What's the trick to having reliable trailer lights? It always seems like I have to chase down a ground or something when I hook up a trailer. Is there anything to treat connections with to be more reliable? All of my trailers' lights are grounded through the bolt/mounting stud of the light. Should I ground each light with a separate wire?
Properly maintaining trailer lights
- Thread starter N Heat
- Start date
When grounding lights most don't run a separate ground wire just ground with a mounting screw to frame. Rust or corrosion builds up between screw, frame and crimp on terminal to mounting screw. Other problem people have a tendency to pull wire very tight instead of a little loose for trailer frame flexing.
You can get the frame to work as a ground but it takes effort every year or two. A ground wire is much easier.
Boat trailer?
Boat trailer?
Equipment and utility trailers
Clean ground connections are key.
I, personally use anti-oxidant compound to keep the ground connections (All of them, each individual light, trailer plug wire- white one, I think.., towing vehicle ground connection, etc.) from corroding and it works for me.
Others on here use a dielectric grease for the same reason and they swear by it- Your choice.
I use a very light coating of dielectric grease in the actual electrical connector. I periodically clean it out with a brake cleaner and re-apply because dirt/dust sticks to the grease.
I, personally use anti-oxidant compound to keep the ground connections (All of them, each individual light, trailer plug wire- white one, I think.., towing vehicle ground connection, etc.) from corroding and it works for me.
Others on here use a dielectric grease for the same reason and they swear by it- Your choice.
I use a very light coating of dielectric grease in the actual electrical connector. I periodically clean it out with a brake cleaner and re-apply because dirt/dust sticks to the grease.
My '00 snowmobile trailer came from the factory with individual ground wires to all the lights. No issues with grounding to the frame which always seem to be the biggest issue. No issues since upgrading all the lights to LED either. That's a trailer that gets tons of salt exposure also. Steel axle mounting pads rotted away, galvanized axle in it now also but lights always have been great. All the plug-in type lights sockets got packed with dielectric grease.
With 5 trailers to maintain I want to just ''plug and play''.
With 5 trailers to maintain I want to just ''plug and play''.
I protect my boat trailer by never putting it in the water.
I use this stuff for electrical connections. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FBSWI6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Make sure your ground wire is attached to clean metal on the frame of the trailer. I put fluid film or this electrical stuff on it to keep it good for as long as possible.
Make sure your ground wire is attached to clean metal on the frame of the trailer. I put fluid film or this electrical stuff on it to keep it good for as long as possible.
