Trailer wiring ???

GTX JOHN · 11-23-2009, 12:39 AM

I agree... sounds like a ground wire problem for sure. The LEDS
are not as fussy as conventional bulbs. When the ground is bad my trailer do a lot of backfeeding and funny stuff.

Greg Reimer 7376 · 11-23-2009, 08:39 PM

In about 1973,I worked for a gas station that had U-Haul rental trailers and trucks.You never saw junk until you saw their stuff. People used to rent a trailer, a clamp on bumper hitch, and wonder why the lights misbehaved. That was when bumpers had those big gas shocks suspending them, and continuity of ground wasn't too good to depend on. An auto electrician good enough to quickly diagnose and repair these issues that trailer lights can cause was enough of a rocket scientist that he didn't need to work there. Feed back through defective bulbs, sockets, and grounds would turn a saint into a drinking man. The suggestion to make sure all bulbs are correct for the socket is a good place to start. It might be necessary to remove all bulbs in the trailer, then re-install them one at a time until the glitch reappears. Good luck- it's probably something simple.

Jeff Teuton · 11-23-2009, 10:11 PM

Ground the thing.

Mike Gray · 11-24-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Teuton

Ground the thing.

What he said....

Kenny Wigington · 11-26-2009, 12:07 PM

You can also use a good dielectric grease on the ball, after you clean off both surfaces. it will help with the round connection. Rust to rust doesnt make for good solid ground connections.

buzzinhalfdozen · 11-30-2009, 10:34 AM

NO trailer should be grounded thru the ball or hitch! Joe

bknthda · 12-01-2009, 09:04 AM

I recently fought this with my trailer. Found one of the contact (solder)buttons from the lamp sheared off & laying across both socket contacts, thereby shorting tail & running lights to the brake/ turn filament. Mine were also brand new replacement lights (made in China, of course). Vaseline on the lamp base helps to twist past the Mickey Mouse contacts on Mickey Mouse lights!

Will also help fight corrosion.

Bob Verwold · 12-01-2009, 02:28 PM

Comp 387, did ya ever get the trailer lights working the way they should ?
If so what was the problem............

11-23-2009, 12:39 AM	#1
GTX JOHN VIP Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boulder City, Nevada 89005 Posts: 2,733 Likes: 2,799 Liked 2,485 Times in 697 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? I agree... sounds like a ground wire problem for sure. The LEDS are not as fussy as conventional bulbs. When the ground is bad my trailer do a lot of backfeeding and funny stuff.

11-23-2009, 08:39 PM	#2
Greg Reimer 7376 VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Glendora,Calif. Posts: 1,136 Likes: 172 Liked 705 Times in 219 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? In about 1973,I worked for a gas station that had U-Haul rental trailers and trucks.You never saw junk until you saw their stuff. People used to rent a trailer, a clamp on bumper hitch, and wonder why the lights misbehaved. That was when bumpers had those big gas shocks suspending them, and continuity of ground wasn't too good to depend on. An auto electrician good enough to quickly diagnose and repair these issues that trailer lights can cause was enough of a rocket scientist that he didn't need to work there. Feed back through defective bulbs, sockets, and grounds would turn a saint into a drinking man. The suggestion to make sure all bulbs are correct for the socket is a good place to start. It might be necessary to remove all bulbs in the trailer, then re-install them one at a time until the glitch reappears. Good luck- it's probably something simple.

11-23-2009, 10:11 PM	#3
Jeff Teuton VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houma, LA Posts: 2,717 Likes: 2 Liked 325 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? Ground the thing. __________________ Jeff Teuton 4022 STK

11-26-2009, 12:07 PM	#5
Kenny Wigington Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Cumming,Ga. USA Posts: 967 Likes: 36 Liked 60 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? You can also use a good dielectric grease on the ball, after you clean off both surfaces. it will help with the round connection. Rust to rust doesnt make for good solid ground connections. __________________ 2894 STK

11-30-2009, 10:34 AM	#6
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? NO trailer should be grounded thru the ball or hitch! Joe __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

12-01-2009, 09:04 AM	#7
bknthda Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SE Ohio Posts: 10 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? I recently fought this with my trailer. Found one of the contact (solder)buttons from the lamp sheared off & laying across both socket contacts, thereby shorting tail & running lights to the brake/ turn filament. Mine were also brand new replacement lights (made in China, of course). Vaseline on the lamp base helps to twist past the Mickey Mouse contacts on Mickey Mouse lights! Will also help fight corrosion.

12-01-2009, 02:28 PM	#8
Bob Verwold Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Fayetteville Ohio Posts: 656 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Trailer wiring ??? Comp 387, did ya ever get the trailer lights working the way they should ? If so what was the problem............

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