trailer lights

[Dockhead]

Have a new trailer, it has been sitting on a lot for about 4 years though.

The lights worked fine for the first few trips. Saturday morning they went out going down I-75. Pulled over and barely touched the plug and they came back on. If I wiggled the wires, they would go back off.

It definitely seems like a bad connection at the plug, but I don't want to buy and attach another one if it might be something else.

Today I actually got them to stay on by barely putting the plug in. Pushed in tight it seems to end up failing, but loosely attached I'm afraid it will fall out.

Any ideas/suggestions?   :-/

[slonezp]

Before you replace the plug clean the male end(trailer)with some light sandpaper, then spray both male and female(truck) ends with electrical contact cleaner.

[moundhill]

Ya i'd say it probly just has corrosion.  clean it up with a wire brush or sandpaper like he said.  see if that helps

[Al Wolbach]

After cleaning as suggested, coat the connections with dielectric grease. You can purchase at any auto parts store for a few dollars. This will prevent it from happening again.................Al

[Dockhead]

Sounds good - thanks guys.

[Tpayneful]

I would not suggest using dialectric grease unless you have a sealed compartment to put your plug in while not in use.  The grease will collect dirt and sand in the plug holes and make them difficult to use.  Reese has little boxes that you can screw into your bumper to protect the plug when not in use if you use the grease.

[BigMouthBasstard]

I have the same problem with my trailer right now, but its just the blinker on the right that went out. I thought it was the bulb but no luck. So I got a tester from farm and barn come to find out it is something on my rig that is bad; fuse or wire. Those testers are like 15 bucks and test both trailer and truck, not a bad investment if you have seeveral trailers like i do. Best of luck!