7 pin connector help?? Doing this right??

Hi 4Runner group. Thanks for accepting me into your group. I own a 2013 4Runner. Couple of years ago bought an old pull behind 17 ft camper, with the goal of traveling around the country to fly fish. I'm still getting used to pulling the trailer, and that's a learning curve for sure. I'm very mechanical, own a big piece of property, and maintain most of my machines. I say this to preface my comment: why the heck were the 7 and 4 pin wiring connectors put into such a hard to reach place on the 4Runner??? I don't actually expect you to answer that question... but my question is this: the length of the electric hookup from the camper for the 7 pin is too short. When driving, the cord un-attaches, leaving me with no lights. I can buy an extender. Would you recommend this approach vs trying to splice in a receptacle replacement plug to a longer cord? Easier? Safe?
I don't work on this vehicle, except to change light bulbs, etc.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
MLD

 

I think it's to protect them because on my Tacoma they were 90 degrees to the bumper and I smashed them while wheeling.

I'd do this.

 

Try typing this in a Google search:

Relocating 5th Gen trailer connector site:4runners.com/

I saw 7 or 8 threads come up about this.

This one seemed particularly helpful, as it pertained to your exact situation:

https://www.4runners.com/threads/tucked-position-of-4-runner-trailer-harness.31340/

 

If the electrical connector from the trailer goes into a junction box on the frame or somewhere near the tongue, I would simply buy a longer piece of wire and a connector, remove the old, install the new. This way all of your connections are out of the weather and you're not splicing in two places to add wire. You do get used to where the connection is on the 4R. In fact it's to the point now where I can connect without looking.

 

Yeah, just buy a short extension cable & take it off when not needed. Amazon has many lengths available.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=trailer+...iler+extension+cable,aps,123&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

 

But that doesn't solve crawling under the bumper for the initial hookup.

 

I can reach mine without crawling under. Once you've done it a few times, you don't even need to look. I just find that in it's current location, my trailer wiring is too short.