Fessing up-brake light issue-- arrg, didn't work!

[nevadatear]

Okay, here is the thruth, we have never had brake lights on our trailer! Not quite sure what hapened, but we have tailights and turn lights but no brake lights. Some how when we checked the lights before closing up the hatch, we missed brakes. Randy has gotten really good at turning on the lights when he hits the brakes, so we have "brake lights". But time to do it right. Just admitting we haven't taken the time to trace out the problem. Randy tends to procrastinate when he is not sure where to start, but is off gangbusteres when given a road map, thus how I pushed the build by buying steve fredricks build manual. So to get the issue addressed before we are off to the Dam gather next month, any suggestions i can give him to trace down the possible problem?

[High Desert]

Debbie, what are you guys towing with? Some vehicles need a converter for a single tail light system to work on a trailer. If the tow rig has separate amber turn signals on the rear, this might be the issue. Just thinking out loud of course...

[nevadatear]

Hey shaun! We have a '07 or '08 RAV 6 cylinder. I will pass the thought on, thanks!

[High Desert]

Sure thing

Take a look at this link from e-trailer. I think this may be your solution and the trailer is fine as is. This is a common thing needed for vehicles designed outside the domestic market, even when they're actually built here. Many manufacturers use a separate bulb for brake lights and turn lights. The controller in the link will combine things to let them work as a single bulb system on the trailer. Good luck guys!

[nevadatear]

Makes sense Did i miss the link?

[Shadow Catcher]

One of the things I bought for our TV was a tester for the seven blade trailer connector. It lets me know if the problem is with the TV or the trailer, easily and quickly.

[nevadatear]

Thats the icket shaun! I love this forum. Fix a 3 year problem with one question and answer.

[High Desert]

Makes sense Did i miss the link?

oops, it didn't stick last time, here's trying again
http://www.etrailer.com/p-118412.html

[GuitarPhotog]

How did you wire up the tow vehicle in the first place? Did you just plug into the factory harness, or did you grab individual wires?

<Chas>

[nevadatear]

So since we have tow pkg on the rav with 4 wire already in place, im thinking this will do the trick, now that we know the problem? http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Roadmaster/RM-732.html

[High Desert]

So since we have tow pkg on the rav with 4 wire already in place, im thinking this will do the trick, now that we know the problem? http://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Roadmaster/RM-732.html

seems to me that may be just the ticket! (and may also prevent a ticket lol)

[M C Toyer]

. Randy has gotten really good at turning on the lights when he hits the brakes, so we have "brake lights".

Glad to know I'm not the only one to use the "fake brake light" technique especially on my work trailers which suffer from constant lighting problems.

M C

[down under tech]

Hello Debbie & Randy: If you have the tow package, it probably came with a wiring converter installed for the correct operation of the brake/turn lights. These do go bad from time to time. They will fail and either the brake lights or the turn signals will stop working. If this is the way your tow package is set up you just might need to get a new converter box and get it installed in place of the factory converter box. U-Haul has a low priced ($16.95) simple one that is easy to hook up or have them do it for you. Here is the link...http://www.uhaul.com/MovingSupplies/Wir ... t?id=13684 The link that you show is for a motor home towing a small car and it will operate the tail, brake and turn signals on the rear of the car you are towing. It is not what you need for your teardrop. It would work, but it is over priced for what you need. It has extra parts you don't need like the diodes. The link Shaun shows is the right one for your Rav4 as well. Either one that Shaun showed or the U-Haul one I showed will work for you. The only difference between the two are his will plug in but it still need a wire run to your battery on the Rav4. The U-Haul one is wired in directly to your harness in the rear of the Rav4 and can easily replace your defective one if that is the problem. U haul can probably do it today for you.

[nevadatear]

Thanks johnny. Randy is comfortable doing the wiring, besides we would have to haul it to Reno to have someone do it. Just need to know the bet product. If there already was a convertor, would it be close to the back?

[nevadatear]

So here is our four wire. I assume this is the ome converter? Five wires in and 4 out? Grounds included? Cut this out and replace?

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