More trailer light gremlins

Dwight Harley

Dwight Harley

Well-known member
So, I installed new lights on my boat trailer after fixing a short that was causing the fuse in the harness to blow....they work now but the trailer lights stay on even if the vehicle lights are off. What's up with this?
 
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the trailer lights stay on even if the vehicle lights are off
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Free electricity?

There is something wrong in your wiring harness. Are you using a 4 wire plug? If so NOTHING should be hot if nothing is activated on the tow vehicle.

If you are using a 7 wire plug, then one terminal will be hot all the time. This terminal should not be connected to the trailer running lights. This terminal is for interior lights and other accessories, such as in a travel trailer.
 
Trailer are one of the preferred homes for gremlins. I have given up on fixing trailer shorts. I will fix it if I can find it but as soon as I can I get some wire and just rewire the whole trainer as soon as I can. The wire is not that expensive and my time and hair are too valuable to chase gremlins. I would rather spend my time chasing duck or fish or if it is one of my business trailers earning money.
 
Start from the truck plug and see if you have brake lite/same as running light. Plug should be gnd, brake, and the signals. If wiring is old or defective, replace it, it will save you time and headaches.
Hate fixing lights and bearings in the cold...
 
Depending on the truck it may have a charging wire for the battery in an electric trailer brake system. Use a test light and one wire at a time. Start at the truck and work back.
 
After a seeming yearly pre-season re-wiring I gave up. I got tired of every year tracing wires, changing bulbs, and fuses. It still seemed like I'd loose a light every time I pulled out. I've always unplugged the trailer lights before I backed into the water but even that still didn't work. I was in salt water most of the time so it didn't surprise me. So I went magnetic stick on lights and haven't looked back. They seemed to last ten times longer than anything I dunked in the water. Its just part of my routine to pull them off as I'm loading the boat with gear before I back down the ramp. I think the only permanent trailer lights you even have chance to make last are the kind you mount high enough they never touch water. -WW
 
I Removed the wiring and hung a kerosene lantern on the prop.
Haven't figured out how to keep the wick from blowing at speeds over 60.



Just kidding. Actually i get my boy to fix them.
 
I've changed all my lights on brackets out of water. I bought the bullet and got cabela galvanized brackets. Buy the best one, the others are dipped. The dipped one's last a few years and rust in salt water. My original one's are still in excellent shape.
 
I thank every police man that's givin me a free pass with trailer lights. //////////////////////////////thanks for looking the other way
 
Could be a bad day when you own a newer dodge with a TIPM system there's no fuses for the trailer it's all circuitry and you have a few tries until the system burns out and it's $950 for a new box.... Who thought of that shit!!!!
 
I only use my trailer once to launch in the fall and once again to haul out at seasons end..I go very early sunday mornings..I dont live far from the ramp..the endless yearly wiring is a pain..I just haul and wing it...
 
My family is in the boat business and my uncle had a good quote (or version of a quote) when helping me troubleshoot unexplainable problems with my trailer back in January. It went something like this:

"Several decades ago man invented the boat trailer... and we've been trying to figure out how to wire it ever since."


Sorry I know that doesn't help you but know we can all relate. :)
 
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