Trailer Lights?????

[MikePal]

Stupid question are you saying the trailer gets grounded to the truck when the tounge and receiver ball connect? I realize the white wire from the truck harness is ground to the white wire on the trailer. Did not know that. My trailer ball has a bit of rust from lack of use. Could this also be part of the problem?

There was a time that was the norm because it essentially is frame to frame connection....but like you said it's not a good one...you need to run a separate ground line.

[Old Yellaw]

Made myself a light(led) bar out of light angle ,mounted my lights to it with a long enough cable to go to my truck .Attach to trailer with bungee when i use my trailers . If I need to borrow someones trailer at least i know i have lights that will work.Only takes a few minutes to remove and reattach.

[Greenhorn]

I got charged for a loose ground and the trailer was empty about 45 minutes before day light. They watched to make sure I waited,buggers. CT sells a 20 foot portable system,no worries about grounds not working.

[seabast]

Had a few issue with my trailer lights, replaced one left tail light, damaged last year pulling the boat out duck hunting.Heres the problem replaced the new light as mentioned cleaned all the ground connections and replaced 1 signal marker bulb in the right light. Checked everything all is good signal,brake,hazard all working fine. Took it for a spin around the block to get gas for the boat, come back to the house recheck all is good. Disconnected the trailer from the truck to run some errands, come back and hookup the trailer check lights. Problem.When i turn on my left signal lights both left and right flash at the same time and very weak at both lights, same as when i turn on my right signal light both flash. WTH. AS i said cleaned all the ground connections, it worked fine, reconnected the trailer now i have issues. Any suggestions thanks cuda.

IMO when it comes to trailer light, if you can't figure it out in 5 minutes and your wiring is old, I found re-wiring and buying new light is a lot faster and less stress full....
And yes, to check your trailer light you need to be hook up to your truck or it won't be grounded.
Good luck...

[M_P]

IMO when it comes to trailer light, if you can't figure it out in 5 minutes and your wiring is old, I found re-wiring and buying new light is a lot faster and less stress full....
And yes, to check your trailer light you need to be hook up to your truck or it won't be grounded.
Good luck...

I borrow a cousins trailer every year when we go North for Moose and every year I spend time dikin around with the lights. Last fall when we got home I ripped every wire and every light from it and installed new LED lights and the entire harness, running a ground through the plug to each light. All connections were soldered and sealed with heat shrink. I also jumped the ground to the trailer frame so there will be a ground through the hitch incase the next guy to pull it has a poor ground through his plug. When replacing a harness I would also recommend installing a junction box near where the tongue meets the trailer and then splitting the harness from there to each light. Gives you a place to check for power and ground from your plug without piercing the insulation on the wires. No more issues now.

[Pat32rf]

If you read the regulations you will find that the trailer lights must be PERMANENTLY mounted. No portable, magnetic style allowed.

[Loony]

I borrow a cousins trailer every year when we go North for Moose and every year I spend time dikin around with the lights. Last fall when we got home I ripped every wire and every light from it and installed new LED lights and the entire harness, running a ground through the plug to each light. All connections were soldered and sealed with heat shrink. I also jumped the ground to the trailer frame so there will be a ground through the hitch incase the next guy to pull it has a poor ground through his plug. When replacing a harness I would also recommend installing a junction box near where the tongue meets the trailer and then splitting the harness from there to each light. Gives you a place to check for power and ground from your plug without piercing the insulation on the wires. No more issues now.

x2, the first time I have a problem rip all the cheap original crap out and do it right, well worth the time and money.

[cuda]

Long story short hooked up the boat to the truck tonight, grounded the tounge to the trailer body as suggested hit the lights same problem. Both taillights blinking when i call for either left or right signal. Recheck the grounds on the trailer, check the truck ground/ harness all is good. Dissconnect the left turn ground from the left trailer light now i have signals and brake lights working on both lights, but no cleareance lights. Reconnect the ground and everything goes back to crap. RECHECK all connections again, all are good try it one more time. STILL CRAP. Sit back have a beer think about this, its not rocket science, WTH. Start the truck up its getting dark lights on the truck come on automatically/ auto mode look back trailer clearance are on. Check signals, brakes, hazards all are working fine. Unplug the lights trailer to truck reconnect about 5 tries no issues. Unhook the trailer Reconnect it to the truck no issues. I can't explain it. I'm lost, AS of right now all is working fine. Going to hookup tomorrow just to see what happens. Ant idea about this mystery guys. I' m stumped.

[Jigman]

Possible in the plug? I believe you said you cleaned the plug but I would clean them again with a wire brush and some electrical spray.

[Pat32rf]

Does the white wire in the truck plug have a GOOD ground ....