Trailer Lights

[kevinwburke]

. Just bought a 2005 bowrider and trailer. AS you can see form pic, the right trailer light on this trailer is corroded. Some of the running lights work, a few dont. The left light works but not directional or brake light.

Should I just buy a new kit and start over? new to this so any you tube videos etc would be helpful. Or can I just replace the light? DO you just splice it in?

How hard it is to run wires (closed tubes) if you replace all?

Also added picture of splice up by the tongue before the connector. Does that seem normal?

Thanks for any help. Merry Christmas.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer Lights

I see nothing worth saving there.

Buy a new quality set, led's. Wesbar makes good ones. If on a budget, try the Blazer brand led lights.

Attach new wiring harness to old wires and pull them through the frame tubes.
You may find it easier to attach the wires to the outside of the frame with plastic zip ties.

The fewer connections, the better off you will be.

All connections need to be sealed with heat shrink tubing.

Where ground wires attach to the frame, you must sand the surface clean. OR, run a separate ground wire back up to the front of the trailer.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Trailer Lights

What are the advantages of LED lights? Any disadvantage running the wiring on the outside?

Thanks.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Trailer Lights

Also, the trailer has 4 yellow side lights and three red running lights in the middle rear of the trailer. Just read on Amazon these are required for trailers over 80 inches. However I do nto see kits with these additional lights. Any ideas? DO you just but these other lights as add ons?

 

[bassman284]

Re: Trailer Lights

Also, the trailer has 4 yellow side lights and three red running lights in the middle rear of the trailer. Just read on Amazon these are required for trailers over 80 inches. However I do nto see kits with these additional lights. Any ideas? DO you just but these other lights as add ons?

Yup, you gotta have them all. Legal requirement.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Trailer Lights

Yup, you gotta have them all. Legal requirement.

Do you know any sites that sell them as a kit? Or even as solo pieces. Seems hard to find.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Trailer Lights

Here on iboats. over 80 trailer light kit - iboats

See if the harness is included or if you have to get it separately. Your harness is shot.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Trailer Lights

What are the advantages of LED lights? Any disadvantage running the wiring on the outside?

Thanks.

They last longer (won't burn out) and come on a fraction of a second faster.

on the outside the wires would be exposed so they could catch something and rip off. You'll want to stick to the inside.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Trailer Lights

I've never had a problem with wiring on the outside.
Even on utility trailer that I rewired about 20 years ago.

Advantages - wire will not chafe, can be inspected, can splice in new connections with easy access.

Disadvantage - doesn't look too nice.


LED lights are brighter, and good ones will be potted in epoxy, and they shouldn't "burn out", so never a bulb to replace.


T/L OVER 80 I.D. LIGHT BAR - Wesbar 203310 - iboats

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer Lights

I agree with all the advice above.

Those blue plastic clips for splicing, while common, are substandard for marine applications.

You will probably find that you have a mid-line splice for the side markers. That creates a weak point. I say run an independent wire from the harness to those lights, and eliminate a buried mid-line splice that will fail, and shut off your lights downstream.

As for what's "legal" there will be dozens of opinions, few correct, and most applying to other states than yours and irrelevant. Plus the guys doing the inspections or writing the tickets may not know correctly, but they are in charge. My inspector told me that I don't have to have side lights but if I do they have to work. So I removed them completely--as a salt water boater with a trailer I have to sink some, I don't want anything I don't need. I don't have bottom rear lights (which no one can see anyway--total waste).

You say your trailer is sealed--is it literally sealed and watertight, or just hard to work through the fittings? if the wires are inside, it's not truly sealed. And it needs to drain.

In addition to using the old wires to pull new ones through, consider leaving a fishing string inside for next time.

Your light doesn't look like a marine light. get that grade.

 

[kevinwburke]

Re: Trailer Lights

I agree with all the advice above.

Those blue plastic clips for splicing, while common, are substandard for marine applications.

You will probably find that you have a mid-line splice for the side markers. That creates a weak point. I say run an independent wire from the harness to those lights, and eliminate a buried mid-line splice that will fail, and shut off your lights downstream.

As for what's "legal" there will be dozens of opinions, few correct, and most applying to other states than yours and irrelevant. Plus the guys doing the inspections or writing the tickets may not know correctly, but they are in charge. My inspector told me that I don't have to have side lights but if I do they have to work. So I removed them completely--as a salt water boater with a trailer I have to sink some, I don't want anything I don't need. I don't have bottom rear lights (which no one can see anyway--total waste).

You say your trailer is sealed--is it literally sealed and watertight, or just hard to work through the fittings? if the wires are inside, it's not truly sealed. And it needs to drain.

In addition to using the old wires to pull new ones through, consider leaving a fishing string inside for next time.

Your light doesn't look like a marine light. get that grade.

Pardon my naivety as I am new to this. RIght now all the side marker lights work. It is the tailights that are not working. I assume those side lights are spliced into the harness wire at the clips and not back where the sidelights are? Plus it seems the screws on the sidelights are corroded so it will be an issue getting some of those off.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Re: Trailer Lights

if your up to it,, you might consider running new wire through entire frame.. new marker lights and LED rears....not big money.. if you want to run new wire, tie new wire to current wire at entrance point in front of trailer and pull it through inside of frame,, (gently ) that's assuming your current wire is run that way.. or zip tie it on outside... rather than struggling with trying to get old lights to work, I've found it's easier to replace them all....

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer Lights

Pardon my naivety as I am new to this. RIght now all the side marker lights work. It is the tailights that are not working. I assume those side lights are spliced into the harness wire at the clips and not back where the sidelights are? Plus it seems the screws on the sidelights are corroded so it will be an issue getting some of those off.

well you can see if you are getting power to the rear lights (lamp, brake and turn) and if so just replace the lights, and put a good heat seal splice there. It will buy you some time. But test for power first even if you know the existing lights are shot.

Sidelights might be mid-spliced or might be hooked into the harness. If midline that might be your failure.

But you still need to rework those blue plastic clips at the harness; they are a liability.

I assume you are in fresh water. Salt water is less forgiving and re-rigging trailer lights is the Sysiphus's rock we are doomed to roll.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Trailer Lights

Actually, don't consider "opinions" on any forum as the last word, when it comes to compliance issues. The "I was told by" statement has the potential to cause you to be on the recieving end of a ticket and the fellow issuing the ticket cares not what you were told by someone on a forum. The only guideline is the official guideline. For example, a statement was made on this forum that side marker lights are not needed, which, depending upon your configuration, may or may not be incorrect. There are any number of configurations that need to be considered, so make your installation comply with your configuration.

Read the US DOT requirements yourself and use them to make your trailer legal for any occasion. Lamps and reflective devices. - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These are the "minimum" requirements, as some states may have more stringent ones, but this document is the last word on federal roadways.

Of course, these are my "opinions", and you should do your own research. Google is your friend on this one.

On the comments of "how to install", there are some very good suggestions listed in these posts.

 

[AgnotGt]

Re: Trailer Lights

side marker lights" may or may not" be needed depending upon your configuration, may or may not be incorrect.

Liberties taken .....

I prefer having them just because it makes it easy to see where you are, in the lane, at night. Law or not; a good idea.

When it comes to splicing into the lines: Just strip a little back, wrap the line to the marker around the main, solder, encase in silicone, wrap and done.

Grounds are the most common cause of problems. Right after crimp connections..... Solder, encase in silicone, wrap all connections. imo
.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Trailer Lights

Actually, don't consider "opinions" on any forum as the last word, when it comes to compliance issues. The "I was told by" statement has the potential to cause you to be on the recieving end of a ticket and the fellow issuing the ticket cares not what you were told by someone on a forum. .

my point in saying that was not to convey the information, but this: the inspector with that opinion was the guy writing the ticket. Right or wrong, his opinion was the law of the day*. Get stopped by a county mountie or a state trooper with a different opinion, regardless whether it's right, then that is the law of the day.

researching the law yourself has its risks of error, too.


*He said if you have markers they have to work; you don't have to have them at all. I removed them completely and passed. That was the law of the day. I mentioned this b/c OP has a rear center brake light that many trialers do not; since it adds little to safety but is high risk of failure being so low, I'd remove it.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailer Lights

Yup, you gotta have them all. Legal requirement.

The amount and placement of yellow side lights depend on the length of trailer. Four yellow side lights on that trailer is not required. Two at most.One at the center on each side.Trailers over 80inches wide need the three lights (red) in the rear.
As said above, the law of the day is if there on there they technically must work.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Trailer Lights

I mentioned this b/c OP has a rear center brake light that many trialers do not; since it adds little to safety but is high risk of failure being so low, I'd remove it.

Funny you should say that. The center array has proven to be the most reliable on my trailer. Its the only OEM (1997) light left on the trailer.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailer Lights

The "Law of the Day" is just the LEOs opinion at the moment, it is Not the Law!
The Law is in Black and White for all to read.
You may get a charged for violating a Law that does not exist except in the mind of the LEO.
That is what the judge at the courthouse is for.

The ticket will list the exact Law you are being charged with violating. Look it up!
If you disagree with the charges, plead your case, state the facts, get a fair judgment.
If you blindly pay all tickets because you are too lazy to go to court, that is your decision.

 

[gm280]

Re: Trailer Lights

I personally would buy a complete new trailer light kit myself. They usually comes with both taillights and side markers too. AND a complete new wiring harness and plug as well. That way you know everything is new and no corrosion issues for starters. DON'T use those blue plastic crimp connectors unless you just enjoy repairing trailer light problems. Those crimp connector should be outlawed! Make all your connections using quality connectors with either solder and heat shrink tubing or a quality wire wrap tape seal. They do make a vulcanizing tape that once it contacts itself, it melts to itself forming a water tight seal. Just take your time and do the job the correct way and you will not be chasing trailer light problems for a long long time... Time spent doing the job correctly now will eliminate problems later.