Trailer Lights

[bassh8er]

Just got a new to me Lund and am needing to re-do the trailer lights.

 

Any suggestions on brands to buy or any helpful tips?

[RHuff]

Do you mean replace the bulbs on the trailer lights or like LED colored accent lighting?

[bassh8er]

Looking to redo the main trailer lights for turn signals, brake lights, etc...

[WRB]

Most trailer lights today are sealed units that you must replace as a unit, not individual light sockets with bulbs.

Tom

 

[Fishing Rhino]

One bit of advice.  If your wiring harness passes through the trailer frame, be sure to wrap the wiring with electrical tape where it passes through the frame.  Wrap it tightly until you have a snug fit at the frame.  That will keep the wire from chaffing wherever it passes through the frame.

 

You can also get grommets to do the same thing.  If need be, you can make a cut across one side of the grommet.  This allows you to pass the wire through the grommet.  Then fit it into the hole in the trailer.

 

Most hardware stores such as Ace carry a pretty good assortment of sizes.  

 

[Jleebesaw]

I just got led lights for my trailers at tractor supply. They were a lttle pricey, but I like them better than incandescent bulbs. You dont have to worry about unplugging the lights before backing in the water with led lights. You can buy just the lights or a kit that comes with everything you need to re-wire a trailer including wire.

[tracker01]

25 minutes ago, Jleebesaw said:

I just got led lights for my trailers at tractor supply. They were a lttle pricey, but I like them better than incandescent bulbs. You dont have to worry about unplugging the lights before backing in the water with led lights. You can buy just the lights or a kit that comes with everything you need to re-wire a trailer including wire.

I agree 100%. I put them on my tin boat trailer about four years ago and haven’t had an issue since. Before I would un-plug at the ramp to launch and forget to plug then back in for my trip home. Get the kit. New wiring, new lights. Only way to go.

[MickD]

Don't even consider anything other than LED's.  The only thing you need to know about wiring them that is different is that polarity must be maintained correctly.  Wire them backwards and they don't work.

[Dogface]

I have two trailers and both have Harbor Fright LED trailer lights. They have been on the trailer that gets used the most for about 10 years. I don't unplug them and they get dunked every time I launch the boat. Never had a problem.

 

The second set is only 2 years old but again never a problem. 

 

BTW I looked at the LEDs from Cabela's and they look just like the ones I bought from Harbor Freight for half the price.

[bagofdonuts]

Only advice i have is to be sure to do the little bit of extra work to secure the ground to the trailer securely. Most problems I've ever had with lights comes down to the grounding.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Buy Cheap lights, get cheap results.

 

Buy quality lights, and they'll last you

[Log Catcher]

I put LED lights on my trailer several years ago and never had a problem with them. Unlike most people on here I don't take a chance. I still unplug mine before I put the boat in and plug them back up after the boat is loaded and I am ready to leave. I turn my lights and flashers on and do a quick check to make sure they are working.

[BigTerp]

I'll echo what others said about LED's. Best thing I ever did for my trailer was replace all the incandescent lights with LED's. I'd also suggest running a dedicated ground wire from the wiring harness back to each tail light and use tinned, heat shrink connectors for all of the connections. This is exactly what I did and my trailer lights have been trouble free ever since. I don't even unplug to unload/retrieve the boat, and my lights go underwater each time.

[Elkins45]

When I added guides to my trailer I picked up some cheap LED lights from Amazon and added them to the uprights. They sure help when backing the empty trailer down a steep ramp because I can see the lights on top even when the rest of the trailer has dropped too low to see. They're also right up where someone following close can see the brake light come on.

 

The dome lights on top are held in place with a big gob of JB Weld and the wires go through a hole cut with a hole saw.

 

 

[GreenPig]

Something to consider while you're working on your trailer lights. I put bright white LEDs on my trailer for backing up. I put my boat in many places with no lights in the dark. 

[Elkins45]

3 hours ago, GreenPig said:

Something to consider while you're working on your trailer lights. I put bright white LEDs on my trailer for backing up. I put my boat in many places with no lights in the dark. 

That sounds like a really good idea. Are they on a separate circuit or tied in with your tail lights? Are they switchable?

[Ratherbfishing]

On 3/24/2019 at 7:34 AM, Jleebesaw said:

I just got led lights for my trailers at tractor supply. They were a lttle pricey, but I like them better than incandescent bulbs. You dont have to worry about unplugging the lights before backing in the water with led lights. You can buy just the lights or a kit that comes with everything you need to re-wire a trailer including wire.

What he said.

[GreenPig]

2 hours ago, Elkins45 said:

That sounds like a really good idea. Are they on a separate circuit or tied in with your tail lights? Are they switchable?

I tied them into the reverse lights on the truck. No switch, no chance of leaving them on while driving down the road.

[OnthePotomac]

Installed Optronics sealed LED's two years ago.  Simple procedure...cut wires from old lights, connect wires to new lights... finished.