Installing New Trailer Lights

Warning light on my truck indicated the right rear turn signal on my trailer was not working. So I decided to pull the trailer into my garage on a rainy day and rewire the lights. Watch full video to see the real culprit for why the light wasn’t working @hausplans

#build #building #howto #trailer #rewire #lights #tools #construction #diy #contractor

[ricknelson]

Thank you for maintaining your trailer lights. Here in north Florida, most contractors don’t care and for some reason, neither do the police.

[highjix]

I have an older truck 2008, so maybe it's common and I don't know about it, but I am impressed that the truck was able to identify and notify you that you had a tail light out on your trailer!

[JohnSmith-yveq]

In 1977 my father bought a light duty trailer that was "homemade" by a person who later became an industrial scale trailer manufacturer...
so it is well made and still running after 45 years.
It still has the original set of tail lights..
and the reg plate is bolted to the trailer metal..
we only ever get one plate in the life of the trailer.
The wiring has been redone and is now clipped into the C channel frame of the trailer.
Bearing buddies mean only one set of bearings replaced in those 45 years.

[billjohnson]

They make connectors that have heat shrink with sealant. For exposed splices I have found nothing better .
P.S. For a quick splice .

[FredD]

Use a hinged license plate bracket they work great and thanks for maintaining your tail lights so many do not I see it daily

[fredbrown]

Glad to see the heat shrink over the butt connectors. Keeps the connection waterproof, too.

[PikachuG]

If you're using heat shrink tubing, use uninsulated butt connectors. And use marine shrink tubing; it's lined with hot melt adhesive to stop any water entry via capillary action.

[Michigan_Adventures]

I think it's really interesting that modern trucks tell you exactly which light isn't working! I had that happen and all I had to do was recheck the wiring behind the lens and it worked great!

[MannyAguilarJr]

Yup I've lost one with the plastic bracket. Learned my lesson and made one from a 12"x18" 16 gauge plate. Cut in half, double stacked to make it 1/8" thick, cut to fit around trailer lower frame and rounded the edges so there's no sharp corners and match the roundness of the license plate. Spray painted the plates to prevent rusting for as long as possible. I wanted to do 1/4" steel but didn't want to spend the $20 more one the plate.

[calvins]

Great vid. Few things I've learned. My lights and wire been on my trailer for 17 years. Use sealed bulbs. Soldier all connections with shrink. And always connect all grounds directly to the plug then tow vehicle. You won't put lights on every few years.

[tractorboy]

I use right side tail lights on my trls I work on. License plate not mounted with those brackets except the boat trl. I'm working on doing a full rewire and all new led flush mount lights on equipment trl and it will lit nice and have backup lights

[AlexanderDreams]

Thanks for taking care of your trailer. It’s annoying when I see people driving down the freeway with 1 trailer light out. Or even all of them, and it’s nice to see you made the trailer safer and did LED tail lights !

[trueotter]

I use the shrink connector’s also. I then use liquid electrical tape to cover them. Then wrap them with tape and cover them again with the liquid tape. The same with the ground before I paint it. No corrosion and it’s harder to pull apart. I’ve done this for years on utility and boat trailers. Even holds up when dipped in the salt water. Thanks for sharing. It’s really important to have trailer lights in good working order.

[CLCIII]

In Florida you can use a Motorcycle Size Tag for your trailer. Waaay less chance of it getting damaged at the smaller size.

Hope that helps. Ask at your DMV, possibly your state does it as well.

As Always, May God Bless you and yours! 😇

[ecay]

For a very short time when I was about 19 years 20 years old. I worked at a a place that did repairs on trailers. Even the most complicated trailers were simple, easy fixes and I am still so amazed at how much companies and people will throw money away because a simple problem on a trailer shows up and they just get rid of the trailer The shop I worked at routinely would replace the wires from front to back including any wires that was required with trailer brakes. Change out the trailer brakes but it's just amazing people will get rid of things that work. Just do a little maintenance on it. I'm glad you're on here showing people how to do some cool things

[davetaylor]

It’s nice to have video that you don’t have to worry if the instructions are wrong or not😊

[darkreaper]

Nicely done. Some would just ignore such problems for a long time.
U could also spray paint first and then add contact washers to bite into the material and also prevent loosening over time.

[Krankie_V]

Running an individual ground wire to each light is a good way to increase reliability of the lights, compared to frame ground.

You can get those crimp connectors with the heat shrink and adhesive lining built in. They are very nice.

[KennyInVegas]

I love how you heat shrink the butt connectors! Very thorough and professional. Nice video. Thanks.

[Yaya-nceh]

👍🏽 Thank you for doing that. Now you have kept yourself and others safe. ❤🎉