Need help re-wiring my trailer!

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

lol it was simple untill now....

How do I know my Durango has this or not?

 

[NYBo]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

If the Durango has amber rear direction signals you will also need an adapter that allows the red direction signals on your trailer to work. If the Durango has a towing package the may already be installed, otherwise you will need one. That is ONLY if your Durango has amber rear direction signals. Here is a link to one supplier. http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=4992&categoryID=209

No Durangos have amber turn signals in the US. However, they do have turn signal bulbs that are separate from the brake lights, which means it needs an adapter to work with standard trailer lights (which use the same bulb filament for brake and turn signal). As mentioned, this lighting adapter is part of the factory towing harness.

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Ok so if it came factory installed, then I should be good right? I dont have to worry about that? I have the '99 SLT model. I just got it used and it has a nice hitch on it but I dont know if came out of the factory like that or the previous owner put that on. How can I be sure?

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Hi Biggems - If your truck has the round 7-prong plug then odds are it was factory installed. As long as the lights/turn signals at the rear of the truck work properly so will the electrical connector for the trailer.

BOB

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Ok yes the hitch has the round connector but I dont know if it is the 5 prong or the 7 prong. Does it matter? And all the lights on the truck work including turn signals.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Nope, doesn't matter if it's a 5 or 7. Either way it's tied into the wiring on your truck that controls lights & signals. As long as they work the plug should work.

BOB

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

ok so I dont need that seperate thing for the turn signals on the trailer to work? Everything should work with just a standard trailer wiring light kit?

 

[FLWakeRider]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Just jumped into this thread, but Biggems...
It seems from what I have read, as long as everything from the adapter back is wired correctly by you, your factory wiring should already be all set.

Just make sure to follow the wiring diagram that Tash provided for you and everything should cake. It may seem like a chore, but it isn't all that difficult. Shouldnt take more than a two hours (and that is if the boat is on the trailer). If you have any experience with electical work, it should be cake. I re-did mine last year, and it was fairly easy. Just make sure to tie up all loose wires or if possible run them through the inside of the trailer frame.

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Ok thanks everybody. I'm not too worried about it. Although I dont have much experience with electricity, I am pretty good with my hands and I have a decent amount of common sense.

I just want to make sure I dont have to do something special or extra in order for the turn signals on the trailer to work.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to go out and do this tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it goes!

Thanks agian!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Most lighting problems are ground related so if I were you I would start there the four flat connector on your boat should have a white wire grounded to the trailer right by where the connector is run. make sure the trailer/connector/wire are all free from rust and make a good connection. Then check your lights take covers off and look at where the light plugs in make sure that area is good and clean. take a small file or piece of sandpaper to anything that looks suspect. Then look at how the lights themselves are mounted to the trailer, make sure that area is in good clean shape. A small bit of dielctric grease on all of these points is a good way to keep them clean and rust free. Also look at the four flat connector itself again sand each prong smooth if need be. Get the adapter and you will be on your way. Not trying to discourage the new lights but usually it isn't needed unless the light housings are totally rusted out and just plain shot. If you do end up replacing make sure all of your connections are done well soldered is the best way but thats up to you which ever way you go heat shrink is cheap and a great way to seal up wiring connections. Depending on the length or your trailer, some light kits don't have long enough wires with them so keep an eye on that. If you need to add length I have always found that a light duty extension cord works very well, is cheap and already bundled togather and sealed well. Lastly a test light is your best bet to diagnose wireing problems and they Are pretty cheap and a great tool just to have around. goood luck post back with any questions.

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Ok so I was able to go out and re-wire the trailer today. I went to Tractor Supply Co. and bought a submersible trailer light kit and harness adaptor. It came with everything minus the running lights. (which I have)

So I finally get the old wires and lights out and off and the new on. The regular lights and turn signals work. However, when I hit the brakes, all the lights go out!?!?! There are 3 ground wires. 1 from each light housing (left and right) and 1 at the front of the trailer where the connector is. The ground wires for the light housing, I connected them on the bolt that mounted the light but on the opposite side of the frame that it mounts to. (if that makes sense)(that should be a good ground right)

the 1 ground wire up front, I need to drill a hole in the trailer to be able to connect that properly but for the test I wrapped the wire around a part of the trailer frame so all 3 should be properly grounded.

Also, when the lights are on, I can't tell if they are really bright or normal. Almost as if it was the break lights when it was supposed to be the normal lights, then when I actually hit the breaks, all the lights go out. I may be wrong on this as both lights do it so I have nothing to compare the brightness to. They may just be bright lights.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Hi Biggems - You're right up the road from me. If you don't have it figured out by this weekend let me know. I would be happy to come over to give you a hand. Spring IS coming, and we have to get these boats on the water. Let me know.

BOB

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Hey thanks, that would be awesome! The boat is acutaly located in Alexandria at a friends house because I have no where to park it here. But if you are in Fairfax, you are already closer than I am!

As of right now, Sunday would be the best for me.

Any ideas as to what is going on?

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

It sounds like the park lights are on the brake light leed. One wire does park light on each light, the other wire does brake/turn on each light. As mentioned a Test light is the best tool to find problems just like this. The connector on the tow rig may have been messed with and that is causing the problem. Take a test light and verify which prongs on the tow vech. coupler do what, then go from there with the rest. If the round connector is not needed anymore I would replace it with the correct four flat and take the adaptor back. That way if the adaptor ever gets misplaced or stolen you will still have means to light your trailer. Just seal off the extra wires that went to the round connector so they are there just in case you need them in the future. Even thought the lights are "sealed" I still unplug before I dunk the trailer just to be safe.

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

I connected each color wire with the same color wire on the lights. As I mentioned, I have not yet connected the amber running lights yet though. I will have to splice those into the wires for the rear lights. But I doubt that would make a difference.

Do you think where I have the rear lights grounded is ok?

I would get a light tester however with everything I bought yesterday, I have no money left.

Perhaps its the adaptor I got for the harness? But if that were the case, would the other lights still work?

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Here is a picture of the connector on the back of my truck and of the adaptor that I bought. Did I get the right one???

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Couldn't say, does it fit tightly? As for the ground, as long as the wire has good contact with clean metal on the trailer it should be fine. Where you connected the wire at the bolt you can sand the area down to clean metal, attach the wire, than hit it with some Rustoleum to prevent corrosion.

I looked at those pics again and it seems like the receptacle had a contact in the center, but the plug didn't. I'm not familiar with this type, but I'm sure someone here is. If it isn't solved by tomorrow PM me with your info and we can meet on Sunday to bang our heads against the problem.
BOB

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

I think landscape wiz is correct the two don't look quite right as far as mateing up correctly. Did your light kit come with the tow vech end as well or just the trailer portion only. Seems like most I have bought come with the other side of the four flat connector for use on the tow vechicle. I would splice the four flat into what you have then you could use either if ever needed. Take the adaptor back and get your money back or buy a test light they are pretty cheap, less than 10 bucks. Or make your own make shift test light. Use one of your old light housings with a known good dual filiment bulb. twist a ground wire to the mounting bracket(sanded/good contact) leave the cover off the light so you can see the bulb. with the ground connected take a piece of wire and attach it to one of the wires coming out of your light then go to the connector on the back of the truck and test each terminal in the connector to determine what does what. I would start with the signals as they are easiest to identify when they are working. even if the dimmer of the filiments blinks with the signal you have identified the correct terminals in the connector. Do this for both signals(which should also be correct for the brake) then find the running/park light terminal and splice accordingly. You can get it just keep at it

 

[Biggems]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Yes the kit came with the vehicle end of the wiring also. The adapter fits, however very tight.

I'll take it back tomorrow and talk to somebody there. The folks at Tractor
Supply are pretty nice and I'm sure one of them wouldn't mind coming out to take a look at the connector on my truck and then telling me if I have the right one or not.

hopefully the adaptor is the problem and not my noobie wiring job!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Need help re-wiring my trailer!

Just for clarity, what you have is the factory trailer wiring package which includes an adapter in your vehicle electrical system which combines your turning and brake signals for your single bulb trailer light. You need the 7 wire to 4 wire adapter because your trailer does not have electric brakes, which is what the extra wires are for.