Tow wiring harness question

[zippypinhead]

Okay, here's the weird question of the week;
My tow vehicle (Subaru Forester) is wired for towing. It's fed through a 3 to 2 converter box from the separate tail/brake/turn lamps to standard flat four connector. Works just fine for a trailer that's set up with the combined tail/brake/turn lamps.
I have an old British car I'm going to flat tow. It's set up is a combined brake/tail light. (dual filiment bulbs red lens) and separate turn signal lamps (single filiment bulbs amber lens)
What I'm wondering is, can I take the signals from the flat four connector and run 'em through a 2 to 3 converter box separating the signals for me?
I'm trying to make the whole thing plug 'n play for towing either a standard trailer or my British car.

[jeep_bluetj]

Yes. You could convert back to three with a converter in the toad. (If you could find one with the appropriate current capacity, etc..)

IMHO, the easist thing to do is a pair of magnet-mount lites. Stick em on the car and plug it in the flat-4. (Lot's of jeepers do just that). Keeps you from worrying about CAN bus, diodes, etc... But really, with an old brit car you won't have any of that anyway.

Personally, I may be tempted to leave it with stop/turn's and just ignore the amber on the toad, but I seriously doubt thats legal.

Reminds me: I saw a beautufully restored Minor a few months back that had a licence plate frame that said "The parts falling off this car are of the finest british manufacture." I got a good chuckle out of that. Particularly since this car was 4x better than it was on the day it left the factory -- it was a work of art.

[firemaniac]

If you are only going to tow the car every once in a great while, I would go with the magnet lights and store theme in the trunk of that car. The other thing's you could do are find a correct converter box to turn the signal back into a 4 light system, or wire up a separate 5 pin plug to the Subaru specifically for towing this car.

[Joe G]

What I'm wondering is, can I take the signals from the flat four connector and run 'em through a 2 to 3 converter box separating the signals for me?

Yes. You could convert back to three with a converter in the toad. (If you could find one with the appropriate current capacity, etc..)

....find a correct converter box to turn the signal back into a 4 light system...

I don't believe anyone makes a converter box to split a combined stop/turn signal into separate stop and turn lights. I was looking for one so I could have a third brake light on a trailer that didn't blink with the turn signals. Couldn't find one anywhere. If such a device is available, I would like to get my hands on one.

[zippypinhead]

What I'm wondering is, can I take the signals from the flat four connector and run 'em through a 2 to 3 converter box separating the signals for me?

Yes. You could convert back to three with a converter in the toad. (If you could find one with the appropriate current capacity, etc..)

....find a correct converter box to turn the signal back into a 4 light system...

I don't believe anyone makes a converter box to split a combined stop/turn signal into separate stop and turn lights. I was looking for one so I could have a third brake light on a trailer that didn't blink with the turn signals. Couldn't find one anywhere. If such a device is available, I would like to get my hands on one.

Ain't the internet a wonderful thing? Seek and yee shall find...
http://www.etrailer.com/p-118158.htm

[zippypinhead]

If you are only going to tow the car every once in a great while, I would go with the magnet lights and store theme in the trunk of that car. The other thing's you could do are find a correct converter box to turn the signal back into a 4 light system, or wire up a separate 5 pin plug to the Subaru specifically for towing this car.

I already have a set of the magnetic lights. I used them before restoring the car. I would prefer not to use 'em with the new paint...
The guy that did the bodywork was an artist. Some major rust cut out and new metal welded in. After he was done, you cannot find where he worked. Replicated the spot welds nicely. The only thing that doesn't look like it rolled off the factory floor is the paint. BMC never laid down color like this.

Edit: Wiring up a five pin connector for the Scoobie is plan "B" We'll see how the other way works since we have all the parts now.

[Joe G]

Ain't the internet a wonderful thing? Seek and yee shall find...
http://www.etrailer.com/p-118158.htm

Thanks, Zippy.
Now if I could just find one that the manufacturer was proud enough to put their name on, I would consider buying it.

[Shadow Catcher]

Are you using the factory harness (all ready part of the car)? If so or not skip the converter and go direct to the six wires. Parts left out don't go wrong!

[wlooper89]

Several companies make a logic module for the third brake light, although I am not sure if this is what you want. This link describes the case in which it could be useful.
http://www.commandelectronics.com/logicmodule.html
The module works when stop and turn signals on a car or trailer are combined and there is not a preexisting third brake light. It senses when both brake lights are on and then sends power to the third brake light. So the third brake light does not flash with either turn signal. The third high mount brake light is not required on a trailer and I have not put one on my teardrop.

Bill