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Foolproofing Trailer Lights

Author: Brett Becker
There will come a day when you hitch up your trailer and the lights don't work. Rather than drive off and risk a citation, why not try to repair it yourself?
Leon Menard, a trailer specialist and ASE-certified technician at Auto Hitch and Marine in Longwood, Florida, says begin by checking the trailer bulbs. Pull the bulbs and inspect the filaments by tapping the glass with your finger. If a filament wavers at one end or falls off, the bulb is shot.
Also check the taillights on the tow vehicle. If they are not working, grab your supply of spare fuses. Odds are the fuse is blown, which is not unusual on tow vehicles and is simple to replace. If the tow vehicle's lights are working, ensure that the connector is pushed all the way in. Connectors are designed to be tight, and it's possible the terminals aren't fully connected.
"Any time you go to hook up the lights, just look at the connector," Menard says, adding that you should inspect it for dirt and corrosion. Blow out any dirt and lightly coat the connector with dielectric silicone grease.
Other possible culprits are the grounds, and trailers have a lot of them. The white wire in the harness acts as a ground, as do the points where lamp wires bolt to the trailer frame. The hitch ball also is a ground. Check them out. Make sure the connections are sound.
However, there are ways to avoid trouble with lamps and bulbs.
If your trailer lights are attached to the trailer frame, always unplug them before backing into the water. Absence of current when the lamps are submerged helps avoid short circuits and lengthen bulb life.
Another method is to place them on top of tall guide poles on either side of the trailer. When you back a trailer with leaky lamps and hot bulbs into water, the cool water can blow the bulbs. Lamps mounted atop guide poles help you load the boat back on the trailer and keep bulbs and sockets out of the water. They're also more visible in traffic.
"It's a little safer for the people behind you, because with the lights way up high, they can't miss them," Menard says.
Menard warns that late model vehicle owners should use caution when it comes to trailer wiring and the delicate electronic systems in the tow vehicle. Antilock brakes, airbags and engine controllers can be affected by trailer wiring, and most equipped with these systems need a converter as a safeguard (see Accessories, page 85). The price of having a professional install your trailer wiring is minimal compared with the cost of replacing a smoked electronic control module. - Brett Becker

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