'06 Silverado 2500HD Tow Hitch Upgrade

[Dougster]

For reasons related to my recent dump trailer double tire blowout and associated cop/legal troubles, I have decided to go overboard and, among other things, upgrade my stock GM tow hitch to a Putnam XDR Class V receiver hitch; the strongest, highest rated hitch in the industry for this truck. The cost is amazingly cheap through Amazon and installation is dirt simple, but I don't know what to do about the stock GM/Pollak 7-pin electrical socket. This GM/Pollak socket uses a proprietary OEM "snap-in" metal bracket that is welded to the stock hitch now being replaced. I can't seem to find a similar replacement bracket through GM or the hitch OEM supplier (Northern Stampings). I tried to grind it off to re-use it somehow, but it came off all bent & nasty.

For other GM pickup owners that have replaced/upgraded their tow hitches... what have you done about the stock electrical socket & bracket? Did you find a replacement bracket that fit the stock socket? Or did you replace the whole stock socket with a new one? If so, were you able to re-use any of the stock electrical connection components... or was it a "cut wires and replace from scratch" kind of job?

Dougster

 

[RollTideRam]

Differant truck, but ran into the same problem when I put a Putnam hitch on my Dodge. We have a local place the sells truck accessories. Don't remember the brand name, but bought a bracket for the plug, popped my plug apart and put it on the new bracket. Its not factory but it works. JC

 

[Dougster]

Differant truck, but ran into the same problem when I put a Putnam hitch on my Dodge. We have a local place the sells truck accessories. Don't remember the brand name, but bought a bracket for the plug, popped my plug apart and put it on the new bracket. Its not factory but it works. JC

I too bought a new generic 7-pin socket bracket, but the proprietary GM/Pollak socket doesn't fit into it. The generic brackets are made with a 2" center hole and various screw holes while the GM/Pollak socket is "insert and twist into place" (I should have taken a picture to post). In other words, it doesn't just insert into a round hole nor is it held in place by screws.

I see two possible solutions: Find a new "insert and twist" style bracket (unlikely)... or replace the GM/Pollak socket with aftermarket... and in the more likely case of the latter, I'd like to know if the GM/Pollak connection components (located behind it's socket face) will fit any new generic 7-pin socket.

Dougster

 

[Builder]

I too bought a new generic 7-pin socket bracket, but the proprietary GM/Pollak socket doesn't fit into it. The generic brackets are made with a 2" center hole and various screw holes while the GM/Pollak socket is "insert and twist into place" (I should have taken a picture to post). In other words, it doesn't just insert into a round hole nor is it held in place by screws.

I see two possible solutions: Find a new "insert and twist" style bracket (unlikely)... or replace the GM/Pollak socket with aftermarket... and in the more likely case of the latter, I'd like to know if the GM/Pollak connection components (located behind it's socket face) will fit any new generic 7-pin socket.

Dougster

Doug,

First: Congrats on the trailer hitch choice! The Putnam is the finest & strongest in the industry! I love my XDR!

I will look at my 7 pin plug today. It came with the truck body so I had no choice of which one.

I would suggest the ones sold at believe it or not,,,,, Wal Mart! They sell a really nice 7 pin and 4 pin flat combo set up. Both plugs have great snap on covers. I put one in my IH dumptruck and I love it. I think it's the only thing I ever bought at Wal Mart that I liked!

 

[Dk45_Jeff]

I needed to upgrade my 2500HD to pull a 6 ton pintle hitch trailer and ordered a Reese tow beast yesterday. But I still have my market survey results handy. Putnum makes a bracket, part number 40096. Reese sells a bracket, P/N: 20012, and plug that reuses the stock wiring, 20015.


-- Whoops, edited plug part number

 

[Dougster]

Doug, First: Congrats on the trailer hitch choice! The Putnam is the finest & strongest in the industry! I love my XDR! I will look at my 7 pin plug today. It came with the truck body so I had no choice of which one. I would suggest the ones sold at believe it or not,,,,, Wal Mart! They sell a really nice 7 pin and 4 pin flat combo set up. Both plugs have great snap on covers. I put one in my IH dumptruck and I love it. I think it's the only thing I ever bought at Wal Mart that I liked!

Ideally, I'd love to mount the t-pin socket up on the bumper opposite side but same position as the spare tire crankdown access cover... but I really don't care. I'm just trying to avoid rewiring a new socket from scratch. There just ain't that much wire back there if I have to cut it all and reconnect... no room for error or repositioning! Much better if I can find an adapter or new socket that uses the GM/Pollak connector somehow. I'll check out Walmart this weekend. Thanks for the tip!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

I needed to upgrade my 2500HD to pull a 6 ton pintle hitch trailer and ordered a Reese tow beast yesterday. But I still have my market survey results handy. Putnum makes a bracket, part number 40096. Reese sells a bracket, P/N: 20012, and plug that reuses the stock wiring, 20012.

Very cool Jeff! Thanks for the research. I'll check out those part numbers and see if they make my life a little easier!

Dougster

 

[Redbug]

Hi Doug,

I also have an 06 2500HD GMC and had installed a Putnam XDR. I used a 4 inch angle grinder and removed the original bracket from the wimpy OEM receiver and welded it on the Putnam. I prehung the receiver, checking the bracket's position...and then welded it on before bolting the new receiver on the truck...to avoid any problems from welding and the truck's computer system. If you have a welder...that's what I would do.

 

[Dougster]

Hi Doug, I also have an 06 2500HD GMC and had installed a Putnam XDR. I used a 4 inch angle grinder and removed the original bracket from the wimpy OEM receiver and welded it on the Putnam. I prehung the receiver, checking the bracket's position...and then welded it on before bolting the new receiver on the truck...to avoid any problems from welding and the truck's computer system. If you have a welder...that's what I would do.

Hi Dave - Yeah, you did it right. I tried to use a pneumatic die grinder and just messed it up bad. I was trying to separate and save BOTH the hitch and the bracket... successful on one but not on the other.

I wonder if Chevy sells that welded socket bracket separately???

Dougster

 

[George2615]

I know Chevy sells the twist out plug since I had to buy one for my 05 already. one Pin corroded and broke off on me. They probably have a twist on bracket too. They have to replace them somehow when people get in accidents or simply bend them up by backing into something.

 

[Dougster]

I know Chevy sells the twist out plug since I had to buy one for my 05 already. one Pin corroded and broke off on me. They probably have a twist on bracket too. They have to replace them somehow when people get in accidents or simply bend them up by backing into something.

I hope you're right about the bracket George. I'll have to check next week. Local Chevy dealership is totally useless, but I know a dealership not too far away that will know for sure.

Dougster

 

[plowking]

I think the pig tails on trailer trucks might be the same as what your looking for. On them you slide weather cover or boot off back of socket, the wires are held in their terminals with set screws. My son-in-law has both , pintle hook and fifth wheel, his plug is on left fenderwell in bed. He had a cord made with ends to reach whatever trailer he hauls. plowking

 

[VA_Joe]

I hope you're right about the bracket George. I'll have to check next week. Local Chevy dealership is totally useless, but I know a dealership not too far away that will know for sure.

Dougster

Please let us know what you find out.

Joe

 

[Dougster]

Please let us know what you find out.
Joe

Will do Joe. But if they don't have one, I think I'll try to find a large enough standard bracket with the 2" hole already there... and then "nibble" in the correct shape for the GM/Pollak twist-in socket.

That's probably gonna be the best I can do.

Dougster

 

[wushaw]

When I had my 3500 I just cut the bracket off and bolted it to an "L" angle and just riveted it to the reciever hitch with steel rivets.
Oh and I did break the OEM hitch doing something it really was not designed to do.

 

[Dougster]

When I had my 3500 I just cut the bracket off and bolted it to an "L" angle and just riveted it to the reciever hitch with steel rivets. Oh and I did break the OEM hitch doing something it really was not designed to do.

I should have been more careful removing that unique socket bracket. I should have said to "heck" with the hitch... save the "dang" bracket at all costs! But instead, I kinda went the other way.

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

Please let us know what you find out.
Joe

Well, according to a Chevy dealer parts guy that I have used in the past and tend to trust... the brackets for the GM/Pollak twist-on 7-pin sockets are NOT available separately.

Not good news at all.

Dougster

 

[Highbeam]

I replaced the OEM 7 pin/4 pin on my 2001 GMC with the walmart replacement. It comes with the wire connections already made to the socket and pigtails to solder/butt connect to the original trailer wires.

I love it. It looks just like OEM and was easy as pie. The extra wire solves your issue with insufficient length.

On my 98 GM pickup I removed a license plate light bulb assembly and enlarged the hole to accept a 7 pin connector as you described it looks similar to the spare tire lowering hole. Works very well too.

 

[Dougster]

I replaced the OEM 7 pin/4 pin on my 2001 GMC with the walmart replacement. It comes with the wire connections already made to the socket and pigtails to solder/butt connect to the original trailer wires. I love it. It looks just like OEM and was easy as pie. The extra wire solves your issue with insufficient length. On my 98 GM pickup I removed a license plate light bulb assembly and enlarged the hole to accept a 7 pin connector as you described it looks similar to the spare tire lowering hole. Works very well too.

I hate like heck to be splicing wires back there... so I'm going to continue looking for something that will accept the stock GM harness plug or even use the back half of the GM/Pollack socket assembly. I might even go visit Pollak... they aren't that far away from where I live... and camp out on their doorstep until they come up with an easy solution for me!

Dougster

 

[davkir]

I extended the wire harness on a 2003 GMC to mount a 7pin receptacle in the truck bed for a gooseneck trailer. The local trailer parts store had a variety of these adapters. The one I used had a plug the went into the truck harness and another that went to the back of the original receptacle. It had a 5 or 6 ft. cable that went to the new receptacle in the bed.
I don't remember the exact price, but it seems like it was $40-$50.