for the lights on the rear of the RV and the connector! Instead of the connector wire for a turn signal going the short distance up to left or right turn signal wiring at the rear, I find they are run all the way to the front at least on some RV.
It's hard to sort because it is not Winnebago wiring where they give us the wiring info.
That part of the wiring is considered chassis wiring as it is wired as the chassis is built and only connected to the RV portion where they join!
And that makes it a problem for us to sort because car/truck folks do not willingly share that info. They want to keep repair work in house for their dealers!
That is what leads me to ask about the fuse box shown near the front under the black cover and listed as automotive fuses!
They are not considered part of the RV wiring , but looked at as a chassis item. That puts it over into getting the chassis builders to share the info and it often doesn't happen!
Pretty much like if we had a house built and wanted to ask the builder about the furnace. Likely they don't know!
But on pushers, I find they do not use the same wires and circuits/fuses for the lights on the rear of the RV and the connector! Instead of the connector wire for a turn signal going the short distance up to left or right turn signal wiring at the rear, I find they are run all the way to the front at least on some RV.
It's hard to sort because it is not Winnebago wiring where they give us the wiring info.
That part of the wiring is considered chassis wiring as it is wired as the chassis is built and only connected to the RV portion where they join!
And that makes it a problem for us to sort because car/truck folks do not willingly share that info. They want to keep repair work in house for their dealers!
That is what leads me to ask about the fuse box shown near the front under the black cover and listed as automotive fuses!
They are not considered part of the RV wiring , but looked at as a chassis item. That puts it over into getting the chassis builders to share the info and it often doesn't happen!
Pretty much like if we had a house built and wanted to ask the builder about the furnace. Likely they don't know!
Morich/Richard
This issue is simple. Not complicated.
Winnebago installs a separate fuse panel for the trailer 7 pin plug.
I just have to find it.
It has nothing to do with the automotive fuse panal, at the front of the motorhome, that you keep referencing.
This issue is simple. Not complicated.
Winnebago installs a separate fuse panel for the trailer 7 pin plug.
I just have to find it.
It has nothing to do with the automotive fuse panal, at the front of the motorhome, that you keep referencing.
Morich
Senior Member
l1v3fr33ord1
Just Trying to Help
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2015
- Posts
- 567
LOG-
Winnebago may have steered you incorrectly by saying the last storage bay was the "valence door."
I helped a Winnebago owner find his Freightliner fuse boxes under the rearmost panel. On his coach, it was the one with the vents on the driver side, behind the last storage/electrical bay. I saw several posts on iRV2 with pictures showing the boxes "hidden" there, which is how I got the idea to look there.
That panel had two or three screws holding it shut on the lower edge, or on the forward or trailing edges. Once removed, the panel opened upward from the bottom, on a hinge at the top. The fuse boxes were inside a small compartment in the forward end of the space covered by that panel. Found his blown fuse and he was back in business.
May be the same on your coach.
Winnebago may have steered you incorrectly by saying the last storage bay was the "valence door."
I helped a Winnebago owner find his Freightliner fuse boxes under the rearmost panel. On his coach, it was the one with the vents on the driver side, behind the last storage/electrical bay. I saw several posts on iRV2 with pictures showing the boxes "hidden" there, which is how I got the idea to look there.
That panel had two or three screws holding it shut on the lower edge, or on the forward or trailing edges. Once removed, the panel opened upward from the bottom, on a hinge at the top. The fuse boxes were inside a small compartment in the forward end of the space covered by that panel. Found his blown fuse and he was back in business.
May be the same on your coach.
Mark,
On the Winnebago Journey 34y the next to last bay on the drivers side is the electrical bay. That bay has the shore power cord, the inverter, the converter, surge protector, and a circuit breaker panel. It has one large panel that could be removed, I have written about it in an earlier post. There are no other removable panels.
The last bay on the drivers side opens up to the engine. It has the house and chassis batteries, the boost solenoid, other large solenoids, a six panel buss bar with large fuses (80 amps and larger), and three small PDM fuse boxes. There are no removable panels. From that bay you can touch the engines tiurbocharger, air filter, etc.
The engine is a rear radiator, there are no lovered panels on either side of the motorhome.
I have seen the pictures of the trailer fuse panels you referenced.
I am looking for a panel like that. So far no success.
I appreciate your response and help.
At this time I am not very happy with Freightliner and Winnebago.
On the Winnebago Journey 34y the next to last bay on the drivers side is the electrical bay. That bay has the shore power cord, the inverter, the converter, surge protector, and a circuit breaker panel. It has one large panel that could be removed, I have written about it in an earlier post. There are no other removable panels.
The last bay on the drivers side opens up to the engine. It has the house and chassis batteries, the boost solenoid, other large solenoids, a six panel buss bar with large fuses (80 amps and larger), and three small PDM fuse boxes. There are no removable panels. From that bay you can touch the engines tiurbocharger, air filter, etc.
The engine is a rear radiator, there are no lovered panels on either side of the motorhome.
I have seen the pictures of the trailer fuse panels you referenced.
I am looking for a panel like that. So far no success.
I appreciate your response and help.
At this time I am not very happy with Freightliner and Winnebago.
Morich
Senior Member
What we are finding is not what the OP reports but we can review what we see?
The info we get from labels near some of the Winnebago wiring.
Click these snips to get a better view!
Note at the Winnebago wiring says chassis items and wiring are under the rear valance door.
Looking at the parts drawings, we find this ID for the rear door and it is ID'd as valance door!
When we look back at some of the electrical info, we see wiring and parts shaded in but not much info as it is considered chassis, not Winnebago wiring.
At that point, I'm out of info on where to look!
But there are times when we get a difference in each years drawings, so I went to the 2011 just for luck and get a slightly different drawing where we get more details.
For this year they drew t in the same spot but with better detail.
That lets us zoom in and get a better look at the chassis wiring, even though Winnebago doesn't tell us much about it.
But this close up of what Winnebago tells us is there, really seems like they show three fuse boxes of the type I expect to find in automotive work. The little tab latches on the right side to flip open.
But what DO you have in that last compartment ? Where you find things doesn't seem to match the bays as the drawings show them.
You mention having 3 PDM fuse boxes? What is in those fuse boxes as that seems where I would expect these fuses?
EDIT for added thought?
Are there any signs of the RV being damaged and this corner rebuilt? Possibly they damaged the lowest rearmost door and did not replace it but just added a cover instead. That might leave your door count off from OEM and the fuse boxes buried forever behind a sheet metal panel?
The info we get from labels near some of the Winnebago wiring.
Click these snips to get a better view!
Note at the Winnebago wiring says chassis items and wiring are under the rear valance door.
Looking at the parts drawings, we find this ID for the rear door and it is ID'd as valance door!
When we look back at some of the electrical info, we see wiring and parts shaded in but not much info as it is considered chassis, not Winnebago wiring.
At that point, I'm out of info on where to look!
But there are times when we get a difference in each years drawings, so I went to the 2011 just for luck and get a slightly different drawing where we get more details.
For this year they drew t in the same spot but with better detail.
That lets us zoom in and get a better look at the chassis wiring, even though Winnebago doesn't tell us much about it.
But this close up of what Winnebago tells us is there, really seems like they show three fuse boxes of the type I expect to find in automotive work. The little tab latches on the right side to flip open.
But what DO you have in that last compartment ? Where you find things doesn't seem to match the bays as the drawings show them.
You mention having 3 PDM fuse boxes? What is in those fuse boxes as that seems where I would expect these fuses?
EDIT for added thought?
Are there any signs of the RV being damaged and this corner rebuilt? Possibly they damaged the lowest rearmost door and did not replace it but just added a cover instead. That might leave your door count off from OEM and the fuse boxes buried forever behind a sheet metal panel?
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Morich,
The Winnebago Journey operators manual for 2011 and 2015 show a picture of a trailer fuse box. The 2012, 2013, and 2014 do not show a picure of a trailer fuse box. They show a picture of those 3 PDM fuse boxes. One of the three PDM boxes has a 20 amp left turn signal fuse and a 20 amp right turn signal fuse. But no Stop Light Or Brake Light fuse.
The 2012 manual states "Towing Package Fuses", shows a picture of the three PDM fuse boses. It then states "See chassis manufactures information on the inside of cover." I removed the cover of one of the PDM boxes, the one with the turn signal fuses, and there was no information inside the cover.
I really do not know if the 2012 Journey has a trailer fuse box. I have not been able to locate one. But I have also not been able to find any Stop Light or Tail Light trailer fuses.
The Winnebago Journey operators manual for 2011 and 2015 show a picture of a trailer fuse box. The 2012, 2013, and 2014 do not show a picure of a trailer fuse box. They show a picture of those 3 PDM fuse boxes. One of the three PDM boxes has a 20 amp left turn signal fuse and a 20 amp right turn signal fuse. But no Stop Light Or Brake Light fuse.
The 2012 manual states "Towing Package Fuses", shows a picture of the three PDM fuse boses. It then states "See chassis manufactures information on the inside of cover." I removed the cover of one of the PDM boxes, the one with the turn signal fuses, and there was no information inside the cover.
I really do not know if the 2012 Journey has a trailer fuse box. I have not been able to locate one. But I have also not been able to find any Stop Light or Tail Light trailer fuses.
Last edited:
Morich
Senior Member
This is just a problem when it says it is there but not finding it. The owners manual does seem to agree with what the drawings show, so I have to go with that being correct on the location.
A towing or trailer fuse would not seem to fit any other item that I can think of other than the trailer connector!
So if we go with both drawings and manual telling us this is the place they put the fuses, it may take some deeper digging to find which one does what. If there are no labels, the easy way seems out of reach!
This is what it tells us about where they are located.
And this is a picture that looks very much like what the drawing shows should be there.
I would have to drop back to pulling the covers on these boxes to find what is inside. If it is fuses, I would hope for labels in at least one of the covers.
If no luck on the easy way, it may take some deeper work. Maybe start with assuming it works at one time, so check ALL the fuses with a meter to see voltage both on the going in and going out as we can miss blown ones by just looking for burned ones.
If there are any missing fuses, I might then put a meter on the connector pin and use a spare fuse or a short wire to bridge across the contacts where the fuse might be missing. You are not likely to harm anything by just touching a contact for long enough to let the meter jump up to a reading. If no reading in a couple seconds, take the bridge off and move to the next one! Not wanting to leave it there long enough to overheat anything in case of a ground, etc. on some of the wires that are not used/unfused!
We're really down to all things saying it is there but finding exactly where and which fuse is still not clear.
The only other option seems to be to take it by Freightliner and let them take a look?
A signal tracing tone like used for IT work might let you trace it but I don't have much luck on auto stuff and doing that. Experienced auto repair techs might have better luck but that's not easy for me to recommend.
A towing or trailer fuse would not seem to fit any other item that I can think of other than the trailer connector!
So if we go with both drawings and manual telling us this is the place they put the fuses, it may take some deeper digging to find which one does what. If there are no labels, the easy way seems out of reach!
This is what it tells us about where they are located.
And this is a picture that looks very much like what the drawing shows should be there.
I would have to drop back to pulling the covers on these boxes to find what is inside. If it is fuses, I would hope for labels in at least one of the covers.
If no luck on the easy way, it may take some deeper work. Maybe start with assuming it works at one time, so check ALL the fuses with a meter to see voltage both on the going in and going out as we can miss blown ones by just looking for burned ones.
If there are any missing fuses, I might then put a meter on the connector pin and use a spare fuse or a short wire to bridge across the contacts where the fuse might be missing. You are not likely to harm anything by just touching a contact for long enough to let the meter jump up to a reading. If no reading in a couple seconds, take the bridge off and move to the next one! Not wanting to leave it there long enough to overheat anything in case of a ground, etc. on some of the wires that are not used/unfused!
We're really down to all things saying it is there but finding exactly where and which fuse is still not clear.
The only other option seems to be to take it by Freightliner and let them take a look?
A signal tracing tone like used for IT work might let you trace it but I don't have much luck on auto stuff and doing that. Experienced auto repair techs might have better luck but that's not easy for me to recommend.
Those three boxes have listed on the outside what fuses/relays are inside. I pulled the one that said left turn/right turn fuses on the outside. Nothing was written on the cover on the inside. It appears they are not the fuses for the 7 pin tailer plug on the bumper.
It is my hope that a forum member with a 2012 or later Journey will post if they have a trailer fuse box and say where it is located.
It is my hope that a forum member with a 2012 or later Journey will post if they have a trailer fuse box and say where it is located.
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