Announcements
New Discussions
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Trailer Lights #34187
06/10/04 01:12 AM
06/10/04 01:12 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1
K
Kory Offline OP
stranger
Kory  Offline OP
stranger
K

Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1
Hi All,
I recently bought a trailer that will hold two ATV's, but I'm having problems with the lights. When the trailer is connected to my GMC Sierra 6 pin connector, the right trailer light blinks and does everything its suppose too, but the left trailer light doesn't blink or does light up when brake is pressed, (but it does light up when you turn the lights on), except when pressing brakes and blinker, "like I mentioned above."
I checked all my truck's fuses and their all okay. I checked my truck's lights and they all work fine. The trailer lights all work fine, because I had them connected to a tester box and both lights
blinked on this tester box, so it has to be my truck that has the problem. Any Solutions?

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Kory] #34188
06/10/04 05:38 AM
06/10/04 05:38 AM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 131
Scotland
George_Malloch Offline
member
George_Malloch  Offline
member

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 131
Scotland
The common problem is corrosion on the electrical contacts in one or other part of the connector - attack them with sandpaper or emerycloth.


Stealth www.peyc.org.uk
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Kory] #34189
06/10/04 06:27 AM
06/10/04 06:27 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Your first problem is that the trailer does not carry a catamaran sailboat!

Seriously though, an atypical rear trailer light bulb has two elements in it for two different signals; illumination (i.e. parking lights) and brake/turn signal. If you are getting neither a brake light or turn signal, it could be that the bulb is bad, the bulb is making a poor connection on one of it's contact points, the trailer connector is making a poor connection to the vehicle harness, or you have a bad wire somewhere.


Jake Kohl
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Jake] #34190
06/10/04 07:56 AM
06/10/04 07:56 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
MauganN20 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
MauganN20  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
someone, an endeavouring engineer perhaps, should design a better trailer light that:

A) is truely waterproof
B) is indestructible (exception granted for idiots like me who back them into curbs)
C) YOU CAN SEE THEM DURING THE DAY
D) You don't have to destroy to take them off the thing (you know the ones I'm talking about, that have the mounting bolt nut recessed into the plastic housing, if you try to take it off on a hot day, then the plastic just gets chewed up and the bolt spins around)
E) Won't corrode after being in a light sprinkle.

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Kory] #34191
06/10/04 08:21 AM
06/10/04 08:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 396
Annapolis Md.
LuckyDuck Offline
enthusiast
LuckyDuck  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 396
Annapolis Md.
Jake is right, put a go fast catamaran on there and the lights will work fine. I chimed in because I'm considering LED lights for my trailer. Any thoughts or experiences?


Still hazey after all these beers.
F-16 Falcon #212
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: MauganN20] #34192
06/10/04 09:43 AM
06/10/04 09:43 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
carlbohannon Offline
old hand
carlbohannon  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston


Actually Maugan they do build some good lights.

The problems with trailer lights always seem to come from exposed and corroded connection. So simply seal everything up and have no splices in your wires.

The best ones I have found simply say "Davis". I have no idea who really makes them. The lights are double o-ring and grease sealed. The bulbs use screw type holders, no springs. There are no splices in the wires. One end is sealed to the light and the other end goes to a terminal block at the front of the trailer.

I bought them from a place that makes expensive aluminum trailers for power boats. When I called looking for more, I found they no longer use them, they have something better, sealed LED's.

The lights are sealed assemblies. With a 100, 000 hr bulb life it is unlikely that you will ever need to replace one. They epoxy pot the wires to the lights and lead them to a terminal block.


Two notes

LED's either die in the first couple of hours or go forever. You might want to power the lights overnight before you spend any real effort on them.

Use the best wire you can find

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: LuckyDuck] #34193
06/10/04 10:09 AM
06/10/04 10:09 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 74
Maryland, USA
PRagen Offline
journeyman
PRagen  Offline
journeyman

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 74
Maryland, USA
I put on on LED lights the last time my catamaran trailer lights were giving me problems. Well worth the extra cost. LED's are sealed, they should last nearly forever, and the bolts for mounting the kind I got were stainless steel. I don't know the brand off the top of my head.

I just bought a brand new trailer for my power boat. Its supposedly (standard bulb) "sealed" lights were full of water after the first time I launched the boat. I will be converting them to LED's when they stop working.


Patrick Ragen
Taipan 4.9 USA 274
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: carlbohannon] #34194
06/10/04 12:12 PM
06/10/04 12:12 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
MauganN20 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
MauganN20  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
carl,

I know they make good lights. I'm just complaining over the pennance I have to pay for buying the el-cheapo $30-pair lights.

I'm going to put on the LEDs before I head out to the coast I think.

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: MauganN20] #34195
06/11/04 08:20 AM
06/11/04 08:20 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
carlbohannon Offline
old hand
carlbohannon  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
I don't complain about about trailer lights I hate trailer lights.

After the third time I cut my finger working on trailer lights I want whoever designed and sold that cheap butt system as sealed and suitable for saltwater to be executed and their descendents neutered.

One of my best moments was when I built a removable system of lights that strapped to the boat. One of my worst moments was when I got a ticket for no lights on my trailer (Flowery Branch Georgia, you have lights on your boat, not on your trailer)

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: carlbohannon] #34196
06/11/04 09:45 AM
06/11/04 09:45 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
you're kidding!? I was considering that same modification because my boat stern ends up so far behind my trailer lights...oh well.


Jake Kohl
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Jake] #34197
06/11/04 11:57 PM
06/11/04 11:57 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 390
samevans Offline
enthusiast
samevans  Offline
enthusiast

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 390
Hi Jake,
Years ago my Nacra 5.2 was on a very short trailer too.
The trailer lights were completely hidden.
I put an extra set of lights on a bar that strapped to the top of my N 5.2 sterns for that very same reason.
I got home from a regatta once and the left light was smashed.
I think I took out somebody's mirror.
I finally got a longer trailer.

I have the Murrays mast support on my current trailer.
I am planning to put a bracket on the support to hold trailer lights.
Since the support is bolted to and a part of the trailer, it should be legal.

Are you coming to Charleston?

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: samevans] #34198
06/14/04 08:20 AM
06/14/04 08:20 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
carlbohannon Offline
old hand
carlbohannon  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 778
Houston
I should be more clear about the ticket for putting lights on the boat. Flowery Branch Ga, is a tiny town on the Lake where the Atlanta Cats launch. Their police were not known for being the most intelligent. Ultimatly my ticket was thrown out and "they" had a talk with the person who issued it.

Anouther Cat was ticketed for not having fenders, even though a giant catbox/platform served the same purpose.

These were all stupid tickets, written to collect money from people who did not vote in the area.

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: carlbohannon] #34199
06/14/04 08:34 AM
06/14/04 08:34 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
MauganN20 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
MauganN20  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
thats somewhat ironic.

This weekend my friend and I were installing my new LED trailer lights (inspired from this thread) and he asked why my lights were in such a crummy position, and that I should make a bracket to mount to th crossbar. I told him that some dude told me about getting a ticket for having "lights on the boat, not on the trailer." lol

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: MauganN20] #34200
06/14/04 10:05 AM
06/14/04 10:05 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
My LED lights are on and the whole trailer is rewired with all soldered connections and shrink tubing. No crimp connectors, nutz, or easy splices here! I then found that my light converter unit had failed on my truck (likely due to all the previous shorts) and replaced it too. Them thar' LED lights is fancy like!


Jake Kohl
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Jake] #34201
06/14/04 10:42 AM
06/14/04 10:42 AM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 851
US Western Continental Shelf
hobiegary Offline
old hand
hobiegary  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 851
US Western Continental Shelf
Glad to hear of these new designs that are worthy of the waterproof claims. Many non-L.E.D. designs' weak points were the need to disipate the heat generated my an incandescent bulb. LED's solve this.

Thanks to you all, I am nearly motivated to add trailer lights and dispense with my funky, strap on light bar.

I'd like to mention that there is an upper-end type of shrink tube that has glue inside it so that it not only shrinks, but creates a seal also. (that is the product's claim, I have not tried the stuff yet)

I'll bet those who own glue guns could do some great things with them to aid in waterproofing.

GARY


Santa Monica Bay
Mystere 6.0 "Whisk" <--- R.I.P.
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: hobiegary] #34202
06/14/04 11:36 AM
06/14/04 11:36 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 47
Mark Meis Offline
newbie
Mark Meis  Offline
newbie

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 47
Trailer lights if installed correctly and not messed up by mistakes have a good life. I have had 6 or 7 cat trailers over the past 20 years and once I get the lights the way I like them I never have a problem. Though I sail in salt water I never dip my cat trailers in the water. A well designed cat trailer has mounts for lights that protect them from being broken. Spray lubricate in the vehicle connection and if necessary grease the light bulb contact points.



Mark C28R no. 140 Houston, TX
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Mark Meis] #34203
06/14/04 04:05 PM
06/14/04 04:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 805
Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
dacarls Offline
old hand
dacarls  Offline
old hand

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 805
Gainesville, FL 32607 USA
Who can describe the number of LEDs to use in trailer lights? Bright white LEDs are like 32 cents each. But
commercial 1157-type bulbs now can be found online with like 24 LEDs per "bulb" and are $7 each, with 16 LEDs are $4. But they would have to be soldered into the regular red-lensed cheap trailer light fixture. Also they have just one filament. This ain't too bad.
More practical suggestions?


Dacarls:
A-class USA 196, USA 21, H18, H16
"Nothing that's any good works by itself. You got to make the damn thing work"- Thomas Edison
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: hobiegary] #34204
06/14/04 04:33 PM
06/14/04 04:33 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
I even went the extra 10 miles and smeared 3m 3500 under all the heat shrink tubing before I shrunk it. Did I mention how sick I was of having to work on trailer lights before every $%#( trip!?

Of note: I once had a short on this trailer that took out the fuse for my running lights on my RV. At the same moment, the short destroyed my anti-lock brake CPU and I suspect it initiated the slow death roll (gradually increasing heat sensitivity/failure) of my Engine Management Computer in the same RV. $300 worth of electronics and about 30 hours of my time and I have a new anti-lock brake unit (ebay!), EMC(Autozone $$), and an ISOLATED trailer lighting system on it's own fuse. Now we're ready to roll!


Jake Kohl
Re: Trailer Lights [Re: Jake] #34205
06/14/04 09:15 PM
06/14/04 09:15 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
MauganN20 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
MauganN20  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,114
BANNED
this afternoon I had the pleasure of rewiring my entire tail light setup in my truck because the converter box for independent turn signals went whacky and did something. So new wireage all around, that was NOT fun.

(but now my pigtail works again)

Re: Trailer Lights [Re: MauganN20] #34206
06/16/04 10:55 PM
06/16/04 10:55 PM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 116
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Al Schuster Offline
member
Al Schuster  Offline
member

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 116
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Just give the cop your best surprised look and say "Really? They were working when I left." Maybe that only works in
Canada.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Damon Linkous 

Search

Who's Online Now
0 registered members (), 631 guests, and 80 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Darryl, zorro, CraigJ, PaulEddo2, AUS180
8150 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
Forum Statistics
Forums26
Topics22,404
Posts267,055
Members8,150
Most Online2,167
Dec 19th, 2022
--Advertisement--
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1