trailer lights

[Adrian Morris]

got new lights and harness for my Hunter 19 trailer
I connected the wires as recommended and the flashers and turn signals work but the brake lights and tailligts dont
i cleaned the terminals on the towing vehicle connection
Any suggestions? thanks

 

[Joe11688]

got new lights and harness for my Hunter 19 trailer
I connected the wires as recommended and the flashers and turn signals work but the brake lights and tailligts dont
i cleaned the terminals on the towing vehicle connection
Any suggestions? thanks

I would try adding an extra ground wire. I've always ran an extra ground wire to one of the bolts of each light using a crimp type terminal connector and tie it into the ground on the four prong trailer connector. Make sure that you have a good ground coming from the towing vehicle.

 

[Adrian Morris]

thanks

I will try this tonite

 

[MrUnix]

Trailer lights can be a PITA at times.. and most of the time it is due to a grounding issue.. however, before doing anything on the trailer, get a meter or one of them plug in doo-hickeys with the led lights and verify that you have proper voltages at the vehicle connection.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[caguy]

Your brake and turn lights are the same circuit and bulb filament. Check the wires at the connector. Sometimes the diagrams are confusing because they show you an inside out view and a mirror image. Check with your meter which is your brake and turn light connector they should be the same one. You will notice that the brown wires run down both sides of the frame, those are your tail lights. The green and yellow are your right and left turn signals. I doubt that it is your ground if your turn lights are working.
Here are some nice diagrams.

 

[dscribner]

If you have separate turn signal and brake light wire on the tow vehicle, you'll need to install an adapter. It's about $15, available just about anywhere. If anything at all lights up, I'd bet dollars to donuts that grounding is not the issue. On the recommendation of a marine warden that I met, I bought a 100 foot, outdoor extention cord and used that. I ran one leg through each frame tube, spliced and sealed everything at the coupler. Now, the sheilded green wires are the ground, the black wires are the brown wire, and the white wire is the yellow on one side and the green on the other. It works great, cost very little and bypasses any bad ground.

 

[greenminnow]

Alot of imports and some domestic vehicles need a special converter in the coupler from the vehicle to make the trailer lights work. Most all auto parts stores would be able to let you know if you need one based on the vehicle you drive. They are about $30.00 of course. Brian

 

[woodster]

got new lights and harness for my Hunter 19 trailer
I connected the wires as recommended and the flashers and turn signals work but the brake lights and tailligts dont
i cleaned the terminals on the towing vehicle connection
Any suggestions? thanks

do you have break lights that also work as turnsignals all in one bulb.....or do you have break lights that work on a seprate bulb from your turn signals...e/i like on a toyota or other auto that has amber turn signals....if so you may have to buy an adaptor for the auto to convert the system to work on your us style trailer lights...wesbar corp has been making them for years ....i used to sell them for $25.00 installed back in the 1970's.....

regards

woody

 

[Adrian Morris]

i do have separate turn signals amber that is
does that mean i need an adapter
where do you get the adapter?

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Anywhere that sells the trailer light sets should have the adapter. Try any auto parts store. -Paul

 

[Adrian Morris]

adapter

does the adapter plug in or do i need to rewire the vehicle?

 

[woodster]

look under WES BAR products on line they will have it i am sure......if it wires in its no big deal you just splice the new wires into the ones on your auto per their instructions...hope this helps

regards

woody

 

[Adrian Morris]

adapter

thanks I didnt see it on the website
I bought a tester and will test the circuits fiirst
I did see one in walmart but it wires in

 

[greenminnow]

The converter is normally always in the plug wire set that is wired to the vehicle. It is a small plastic box included with the vehicle pigtail. This is the part that runs around $30.00 Brian

 

[Adrian Morris]

wiring

thanks is this something i will have to add onto the vehicle?

 

[John23883]

Universal adapter

This is a universal adapter that I used on my brother-in-laws car. This type is used if they don't make one specific for your vehicle. As you can see it has plastic covered clips that use pliers to connect to the wires. Very easy. More likely there is an adapter that fits your vehicle exactly and has connectors and all you do is unsnap the connectors in your vehicle and snap these in place.

http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Wiring/Hyundai/Accent/2005/119175KIT.html?vehicleid=20055528

This company is very good and most auto supply places have them or any place such as u-haul also sells them.

The auto supply place can order a vehicle specific if they do not have in stock or order online from the above.

 

[Timo42]

This is a universal adapter that I used on my brother-in-laws car. This type is used if they don't make one specific for your vehicle. As you can see it has plastic covered clips that use pliers to connect to the wires. Very easy. More likely there is an adapter that fits your vehicle exactly and has connectors and all you do is unsnap the connectors in your vehicle and snap these in place.

http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Wiring/Hyundai/Accent/2005/119175KIT.html?vehicleid=20055528

This company is very good and most auto supply places have them or any place such as u-haul also sells them.

The auto supply place can order a vehicle specific if they do not have in stock or order online from the above.

I would strongly recommend that if you use the universal kit, the first thing you do is toss the Scotchloks into the trash, they have no place in a connection exposed to the elements. Most likely you can get the type that plugs into the vehicle harness, but if not, the heatshrink crimp connectors are the best way to go. I have seen more intermittent problems caused by those things.

 

[timebandit]

Since you don't mention what you are towing with, may I sugest the the dealer?

got new lights and harness for my Hunter 19 trailer
I connected the wires as recommended and the flashers and turn signals work but the brake lights and tailligts dont
i cleaned the terminals on the towing vehicle connection
Any suggestions? thanks

 

[Freedom77]

In my 40+ years of trailer sailing I have discovered that trailer lights should not be attached to the trailer. A couple of times in salt water and they are history and they will short out in a heartbeat. I constructed a light bar from aluminum unistrut, (or something similar), about the same spread as the spacing on the trailer not to exceed 8 ft. with wiring that runs over the top of the boat and connects to the car. I then rigged the bar to attach to the transom rail.. Bungess work fine. This also pushes the lights further back and higher for more visibilty. If your yacht extends more than a few feet past the lights you may also be liable for a ticket from your local mounties if you don't have a red light attached to the top of your mast. Got one in the old days. Also if your plug gets underwater it can corrode. I've always wired mine inside the trunk. It keeps it dry and safe. Hope I helpled. Fair winds.