Trailer Question

[jgrogers1978]

so i bought a new trailor to haul stuff on and i cant get the lights to work. i had to rewire the thing because i have a 14" drop hitch and it made the light plug to short to fit. well i screwed something up. is there anything i can do to legally drive at night? other than fix the lights. i dont feel like replacing everything.

[tank]

Can you just splice in some more wire and make it longer or are the lights just not working period? Check the fuses on your truck

[jfalcone8]

I have worked on trailer lights before. Before you do any replacing check all your fuses and check the charges on the light them self... It could be you burnt a fuse, or it could be you just need new ligh connectors or could be the light bulbs them selves. I would def check all that before doing anymore wiring

[sitn_on_20s]

Lights aren't to bad to figure out. What kinda truck is it? Did the dealer install the pigtail on your truck? First thing you need is a test light. should be able to pick one up at any auto parts store. You need to start at the truck's pigtail and make sure you have power coming from all points. Connect your test light to a good ground, then touch it to each contact. I usually turn on the lights. and Emer. Flashers. Once you know you got power out of the trucks pigtail, you need to figure out why its not getting to the lights. Theres a break in the connection somewhere. I've worked on a lot of trailer light problems and most turn out to be a bad ground connection.

[sitn_on_20s]

I have worked on trailer lights before. Before you do any replacing check all your fuses and check the charges on the light them self... It could be you burnt a fuse, or it could be you just need new ligh connectors or could be the light bulbs them selves. I would def check all that before doing anymore wiring

excellent point! I've chased a light problem for hours, turned out to be a blown fuse!

[jgrogers1978]

ill check that out in the morning. its a f250 if that matters. i might just take it somewhere here in mckinney as long as they can give me a one day turnaround. i dont have the time to mess with it right now. ill get one of those lights and see if it is a fuse before taking it in. at the back of the truck is there a specific hole i need to put it in.

[tank]

What do you mean by hole, there should be a plug???

[sitn_on_20s]

ill check that out in the morning. its a f250 if that matters. i might just take it somewhere here in mckinney as long as they can give me a one day turnaround. i dont have the time to mess with it right now. ill get one of those lights and see if it is a fuse before taking it in. at the back of the truck is there a specific hole i need to put it in.

Not to sure on the f250. my GMC has a 7-way plug with an adapter to change it over to 4. More than likely if theres a plug of some sort back there ts gonna be for the trailer lights. It might be like mine though and be whats called a 7-way connector. This is the type of plug most campers, 5th wheels, or goosenecks use. Usually a circle lookin plug, not flat like the one on your trailer.

[jgrogers1978]

i have the circle plug as well its right next to the other plug.

[Dale Moser]

There are a ton of variables in this deal. But if you need a quick, legal fix, you can buy a set of lights at Northern Tool, and probably some auto parts stores for towing various things. They will plug directly in to a properly installed brake plug and mount to the back of the trailer via magnets. They'll work independently of the trailer lights, assuming your truck plug is wired right.

[sitn_on_20s]

i have the circle plug as well its right next to the other plug.

so you have 2 plugs, one 7 way circle & one flat 4 prong. be sure and check them both. Have you ever pulled a trailer with this truck before and the lights work? Assuming you have a lift kit, did they work pulling before the lift?

[jgrogers1978]

im ashamed to say it but i have pulled very little with it and always during the day time so i havent needed lights. it might be the fuse because my dads trailer didnt work on it last year?

[Oneway]

Also look at where it is grounded, that is also a simple little item we all tend to forget.

[sitn_on_20s]

yeah I'd check the fuses out first especially if your dad use a diffrent trailer and they didn't work. Sounds like its on the truck side.

[Jack Daniels]

Go to Academy and get a pair of the trailer lights that attach with a magnet. You can plug these in and set them on the trailer fenders to get you there. Then you can fix the trailer lights when you have time. These will come in handy on more than one occasion.