Trailer Electrical Conundrum

dbart said:
I'll take a pic of the front of my trailer...There is a ground, but I know it is very old!
I even want to replace the safety chains too.
Thanks, everyone for the insight and info!
I don't really want to think about rewiring my trailer because the upper running lights and rear blinker's...that wiring is all hidden inside the box of the trailer.
Maybe just redo the ground and go from there...then the new harness at the front???
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Take the ground off the trailer and wire brush the connector and trailer. Make sure it's down to bare metal. You probably have rust there and it's giving you a bad ground.
 
Do you have an set of jumper cables?

Take just the black lead from a set of jumper cables and attach it to the trailer, try and find a place where the paint is worn and take a wire brush and clean it up a bit.
Then take the other end and place it on the truck. Try to find a bolt that is attaching the receiver hitch or even the ball.
Now you have a well grounded trailer. Plug in your trailer and see what happens.
Report back your findings
 
Here's the current set up...
I did purchase a new 6' cable like @Kraut_n_Rice posted. I should be here tomorrow.
I like the jumper cable idea...that seems simple that even I can do!
LMAO1781.jpg1782.jpg
 
Your setup is already "ready" to be cleaned up.

Run the new connector/pigtail to the junction box where the battery is.

The little 2 wire black box on the top of the rail is the break-a-way switch for the brakes. It, and the battery, energize the brakes in the event you lose it...

Trailer light wiring is pretty standard with the plug details noted above. Curious what the orange/black wire goes to though...

Shit...twisting those shitty wire nuts a bit more could solve your issue...lol
 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
Your setup is already "ready" to be cleaned up.

Run the new connector/pigtail to the junction box where the battery is.

The little 2 wire black box on the top of the rail is the break-a-way switch for the brakes. It, and the battery, energize the brakes in the event you lose it...

Trailer light wiring is pretty standard with the plug details noted above. Curious what the orange/black wire goes to though...

Shit...twisting those shitty wire nuts a bit more could solve your issue...lol
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That looks like it goes to the electric brakes.
It is just faded Trailer Crap.jpgoutside the box
 
@Kraut_n_Rice I thought about maybe just undoing each connection and re-stripping them and connecting them back up???
That electric brake box looks hammered and the wire coming out is pinched at a 90-degrees, also the cable that goes to the safety chains is looking pretty tired too!
I think it's better if I just redo it all though.
I think it's time that my brother and I have good project to do...could be fun project! I'll supply the beer!
This seems like probably a 30 beer job!!
LMFAO!!!
 
Cleaning the connections would be a good start.

You shouldn't have a cable going to the chains. If what you're talking about is the tether for the break-a-way switch, it needs to be attached to the truck when you hook up. NOT to the chains. To the truck receiver.


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Wire nuts, I thought you only use those for Household wiring??? Maybe I am wrong....
 
Kraut_n_Rice said:
Cleaning the connections would be a good start.

You shouldn't have a cable going to the chains. If what you're talking about is the tether for the break-a-way switch, it needs to be attached to the truck when you hook up. NOT to the chains. To the truck receiver.


View attachment 180353

View attachment 180352
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Correct, tether attached to truck...mistype, only on my first cup of coffee!
LMAO
 
Cookie said:
Wire nuts, I thought you only use those for Household wiring??? Maybe I am wrong....
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I know...it's a cluster in that little box. That is how it came when I bought the trailer and haven't had any issues.
If I redo the whole thing, I have the heat shrunk ones.
But I'm looking at just buying this kit.
This looks pretty neat and tidy!
 
dbart said:
Looks like it is the ground or negative from the battery to that cluster of white wires???
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Yeah, I saw the battery connection.

But it needs to go to the chassis somewhere for your lights to work. I'd guess that's where your problem is, and I'd trace that before fucking with the wires in the enclosed box.
 
After digging in there, there is 1 yellow wire that goes into that box that isn't connected to anything but has a wire nut on it????
This could be the problemo!!!!!
 
Which direction does it go? To the trailer or truck? Are there any other loose wires in there?

Yellow is the left brake light..
 
If you don't have a good ground none of your lights would work. I would start with that and then clean everything up.
 
dbart said:
After digging in there, there is 1 yellow wire that goes into that box that isn't connected to anything but has a wire nut on it????
This could be the problemo!!!!!
Click to expand...
It’s possible all of the wires to your lights and such stopped working

But it’s way more likely you lost a ground. Check that first puteaux! :ROFLMAO:
 
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