Northern Virginia Roll Call

More questions of things. In looking at the wiring on this trailer, while it all works, it's a mess. Years of repairs and stuff. So I'm looking to rewire the entire thing. Cheaply, of course. Has anyone seen something that be used to T into wiring cleanly? Not Scotch-loks, vampire taps, or Posi-taps. Like something where I could run wiring down either side of the trailer and tap into that for running lights? I've seen a few low-voltage solutions (even used a version for rock lights on the Tacoma), but nothing seems to be what I'm looking for. A small junction box? Something!

Aaaaaaand go!

 

I'd run it into a box and then you can splice and solder then heat shrink, or just use a wire nut, new wave fancy none twisting wire nut or even split bolts plus electrical tape wrap for the nut/bolt route.

That's my 2¢

 

I saw them at Sheetz before they went up. How are the road conditions these days?

 

4 16" steelies for sale. Two with snow tires, 2 with Yokohama's I think.

 

just had someone compliment the patrick star skidplate. Still one of the best mods!

 

Did you run over them, for thems to see it?

 

Like Greg, said. Run wires to it use only the pins/slots you need.

https://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Accessories_and_Parts-pt-Junction_Box.aspx

 

I was crawling around under my trailer yesterday in prep for adding some lights to it and I was surprised at the shittiness of the wiring. Everything is done with wire taps and self tapping screws for grounds. I bought the trailer brand new less than a year ago. I’m going to spend the day under there soldering everything and doing a proper ground to try and alleviate any future headaches.

 

Yeah. It's bad. I'm still not quite sure how I'm going to do mine. I'm also trying to figure out the ground thing. It's grounding the trailer from the plug, then grounding the light individually? That doesn't make sense to me. I'm just going to do one ground from the plug into a junction box like someone posted earlier. Then put individual, smaller boxes near the lights. I found some, but not sure they'll work. Gonna have to do some testing.

 

I have no idea what the common setup is but I know my lights are just grounded to the trailer frame.

 

This seems to be common in trailers. I've seen four-way harnesses that have a ring terminal on the trailer side of the ground. Then each light is grounded to the frame. Just sounds like tempting fate to me.

 

When we reran the camper wiring, we cleaned up and replaced the eyelet ground, then on the separate run on the driverside fender marker light, it's ground was from the junction box.

Above was the original ground location (passenger side) in use once again.


There's the tail and side marker lighting junction box tying into the tail end of the harness.

 

Yeah I concur, an easy way to be chasing grounds if issues occur down the line.

 

The yester year of grounding was the trailer itself through contact of the ball on the tow vehicle.

Todays grounding.. is a ground in the wiring from the vehicle to said trailer. Trailer side has the negative (from the lights) attached to the frame, Think common ground. This works great but can also cause issues years down the road with rust at the ground points. Yes, you could run individual ground wire to each light, but then you have a boat load of extra wire at the common point on said trailer.

My suggestion is, an individual ground at each light. That way if one is not working, it should be an easy fix. Also after making the attachment for the ground.. dab some silicone around/on the screw and wire there to prevent the rust from happening and the light from not working.

 

Oh yeah, forgot to add.. to cover wiring, You can go with round tube or angle iron tack welded down the bottom inside the frame to hold the wire. Leave a few inch in spaces where each light is for your choice of splicing.

burn it, pull wire, splice where need be and ground as well.



That is all.

 

All of our work trailers (10 ton and up) come like that as well. Eventually start losing lights and all unless you fully go through it like you said.

 

long shot, but anyone heading up to flagpole this weekend? i left something there and was hoping someone could take a look if they happen to be there.

 

@Mojo Jojo would like someone to look at well

 

Yeah, my spare tire and Chris' sleeves

 

So not being helpful with this weekends outing...I might be able to swing a FPK morning trail ride on 20 August, I'll be out that way, closer to Chris & Shannon than FPK/Reddish Knob for a week of birthday camping (wife and kiddo plus my Mother and Father in-law).


Also if anyone is interested in a 15# powertank setup by a cohort down my way here in Williamsburg, VA. I can help start the TW Express effort if anyone in the state or up in the DMV area.
https://offerup.com/item/detail/1378936130