Annual Trailer Light frustration!!

[RandyFish]

Guys,

I am going through my usual trailer light frustration:

I cannot get them to work properly...right now the lights will go on when I put the vehicle in park, but I get no brake lights and only blinker....any suggestions....

I know this sounds like a "Ground" situation...I have changed bulbs, replaced the harness from the vehicle (the old one was corroded) and those recepticles are working properly....

...is there anyoen else who fights this, and what is the secret to getting a harness that works properly...

Any help would be appreciated: This has become my "holy grail" of the spring.

[wormburner]

I think you already mentioned that you checked the harness, but you can run a hot wire to the plug on the trailer and check it that way, my advice would be start from square one again, checking the the plug coming from the vehicle with a test light, then put a hotwire to the plug on the trailer, touching the pins seperatly seeing what happens. The final answer is, change "all" your lights to sealed beam lights, get out of the bulb era. Those bulbs, will drive you nuts, they will work fine, then all at once there out!

just my two cents!

[MossBoss95]

I hope you get this fixed before opener. But I just want to tell you about my trailer. It is a trailstar and have had it for ten years, I have never replaced a light and never had a problem with the wiring, freak of nature. I really didnt think about this untile now. I have put many trips on it throught the years and will probally jinx myself for talking about it but pretty good trailer.

[cabin boy]

Sounds rather simplistic, but check and then check again that you have the right bulbs in. I think they should be # 1157. I do speak from experience!

[barnyard]

I replaced ALL the wires in my trailer a couple of years ago. Most of the wires had nicks and a couple had really big melted spots. I grounded each light and ran all the wires throughflex tube so that the wires would be better prtected.

Tom B

[Tonka Boy]

No matter how you look at it, there really isn't a good trailer light system on the market. If a guy ever invented one that worked right, he be a billionaire!!

...or you could be lucky like Mossboss95.

[JPSavage]

I just replaced the entire wiring harness and lights on my rig and did it work ??...NOT!....After checking the installation, I restarted with the most common cause of my lighting problems over the years, the plug ins....Sure enuff , The adapter plug in to the truck had a broken ground and a corroded contact.....Works great now....Sometimes the plug ins look fine , however, a bit of cleaning and a little grease and all is well.....Off to the lake!!!!!!!!

[jps]

Anyone tried LED lights on their boat trailer? TIA jps

[Bobby Bass]

99% of all light problems are grounds. The other 1% is cuz you got your wife mad at you and she is getting you back in only the unforseen way that a wife can....I replace my harness connectors every year on my trailers. I don't even play around with MN weather they just don't last. Cut the old ones out, solder your connections and then apply shrink wrap tape. It does not take much at all to pinch or scrape off the wiring insulation and there is your bare wire waiting to play with you at 10pm 50 miles from home with the Sherif behind you....PS did you know that boat electrical wiring is a favorite snack for rabbits? I used to blame my dogs now I make sure I don't leave any of my harness out to be chewed on.

[fish-n-geek]

I keep a tube of No-Ox or Ox-Gard (dielectric grease) in my electrical toolbox. Fill the plug on the truck with it a couple times a year. Gets "shared" with all the trailer harnesses and keeps my contacts from turning green in the winter.

-r-