12 Pin NATO Plug

[Jonnooh]

Hi, I have just bought a perentie (it hasn't arrived yet!) and need to be able to tow a trailer. Rather than changing the socket I would rather make up an adaptor from NATO to 7 pin. Anybody out there have a plug? They seem very expensive new. Thanks, Jon.

[Aussie Jeepster]

I guess I'd have to ask what is "expensive"?
You can buy new for under $150, but it might be a long wait before one come up secondhand.
There is a local supplier - Cambridge Technologies, where I got mine from.
http://www.cambridgetechnologies.com.au/vg96923b3-12p

[Mick_Marsh]

I have a plug. You'd have to pay what I paid for it though.
Either that or buy a No5 trailer from the auctions.

[Jonnooh]

Yes, I would say that $150 is expensive for a plug....and I'm not sure if buying a whole trailer so that I could salvage the plug would be an efficient way of getting one....I might see what Mick wants for his...

[Ravvin]

Here's another option.
Buy half a metre of 7-wire trailer cable and a flat socket to suit. Peel the covering back on the cable that runs to the NATO socket, work out which 7 wires you need and use joiners/solder and heatshrink and tap into them. If you insulate it well you shouldn't get shorts or corrosion of the wires and you can mount it somewhere in the open or tuck it up underneath if you want it to be inconspicuous.
Whole job would take and hour and around $20. Also, if you ever need to tow something with a NATO plug, you still have the original connected.

Greg.

[Jonnooh]

Hi Greg, yes I could do a piggy back thing like you suggest, but I would rather not muck around with the original wiring, socket included..... even if it costs $150.

[Mick_Marsh]

You of course realise the 6x6 not only had a 12 pin military socket but also had a five pin round socket. I wonder if some of the 4x4s had similar?

[Jonnooh]

No Mick, I've no idea what the 6x6 have......!  I have seen the wiring diagrams but there is no mention of a 5 pin socket....

[juddy]

In this day and age $150 is a fair price for a specialist type plug.

Never seen a 5 pin on a 4x4, but what would the reason be for the 6x6? would the army have a linette type trailer with a 5 pin connector.

[Mick_Marsh]

Why is it there?
To plug things in, of course.

[hodgo]

I have a brand new one still in sealed plastic bag I think your for $100 plus postage

[Sixty]

The 'fat' trailer plug was used to connect the modules (GMV / ERV / AMBO) to the vehicle.