how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

[ctaylor2069]

I've recently got my boat running to realize I have no trailer lights. So I started to investigate and the wires are connected with house nuts. So I have A four prong plug but only 3 wires red black and green. Can someone help me wire this thing. I understand green goes to the right and the lights ground themselves thru the trailer but other than that I am lost. Please help me

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

I'd get a new plug. Brown to the taillights. Green to the right and yellow to the left. White wire is ground. Trying to ground the trailer through the ball is not dependable. Better to ground it through the vehicle via the white wire in the plug.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

Sounds like someone's hack job and they used the hitch as the ground source. I'd say you might want to start over and just put in new wiring, you can't trust anything that has been done at this point.

 

[ctaylor2069]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

OK thanks guys. I was trying to save some money. But looks like that's never going to happen now that I own a boat lol

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

Trailer wiring is one of the least expensive items in boating.
It is also one of the most Un-Reliable items.
Do it correctly, with no shortcuts, and a dab of grease on the connections, and you might only have to fix it every other year.

 

[Bubbasboat]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

You can say that again!!

OK thanks guys. I was trying to save some money. But looks like that's never going to happen now that I own a boat lol

 

[Pony]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

I would run an independent ground from each trailer light.

 

[jayhanig]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

Rewiring a trailer is cheap assuming you do the work yourself. It's the first project I took on when I bought my boat.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: how do I wire a trailer with only 3 wires?

Even more fun when a 2 year old Husky thinks trailer wires are chew toys.