Trailer Wiring

Otto Throttle wrote: Not too worried for 500lbs. If you read most weight limitations are because of brakes

You should be a little worried about your math.

Like asked previously, what's the boat,trailer and gear weigh when it's all hooked up and ready to go?

Do your trailer brakes work? You left that thread kinda hanging

Here's a link to it

link

You're the guy who flies Boeing jets and expects procedures and manuals to be right, so would you be flying a highly overloaded plane?

Not too worried for 500lbs. If you read most weight limitations are because of brakes

8122pbrainard wrote:

Run wire in channel or plastic conduit. .

Pete, your method is probably the best option, the factory used those silly metal clips that hold the brake lines and wires for the lights. Those seem to work loose over time.   My trailer is now a DHM but I think my original Correct Craft trailer under my 78 Nautique used similar clips. I replaced by drilling small holes about every 3 feet on the bottom of my trailer frame and inserted small plastic wire ties to hold the wires and brake lines in place. Works very well but I know age will cause the plastic to fail eventually but a package of zip ties is really cheap if I have to replace them. And Trailers never rust out in the West so the holes don't concern me.   They are only 1/16" so not affecting strength of the trailer.

I have always wired the trailers, I have 3, with copper wire and soldered every connection and wrapped with either electrical tape or lately shrink wrap.
I make sure the 4th wire has a secure ground on the trailer.
The only failures with this set up over the last 35 years have been self induced.
Seems I find a stick, bush or rock that finds a way to reach up and break a wire every once in a while. A couple times the 4 pin connector just wears out.
Because of this known history I check lights before I tow every single time.
If daytime towing only, which is most boat trips I take I just turn on the emergency flashers.
If these work on the trailer I know I have left and right turn plus brake lights.
If towning at night I will flip on the parking lights to make sure those are working.
Simple test does not take 60 seconds start to finish before towing.
A simple 12V test light and an OHM meter can usually find any trouble issues in just a few minutes to get you back on the road.

A few years ago I spent sometime rewiring my Shamrocks trailer and to make it extra challenging I did it with the boat on it. Bought a harness from one of those trailer places. Since my lights are mounted on top of the rear guide posts I ran new wire to them too. Drove it 1500 miles and left everything in the carport. One year later on my return that Dam cheap Chinese wire fell apart in my hands. Next time I'm using marine wire like Pete suggested,just too labor intensive to use cheap materials.

Thank you!

Did the kit come with enough wire for both sides?

Did you wrong each light?


Thanks again!

2500lbs! its a 2010 V6 that used to haul Greyhounds, now for the past 3 years the Nautique! I put oversized Brakes on it and it works just fine! only 15k on it so I had to find a job for it to do!

Ok I get the ground to each light...a little more work but it will always work! I will do that.

Best suppliers for such wire?????

I was thinking of attaching the wire at the back and pulling at the ball while someone feeds it in the channel from the back slowly.   Is this a flawed idea?

Best boating days on Lake Erie today and yesterday....glass and a top speed of 48.6 on the GPS...I love my boat!

Thanks for the help...want to get this done this fall so I pull and play next May!

Otto Throttle wrote: Yes I know!!! I thought the light was burned out, !

Don't "think, get the VOM out.

Otto Throttle wrote: I like factory...anyone have any insights on pulling the wire? One at a time vs. multiple...which way should you pull...for to aft or aft to for?

Pull as many as needed at one time. Duplex or triplex wire may also be used. Direction doesn't matter. Whatever is easiest to get the fish through.

Yes I know!!!

I thought the light was burned out, and used it as an excuse to "upgrade!" I looked at harbor freight....it was junk. I looked at some marine trailer packages on line...does anyone have any favorites?

I like factory...anyone have any insights on pulling the wire? One at a time vs. multiple...which way should you pull...for to aft or aft to for?

nothing easy these days!

Run wire in channel or plastic conduit. Ideally use tinned marine wire. Use high quality adhesive lined heat shrink crimp connections. DO NOT use "scotch lock" insulation displacing connections. Run a separate ground wire to all your lights. DO NOT rely on the trailer frame for a ground. Get the VOM out!!

BTW, getting LED lights doesn't solve trailer wiring problems.