Trailer lights

[puddle jumper]

Is there a better set of lights. I'm just sick of cleaning the contacts on my bulbs so my lights work. Any suggestions would be of help.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Trailer lights

Better than what? Have you tried putting dielectric grease on the connections?

 

[BMOLCHANY]

Re: Trailer lights

What do you currently have in place?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer lights

LED's are meant to be a great improvement. I do not have them myself though. Just what I have read out here.

 

[Radiac]

Re: Trailer lights

LED's are the only way to go.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Trailer lights

I have the old 11/57 bulbs. I'm always in salt water and it just corrodes them so fast. I also seen one guy with a sealed bulb set up but it leaked.I was thinking about LEDs. Has any one had any problems when thay hook them up?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer lights

I have the old 11/57 bulbs. I'm always in salt water and it just corrodes them so fast. I also seen one guy with a sealed bulb set up but it leaked.I was thinking about LEDs. Has any one had any problems when thay hook them up?

Buddy at work has them and loves them. When it comes down to it I will most likely go the same way.

 

[gpenton]

Re: Trailer lights

I do not have LED's on my boat trailer... YET. I do have them on my utility trailer and they are the only way to go! I have had them for a year and wouldn't go back... THe only thing, you cry a lot more when one gets busted. They aren't cheap to replace!

 

[ufm82]

Re: Trailer lights

I have ALL LEDs on my trailer. Both tail lights, center tri-marker lights, side marker lights, etc. Every one is LED and I've had ZERO issues for the last 4 years. I paid $60 for the tail lights, $6 each for the side markers ( 2 yellow and 2 red), and $5 each for the 3 center-markers across the back. I never unplug the lights when loading or unloading and never have to mess with bulbs. I have lost some LEDs in the past but never an entire light. I recently upgraded to a tandem and the first thing I did was install the LED lights. No hassles, no issues.

Plus, it looks really cool when I'm loading the boat at 3:00 in the morning at the ramp. It helps me hit the trailer correctly even on a pitch-black night. So there's that as a benefit.

UFM82

They're no different to hook up than a standard incandescent light.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Trailer lights

Agree with the LEDS are the way to go.
Just seal all of your wire connections with liquid electrical tape.
The lights themselves are sealed in epoxy and rarely leak.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Trailer lights

Well the jury is in i think i will go with LEDs. I can handle the cost not the problems.
Thanks for all your input

 

[gpenton]

Re: Trailer lights

For those of you wondering how I busted the LED, I had a blow out on my utility trailer. It messed up the fender as well as rendering the light casing useless.

 

[bigred69]

Re: Trailer lights

LED's are the way to go definitely.
Go to Napa they sell a line of sealed LED's I believe the product name is Grote.
Also spend the extra cash on the heat shrink butt connectors, but do not use a dimple style crimper. It makes a hole in the shrink and corrodes fast.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Trailer lights

Detachable trailer board is also an option. Remove when recovering / launching.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Trailer lights

PVC pipes in the transom rod holders with the lights mounted on them does the trick for me. Have used the travel board between the back cleats also. A hinge in the middle of the travel board helps alot.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Trailer lights

PVC pipes in the transom rod holders with the lights mounted on them does the trick for me. Have used the travel board between the back cleats also. A hinge in the middle of the travel board helps alot.

You know i was thinking the same thing but using my downrigger mounts to hold the lights.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Trailer lights

I run in both salt and fresh water, with most launches being in salty or brackish water.
I am slowly converting all of my trailers over to full LED lights. I still run a few with bulbs but they are strictly freshwater used. I've had good luck even with the cheap LED lights, I really can't tell the difference so far.
I solder and heatshrink all connections and run separate grounds to each frame rail beyond any tilt hinges or latches on the trailer.
I've been replacing the lights one trailer at a time, I've done about 4 of mine so far, with another 5 or 6 to go. When I redo a trailer, I redo the wiring and all on most of them just to be sure what I have.

On most of my trailers, I've eliminated the amber side markers in an attempt to eliminate any unnecessary breaks of splices in the wiring harness that can cause corrosion. Many didn't come with front side markers anyhow and I've never been stopped without them. Most of my trailers are single axle and fairly short, so there's not a big distance between the trailer tail lamps and the truck's tail lights. It may not be proper to not run forward markers, but I just got tired or broken harnesses buried inside frame tubes and constantly chasing lighting problems due to those connections. The trailers without those connections have been trouble free.

 

[jd501]

Re: Trailer lights

I had led lights for 2 years with no problems.

 

[spitfisher]

Re: Trailer lights

I am installing my LED "pipe lites" tomorrow , they're pretty slick. they will never be in the water again

 

[109jb]

Re: Trailer lights

First off, I don't disagree that LED's may be better, but I have 6 trailers in my posession and none of them have LED's and I never have any problem with any of them except when they get broken which isn't very often. 3 of those are boat trailers. I use dielectric grease on the sockets. My newest boat has new lights because whn I bought it the lights were held on with duct tape. My previous boat has the same lights and the same bulbs it had 9 years ago when I bought it. Don't know why everyone else has so much trouble.