Unplug your trailer lights?

[Daniel My Brother]

Another thread went off topic and made some interesting points about why you might, or might not, unplug your trailer lights when you back into the lake. Just wondering what the rest of you think?

[Team_Dougherty]

Since I switched to LED lights I do not unplug them. When I had bulbs I did. The bulbs would get hot from the brake lights being on and when they hit the cold water they shattered. LEDs do not get hot.

[Alpster]

I unplug the lights to keep cold water from breaking hot bulbs and the to prevent the longshot chance of a short circuit. JMHO

Ronnie

[Garnet]

Mine are a sealed unit. You cannot change a bulb it's $15 for a new unit. I just back in and never worry every couple years I pay my $15.

Garnet

[Papa_Tom]

Never unplug.  Sealed.  If I unplugged the lights I would also be unplugging my surge brakes.  My trailer is an '01 and I've yet to replace anything electrical/lighting..

[HPBB]

Since I have sealed and LED lights I never unplug

[Live.2.Fish]

I unplug, but I have the "old-fashioned" bulbs.  I didn't at first, now after replacing the bulbs 3 differents times, I unplug now, everytime.

[bassboy1]

Never unplug.  Sealed.  If I unplugged the lights I would also be unplugging my surge brakes.  My trailer is an '01 and I've yet to replace anything electrical/lighting..

Surge brakes don't work in reverse do they?

Recently we had an incident in which we didn't unplug our lights.  One of the sealed fixtures had a leak.  Blew all the fuses in the car as well.  Had we not had spares we would have no lights, inside or out.

[Minuteman]

I've only had my trailered boat for a few months and never unplugged them or had any problems. However, after winterizing and doing other maintenance I've decided to start unplugging them this spring. Didn't find any water inside the lenses, but I did notice a crack underneath one and resealed it.

I'm only concerned about forgetting to plug them back in or the wire dangling down on the ramp. At least I know if either of these things happen I can just leave them plugged in and everything should be alright. I can't really see any other reason to leave them plugged in since it is an '89 trailer and getting old. The minute I have any problems, I'm replacing them with LED's and be done with it.

[Rattlinrogue]

What Alpster said.

[vtbassin]

I never unplug and I have not had a problem.  I do get some corrosion behind the bulbs and need to clean them now and then but AI think tha twould happen anyway.

[harshman]

Unpluging your lights doesn't work on some trailers withbrakes. I went out with a buddy and his skeeter when out of habit I unplugged the lights and then  couldn't figure out why the trailer wouldn't budge when he got in the truck to launch me.     It only took about 5 min. for us to realize the trailer had "emergency " brakes so that if the connection with the plug failed then the brakes would lock.  I'm told most newer trailers work on the same principal . Just something to look out for.

Harshman

[cart7t]

I was an unplugger for years.  Decided to switch this past year. I never had a problem.

[JT Bagwell]

I never unplug my trailer lights. If I did, I would not be able to back up.

The reverse lock out solenoid is powered when your truck is in reverse

and your back up lights come on.

JT Bagwell

[Hale]

I just read an ad somewhere about an anti-theft device that works on this same principle. They make your wiring harness/plug removable and when you remove it, it automatically engages the emergency brake. I thought it sounded a bit 'fishy'.From your posts it sounds like it could be legitimate.

I dont unplug either (I have LEDs) You guys carry extra bulbs in the truck anyway right?

[Way2slow]

Been backing boats in the water for over 40 years and I never have, and never will.  Even with bulbs and not LED's, if your lights are good and the right type, total waste of time.  If you're poping bulbs, you need to replace your lights with the right kind.

[bassboy1]

Yall have been doing it for years, and the first time we accidentally left them in, they blew all our fuses.  Just our luck. >

[mark44]

I have sealed ones, but I unplug anyway. I am back there getting everything else ready, so it is no trouble to unplug. It's part of my OCD problem.

[eulerentinc]

ditto on the trailer brake response.  I dont unplug or my trailer wont go!!

[Catt]

I never unplug mine cause trailer lights only work in the driveway  >

[Rattlinrogue]

I unplug and let the bulbs cool while I prepare the boat for launching.I've had to replace a few blown light bulbs in my time,so I let 'em cool down before backing in.

[bassaholic022]

I dont unplug. I have standard lights and have never had water cause problems. Now some of the roads to the ramp are a different story.

[llPa1nll]

I try to remember to unplug mine. I have LEDs they are not the end all be all of trailer lights. I ordered mine from BPS and some of the LEDs light and some dont. I also see condensation and liquid in my supposedly sealed LED units. I guess I got a bad set of lights...