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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Are trailer lights suposed to work?

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Stumpalump

02-08-2008 22:57:29




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What do I have to do to get trailer lights to work 100% of the time? Bulbs burn ,corode or break.Cheap plastic housings bust if you back into a twig. Wires rub thru and short to the frame or mice eat them. Allways at night or in the rain right when you need it the most they allways seem to fail. I've been pulling all sorts of trailers for 25 years and have fixed lights 100 times. Dang! I'm gonna fix what I have in the morning again but then I want to redo it nuclear bomb proof. Any sugestions? 18' flatbed.

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ChrisB

02-17-2008 17:05:58




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Red Dave, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  

Jim in Ma. said: (quoted from post at 09:31:18 02/09/08) The last time I rebuilt my 5th wheel, I used LED with positive ground-soldered connections and shrink tube and have not had any problems. That was about 5 or 6 years ago.


Would love to now what you are using to tow a positively grounded trailer?

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jose bagge

02-16-2008 21:13:50




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
freakin' trailer lights and wiring are some kind of black art anyway. Get this: trailer is Featherlight and wiring is perfect; hooked to my motorhome. Right rear turn signal bulb on the motor home works loose, so what happens in the alchemy world of trailer wiring? TRAILER BRAKES APPLY WHEN I HIT THE LEFT SIDE TURN SIGNAL. Sure made merging onto 95 a dream- I thought the motor home was taking a dump. go to pull off at the next exit and the right side turn sigal double times....left turn into first parking lot, brakes lock! Whack the right rear taillight with my fist- and all is well, all the way to Oklahoma from VA! How does this stuff happen!?

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dave2

02-13-2008 03:12:09




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to XRogerX, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  

TractormanNC said: (quoted from post at 06:08:24 02/09/08) Change to LED lights, expensive I know but they don't burn out from vibration. Whenever you ground a wire, use a star type lockwasher BETWEEN the terminal and the metal it is bolted to. Cuts through the paint and rust.


Link

Is this what you mean? Was thinking you could switch to these and use a tube of silicone to seal up an old and/or housing and serve the same purpose as the expensive assemblies (???).

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trucker40

02-12-2008 22:44:50




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
A lot of times trailer light problems are caused when you are empty and hit say a railroad track about 70 and have lights that are solid mounted to the frame.Semi trailer lights cost about 4 dollars for the sealed units,you would need 4 of them,They have a rubber piece and a metal frame,you can even get a box that you can weld on that has two lghts on each side.There are single bulbs or 2 wire that can work for taillights,then there are 3 wire lghts that you can use for turn signals.Actually on a trailer like that you need 3 wire lights on both so you can have brake lights.You can buy flat wire that has 4 or 5 wires and slide it thru a piece of conduit.If you twist wires good,and tape them tight they will last quite a while,and shrink tube works good too.This is going to cost a lot more than what you usually see on a trailer,maybe 50,75 dollars,but you will be done for a good while,and the connections will probly corrode before you shake the sealed bulbs out of those rubber mounts.They are a little tricky to get in that rubber if its cold,but hand cleaner or WD 40 and they usually go right in.

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Joe(TX)

02-11-2008 04:41:07




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
Buy good lights, not the cheap ones.
Do the wiring properly, pot it in a a sleeve and it won't short out. Solder and shrink sleeve the conections.



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john in la

02-10-2008 10:45:53




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
I like the idea frankiee has about the magnetic lights. Might have to try a set of them.

If you want a good permanent system look at new gasoline tankers. The whole wire system is run in plastic conduit and uses sealed lamp lights. If your bulb ever goes bad you need to replace the whole light but they are available anywhere big truck lights are sold.

If you take the time and do it right this system is not only water tight it is vapor tight. All the junction boxes have gaskets and everything fits well. You should never have wire problems again.

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JoeK(WI)

02-10-2008 08:42:08




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
1:A lot of it is parts quality.Like everything else,trailer lighting is available in various quality.At $14.99"Bubba's Kompleet Trailer Wirin Kit"prolly ain't gonna"Git er Done",when a single "decent" lamp would normally cost that much.Quality fittings,wiring etc will pay for themselves in lack of problems.
2:Physical protection-trailer wiring lives in about the worst environment that exists..water,ice,sand,rocks,salt,impact,snags,mice,dogs,cows..etc,SO it needs protection,either conduit,thru frame grommets or anchor clips(lots of em).Conduit can be as simple as used garden hose,blk plastic pipe,soft copper tubing or as fussy as welded on water pipe.Look at your car/truck,majority of wiring is loomed,or jacketed,not just floppin in the breeze.
Lamps-nowdays(quality)LEDs are the way to go.If you can't afford em,look for the sealed module type lamps.Many mfgs offer optional"armored" models or bolt-on gaurds to protect the lense/ bulb.
Lastly,wiring a trailer,should be a"job" taken on with proper time/materials to complete,not a patch it up quick,now and again thing and if you don't understand it,Pay a Pro.

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frankiee

02-09-2008 12:16:35




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
Get a magnetic, removable type and take them into the shop when not in use.
Move from trailer to trailer
We got my dad a set bout 10 years ago.
We black tape the lights on for extra holding power and put the wires where they wont get hurt.
Also use the trailers in the bush.
I have not ever touched those lights in 10 years.
Good to have them as an emergency set also.
Bit pricey though.
Could make your own set.

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Jim in Ma.

02-09-2008 05:31:18




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
The last time I rebuilt my 5th wheel, I used LED with positive ground-soldered connections and shrink tube and have not had any problems. That was about 5 or 6 years ago.



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TractormanNC

02-09-2008 05:08:24




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
Change to LED lights, expensive I know but they don't burn out from vibration. Whenever you ground a wire, use a star type lockwasher BETWEEN the terminal and the metal it is bolted to. Cuts through the paint and rust.



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ben brown

02-09-2008 04:39:43




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
bought my trailer in 1995 had no wiring problems with it . it is double wired hot and ground running back to truck ues sealed lights the fewer conection you have the better and if you sodder them even better. i know bulb burn out you have buy a new assy. but it well worth it. seem most new trailer ues single wire hot to light then ground to frame good for first couple mouth. then it become a problem.

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Roy Suomi

02-09-2008 04:39:27




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
I use heat shrink tubing on all connections..I look for the kind that has the mastic inside that melts around the connection and actually makes the connection waterproof..Trailer lights take a beating from bouncing..I use truck taillights that the bulb and socket are suspended instead of rigid mounted in the light housing..



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Twisted Shorts

02-09-2008 03:44:30




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
Get away from the bulbs and use the sealed lamps like are used on semi trailers



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dave2

02-09-2008 02:34:26




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to amertrac, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
Wire it like you would a house that an inspector was going to look at. Conduit and junction boxes.



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Spritzer

02-09-2008 07:07:51




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to dave2, 02-09-2008 02:34:26  
DAVE2 is right- -Use 1/2" conduit. Built a small trailer in 1964 using this method. Also, give the lights some solid protection from above/behind. This protects the whole system. Bulb base should be kept dry- - apply a dab of grease to help. Works for me!



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Charles (in GA)

02-09-2008 02:20:08




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 Re: Are trailer lights suposed to work? in reply to Stumpalump, 02-08-2008 22:57:29  
Take the time to do it all right, once. New light housings, put dielectric grease on the base of the bulbs, wrap wires, secure them so they don't bounce and rub, clean ground areas and use dielectric grease to prevent corrosion there. It can be done.

Charles



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