M100 trailer socket question. ID.

[mutt and jeff]

I know the M416 is the trailer of choice for the M151 series, but I've got a question about an M100 that might carry over. The early M100's had a seperate umbilical cord that connected the trailer to the vehicle. And, when not in use, would be stored in a front panel mounted box. The trailer socket was mounted down in the lower passenger side of the trailer. The later versions all had the holes for this socket, but no socket or storage box attached. The brackets for the storage box were welded from the factory and they were usually bent flat against the front panel to prevent injury. Anyway, I found two 12 pin mail pin sockets in my parts stash and was wondering if these were those trailer mounted sockets, or some other power socket used with Packard connectors? All the sockets I have seen on vehicles themselves are female sockets.

Any help appreciated. And, if these are the correct trailer sockets, any leads on obtaining the actual umbilical cord would also be appreciated. I have an early M100 in the bone yard and this would make a nice restoration project that could go behind my M38, M38A1 or either of my two M151's as trailers and jeeps frequently overlapped production dates.

trailer socket 1.JPG

[SturmTyger380]

leads on obtaining the actual umbilical cord - I have seen them around. Since the trailer connectors are standard, cords were made with double male ends for lots of applications. So, you might find a double male cable that might be a little long. Just keep looking at shows and flea markets, one will show up eventually.

Re-doing my M100 is on my long list of to do projects. Of course it had a tailgate added.

[SturmTyger380]

Vintage Wiring says they have one. https://vintagewiring.com/product/trail ... cable-nos/

[mutt and jeff]

The link appears to go to the later, hard wired to the tongue umbilical cord, but I have sent an inquiry to them about the early dual plug connection cord. Will let you know. Also asked them about if it would be male/male 12 pin or male/female 12 pin. Perhaps that will answer my original question about these two sockets.

[rickf]

It seems that with these two items and a cable you could build your own? This vendor is sold out but someone must have them.

https://www.bigmikesmotorpool.com/colle ... -ms75020-1
https://www.bigmikesmotorpool.com/colle ... -ms75020-2

[mutt and jeff]

I have a few of the direct wired cables in various conditions that I guess I could cobble another connector to the rear end, or I could ask Vintage wiring to put one together if they have the materials to put a connector on one end, they can put one on the other end and insure that all the pins line up with each other. I'm still at my starting point of making sure that the socket at the trailer end is male or female pins. Perhaps VW will know. I think I may have a parts manual around here that should show the part number for the trailer mounted socket and see if it is the same as the vehicle mounted socket, then go from there.

[rickf]

Yea well, I don't have much time for Vintage Wiring. They sell a wiring harness for a M38A1 for around 600.00 and a wiring harness for a M151A1 for 1400.00 and what is the difference between those two harnesses? Very, very little besides demand! I do not like to deal with greedy people. JMHO. If it works for other people fine.

[Mark]

I bought a wiring harness for a m416 trailer, which had no ends on it(the seller forgot to mention that) so I put some ends on it, which was a time consuming process.The old time conectors were called douglas?

[mutt and jeff]

The metal shell connectors are Douglas connectors and the hard rubber male and female connectors are Packard connectors. Don't know the exact date, but sometime in the late '50's or early '60's the military switched over. M38's have Douglas and early M38A1's have Douglas and later production has Douglas. Just something to keep in mind if you are purchasing used tail lights or gauges and you need to be aware of what connectors are on them. I think a Packard connector can be made to fit a Douglas, but not the other way around, but don't quote me on that.

VW is the kind of gold standard, but you pay for it and I don't know other than NOS, who else is doing complete wiring harnesses. And, do you really want a 60 year old NOS wiring harness on your jeep? The young couple in AL that purchased VW from Maine are doing the best they can, IMO, but still call the previous owner to answer difficult question.

[rickf]

Like I said, the harness for a M38A1 and a 151A1 are almost identical, how do you justify the double price? I sort of hoped when they bought the company from Hall they would bring prices more in line but mope, they not only did not do that, they increased the prices on the 151. They are not the only ones, Zenith has done the same thing to me on carb kits. Over the last 5 years the price of a kit has doubled. And there are less parts in a 151 kit than in most other kits half the price. Supply and demand. And VW KNOWS there are NO NOS A1 kits out there, there are NOS A2 kits, which is what I am going to use. They could make a sale to me and make a profit if only they brought the prices in line. You may sell one kit at 1400.00 or 10 at 650.00. Well, It is not my business to run, I wish them the best.

[mutt and jeff]

Haven't heard a peep from Vintage Wiring. I'll wait till after the holidays and then give them a call to see if they can shed some light on my issue. I'm leaning towards these two connectors being Humvee auxilllary power connections of some sort, not M100 socket. I'm still not sure if the M100 trailer uses the same connector as an M38 or M38A1 jeep and the cord is female on both ends, but identical, or if it's something all together different.

[rickf]

Have you checked on the G503 on the M38 section? That might have some answers.