Help, made a mistake on my wiring.

[Dale M.]

I would get "factory" harness (for tow lights) if TV does not have one and wire trailer according the connector on the TV and "accepted standards" for connectors found at almost any trailer parts source on the I-net...


Old school was to just connect a extension of tail/stop/turn light from back of TV to trailer plug.... With the newer wiring systems on vehicles with everything being "current sensitive" and computer controlled most vehicles have provisions for "plug in" towing light harnesses.... To go that route makes life so much simpler.... Most towing wiring harnesses either have provisions for converting from a 3 wire (filament) tail light system to a 2 wire (filament) system with built in converter, or connect to existing wiring harness provided from factory with provisions for using 2 wire filament tail lamps....

Converters come in all different flavors from ones the work just a few days or weeks and fail (went through 2 before finding one that was "good") to ones that are totally bullet proof.....

http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Wiring/ ... 1995302306

(just buying converter alone will probably cost as much as this harness with converter)

MY first thoughts would be to go with factor style harness, its more expensive but possible more fool proof.... If that is not you flavor then yes add in a converter box.....

Dale

[Ageless]

I had a 96 Explorer; NAPA has the adapter. It connects under the left side taillight.

[starleen2]

http://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Wiring/ ... 1995302306
Dale

+1

[48Rob]

Glad you discovered the problem before there was an accident!

Might be a good idea to do a walk around check of lights, tires, coupler, chains, bearings, general condition, etc, each time before pulling a trailer.

This should have been part of your truck driver training?

Rob, who shares the road with all others, safe, and unaware...

[Ageless]

Find a strip mall with large windows; pull in so you can see the reflection of the lights; test lights.

[dh]

Just curious, did your signal lights work?

I have gotten in the habit of turning on the hazard lights and parking lights on the TV, then doing my walk around, that way every bulb is working when I inspect. On todays vehicles, the wiring can get messy. In College we converted an S-10 to electric. We chucked the engine computer, and later had to dig it back out of the junk pile because it controlled something importent, but completely non engine related. (Don't ask what it was that it controled, that was too damn long ago to remember, and I was usualy chemically influenced during that period in my life)

[dh]

Oh ya, I almost forgot, thanks for the report. Will make me think twice on my inspections.

[Shadow Catcher]

I do the wife check, Nancy walks behind and I test all functions. I carry an extra Subaru OEM converter in the tool kit.

[Larwyn]

I do the wife check, Nancy walks behind and I test all functions. I carry an extra Subaru OEM converter in the tool kit.

That type of check worked for me until I asked my wife to check the front brake lights. She did walk to the front of the truck to look but by the time she got there she realized that there is no such thing. Now she just tells me to check em myself..........

[dh]

I do the wife check, Nancy walks behind and I test all functions. I carry an extra Subaru OEM converter in the tool kit.

That type of check worked for me until I asked my wife to check the front brake lights. She did walk to the front of the truck to look but by the time she got there she realized that there is no such thing. Now she just tells me to check em myself..........

Almost as good as the time I told the old lady the rattle in her car was muffler bearings, and I'd deal with it later. She took it to the shop and asked them to put new muffler bearings on it.

[Dale M.]

This sort of reminds me of the text of a e-mail I recently received....

Husband Down

A husband and wife are shopping in their local Wal-Mart. The husband
picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart.

'What do you think you're doing?' asks the wife..

'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans,' he replies.

'Put them back, we can't afford them,' demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.

A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.

'What do you think you're doing?' asks the husband.

'Its my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,' replies the wife.

Her husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Budweiser and it's half the price.'

Over the PA system: 'Cleanup on aisle 5, we have a husband down.'


Dale

[eamarquardt]

On my vehicles the brakes/turn signals use one filament of the bulb and the running lights use the other filament. So, I turn on the lights, turn on the emergency flashers, walk to the rear of the trailer and can see if all of the lights are working at once. No helper required.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus