Flat Mounting Bracket — Small Round Metal Trailer Socket

Q: What's a "small round metal socket"?
A: It's one of the three 7-pin trailer connector styles used in Australia. "Small round" means the compact round body (as opposed to the large round truck-style socket or the flat SAE J560 style), and "metal" is the metal-cased version (plastic is the lighter, cheaper variant). This bracket is for the metal version.

Q: What does "flat bracket" mean compared to angled?
A: A flat bracket sits flush against a flat surface, so the socket points straight back from whatever it's mounted on. An angled bracket has a bend in it, usually about 15 degrees, so the socket faces down and the plug sits at an angle. Flat is simpler and takes less room; angled makes the plug easier to grab and keeps rain off the pin face.

Q: Will this bracket fit my 7-pin small round socket?
A: It fits any standard 7-pin small round metal socket with an 87mm body. That covers the Elevate socket, Narva's 82062/82063 style, Baxters, KT Cables and most generic equivalents. If your socket has a square flange or a clip-on back, check the body diameter against the 87mm cutout before ordering.

Q: Does it fit the plastic version of the socket?
A: No. The plastic small round socket uses a slightly different mounting diameter and a different retaining method, so this metal-specific bracket won't hold it square. Use the plastic-socket bracket in our range for that.

Q: What bolts do I need to fit it?
A: Fasteners aren't supplied. Four M5 or M6 bolts with washers do the job, through to captive nuts, riv-nuts or self-tapping screws into steel. Match the length to the thickness of the mounting face plus the plate (2mm).

Q: Does it need any wiring?
A: No. The bracket is just the mounting plate. The socket itself carries the wiring; the bracket holds the socket body in place.

Q: Where does it mount on the trailer?
A: Usually on the drawbar, trailer A-frame, rear bar or chassis cross-member. Anywhere flat with enough clearance behind for the wiring tail to come out of the back of the socket and run to the junction box.

Q: Will it rust?
A: The zinc-plated finish holds up to road grime, water and salt spray reasonably well, but any pressed-steel bracket under a trailer eventually sees some surface rust around chips or drill marks. Touch up bare metal with cold-galv spray or clear lacquer if you want to extend its life, especially on boat trailers.

Q: What are the overall dimensions?
A: 94mm wide across the plate, with an 87mm cutout for the socket body and 2mm plate thickness. Total weight is 100 grams.

Q: When should I pick the angled version instead?
A: Pick the angled version when the mounting face isn't flat, like a round bar, a shaped box section, or anywhere the socket would end up pointing at the ground or sky. The angle also helps on vertical mounts where you want the plug to fall away from the socket face so rain drips off the pins rather than into them. The matching product in our range is linked above.