Wiring 20ft Trailer, not familiar with materials I need

[bhollehday]

I need to run all new wires on my 20ft boat trailer. I cant find any wirings kits and suppose Im supposed to buy the 7 pin connector (or 5 pin flat if you prefer) and then buy some marine grade wire spool to connect and run down the rails of the trailer? What kind of connectors do you use? I wish I could just buy a 7pin plug with 30ft wires to minimize connections..

 

[Grub54891]

You can buy the wire in bulk at most hardware store, or auto parts stores. The connectors we use are the shrink tube type, crimp the connector, heat it up and it seals the connections. When I did my pontoon trailer, I bought led light kit, came with enough wire to run all the way, plus extra. 20 foot trailer.

 

[Lightwin 3]

Plenty here:

https://www.iboats.com/shop/trailering/boat-trailer-lights/boat-trailer-light-kits.html

 

[bhollehday]

What gauge wire should I use? 14 or 16?

 

[Grub54891]

The wire comes pre-made, 4-5 wires all together. I think 16 gauge, but not positive. Led's draw little power.

 

[Woodonglass]

With a 20% off coupon you can get a FULL LED Trailer light kit (Including lights, wiring and connectors) for about $35 bucks. I recommend shrink wrapping all connections. Key to wiring any trailer is to make certain you have a good dependable ground.

 

[tanman34]

Don't know why they cant offer these kits with the wires made into the lights since those are the connections that get dunked every time.

 

[Grub54891]

Don't know why they cant offer these kits with the wires made into the lights since those are the connections that get dunked every time.

Because they want to sell more lights. When wired correctly, and checked every season, they last for years, I've had them last 10 years.

 

[rmnwood]

I've rewired several boat trailers and I always use 16 ga marine tinned wire, solder the connections and use marine grade adhesive shrink tubing to cover the soldered connections. I pigtail the ground wire, with one connection on the trailer tongue and then to the left light and pigtail that ground to the right light. I also always put all of the wiring in a 3/8" split loom to keep the UV from deteriorating the wires.

 

[tanman34]

Because they want to sell more lights. When wired correctly, and checked every season, they last for years, I've had them last 10 years.

Is that with saltwater use?

 

[Grub54891]

Well, seen plenty that go bad in freshwater, salt I'd imagine worse.