trailer lites

[mferris]

yes it is..before i do anything else what difference does it make if i grounds new led tail lites using ground from old lites or grounding directly to the studs..do led's draw more power or affect other lighting..

[burleytog]

The ground coming off the lights is there for a reason.

On my trailer, the ground coming from the plug is grounded to the tongue.  The side markers are grounded to the mounting screws.  The tail lights are grounded to the mounting studs.  All lights are LED.

Is the frame on your trailer a channel or tube?

[mferris]

i guess i could try that..do you have a lite bar on the bottom of the back of your trailer also?..maybe i'll talk to the dealer to see if i could ground everything to the tralier like yours..i don't want to make matters worse and i'm a bit frustrated so it's best if i don't work on it for awhile!!!!!!..i guess the frame would be tubular,the wires are completely enclosed with no access except small holes where they come out of the trailer.....

[burleytog]

No, my trailer is less than 80" across, center light isn't required.

Tube frame will make for a tougher re-wire job.

[Ghost Rider]

Does any one still make a tube trailer any more?

As you see in the thread 99% of light problems are ground issues. A wire brush and some elbow grease will go along way. oh if you have splices in the wires it is a good place to check for problems.  If you find any repair and replace. Use a heat shrink over any connections that you can. oh check the wires before repair if you see green past an 1 inch go ahead a re- wire the trailer. i am not sure about your state but if dont have to have side marker lights dont use them.

[mferris]

i've replaced all splices..grounds are clean..all lites have resistence with ohm meter...i think i surrender...i moved the ground on my truck..the only weird thing i found today was that although i bought a tester to plug into my truck and it shows everything is working ok when i have the directional on i'm getting low voltage in all the terminals on the plug on my truck yet if i turn just the headlites on and have 12 volts coming out of truck plug i only have something like 2 volts going to the first set of side lites..and if i check continuity with an ohm meter from that first set of lites to the trailer plug i get continuity so since i have very little hair to begin with and have been pulling it out for 3 days..i give up....once again thanks for all your help.....

[Ghost Rider]

did you check the hitch and ball for rust? Shake the trailer on the ball and see if that helps.

Dont use the ohm meter it will just jack with you. Did the truck come with factory tow package? or was it an add on? Well what year is the truck there oould be two problems you are having. I will pm my phone number to you call if you want the help.

[rboat]

I had a problem very similar. I was reading low voltage at the lights. It turned out to be the little black box in the tow vehicle. It is a transformer of sorts with diodes in it to protect your trucks electrical system. A worn wire or little spark can fry that box. Make sure you have good wiring on the trailer and then replace the box. I just cut the wires and spliced in the new black box. Works great and the box was only $25.