Some trailer questions

The trailer came wired with a 4 wire light setup that plugged into my 2000 Ford F-150's factory trailer light outlet. However if I turn on the headlights the trailer's brake lights come on. When I hit the brakes the lights go out. They seem to work correctly for the blinkers. what is a good place to have the wiring checked and corrected? I'm figuring an RV sales place perhaps.

I load my tractor using a ramp. The ramps cause the trailer to almost bottom out in back and since I have to have it hooked to the pickup in order for it not to roll the rear of the pickup will be pulled up high into the air (though not coming off the wheels). Does this hurt the pickup? It doesn't seem to.

FInally I bought a 5000 lb. winch which I plan to attach to the front of the trailer to use should the tractor ever become disabled. I figure I'm pulling about 2800 - 3000 lbs of tractor and bushog. Do you figure this is enough considering it is coming up about a 25 degree ramp incline?

On the lights, 3 possibilities come to mind. First, you may have a bad ground. A lot of light problems are caused by grounding problems. Check to see that the trailer has a ground wire, connected, and making good contact. There is also supposed to be a ground connection on the truck. Second, there may be an insulation problem on some of the wires in either the truck wireing going to the trailer connector or the same type of problem in the trailer wireing causing the current to cross over.
Third, the trailer wireing may not be connected to the right pins in the 4 way plug. I don't know how to use the tester mentioned in the other post, but what I have done is to use a test light with probe and alligator clip. Turn lights on, put clip on truck bumper or frame, put probe in truck outlets until light comes on. Do same for brake lights and turn signals. This will tell you which pins on connector power which lights. Then, using probe and alligator clips, connect pin on truck to pin on trailer and see if corresponding lights work. Be aware that the light bulb in the trailer lights has a brighter filament for brakes and turn signals and a dimmer one for the lights. Be sure the turn signals are coming on bright and the tailights not so bright.
Hope I haven't confused things, trailer lights are not my favorite thing to work on and I'm not good at it.

KEH

• Hobby farm

Get it if you think your trailer lighting is wonky.

Also.. Now would be a good time to think about adding electric brakes to your trailer to help in emergency stops or just general driving. Good trailer brakes on large load can help prevent (brown alerts ).

Carry a piece of timber with you.. old stump.. whatever you can manhandle that is just about 1/2" shy o fthe trailer bottom when you set it on the ground under the rear of the trailer. That way when you drive up on, the trailer can only squat about 1/2 to 1" and not lift your truck up. I know a guy that did this and his truck rolled away and crashed... he was also inthe business to mow and that day he did 1800$ damage to his truck.. PLUS the stuf he rolled over at the end of the hill. Not a good day of work when you lost a weeks pay or so..??

Yor winch should be fine for that rolling load. if in doubt, you can also keep a cheapy come-along on the truck. They make hard non powered loads easy(er).. or at least possible...

Just make sure it is attached somewhere stout enough to take that 3-4 thousand pounds of pull.. etc.. A piece of unsupported 2" or 3' angle iron will deform FAST under that pull...

Soundguy