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Brake light on trailer wiring
Just bought my wife a new car and put a hidden hitch on it so she can haul around all my s***. I went to wire the lights and everything went fine except the brake lights. FOUR WIRES: LEFT TURN, RIGHT TURN, TAIL LIGHTS, GROUND. What am I missing? Can I wire the tail light wire to both the tailight and the brake light?
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Brake light on trailer wiring
Be VERY careful about tapping into new car/truck wiring. Modern electronics are extremely sensitive to amp draw, and could result in damaged control module. On my '03 Ram which has a factory installed hitch and trailer package. All the trailer-related fuses are separate from the vehicle circuits. That means, say, if the truck's tailights don't work, the trailer's still will and vice versa.
I'd get a factory-approved trailer connector from the dealership which will have instructions.
BTW, you're missing the electric brake circuit (which means you'll need an electronic brake controller too), and the constant-on 12v circuit to charge the trailer's break-away battery if it falls into USDOT regulatory territory.
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Brake light on trailer wiring
this is a little 4x8 trailer- no battery back up for brakes. but brake light should still work right?
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Brake light on trailer wiring
On paper, maybe. 
Seriously, it depends on the type of circuit, namely if you have a similar type bulb that you're connecting to. It's been years since I have to cut-and-cobble (non-factory install) but I can remember having to use a separate electronic module that took the signal from the turn and stop lites (both single filament) on the vehicle (I think it was a foreign car that had separate turn and stop lites---I think). The module then transformed the signal to a usable one compatible to a single double-filament bulb. And you have to keep in mind that the stop lite may or may not be/have a running lite with a double filament or single if a running lite is also separate.
Again, it's much safer and easier to get a connector from the dealer that may even simply connect to a harness under the dash---and in some cases the trailer wiring is already run through the vehicle waiting to be connected to it. Another option is Hoppy. They are the major player in trailer wiring. I've used them before with great success. Tractor Supply carries them too. In most cases all you do disconnect the harness near the tailights, insert the Hoppy connector and reconnect the car harness (about 2 minutes total). If I'm not mistaken they also offer one of those electronic modules that manages the conflicting bulb signals--and (I think) it simply plugs into the Hoppy connector. Couldn't be simpler IMHO.
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Brake light on trailer wiring
Okay, I have figured it out, thanks to your help. The trailer brake lights work on both of my tucks becuase they have factory installed ports which is prewired to include brakes and tail light into one wire. On the new car, I'm only sending one signat through (in my case, the tail lights.) Can I double up the tailights and brakelights into one wire going to the trailer, or will I short something out?
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Brake light on trailer wiring
Are you asking:
you want to turn on both the brake lights and tail lights on the trailer when ever the the tail lights are on - on the vehicle?
- Jason
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Brake light on trailer wiring
yes
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Brake light on trailer wiring
klien; check with your part's store as there are many adapters for 4 to 6 wire and 6 to 4 and so forth. Some (only have noticed this on SUVs and Pickups) that come from the factory with the plugs with both the 4 and 6 or 7 wired.
Earthwrks makes a good point you need to at least look at the ownners manual to see how it addresses trailer lights. Would hate to burn up a circuit and warranty become a major issue. You may find there is a kit that simply plugs into the factory wiring. kt
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Brake light on trailer wiring
Hi,
If you are talking about a new vehicle and not just new to you. The best thing to do is to use the auto manufacturer's trailer plug if one is already built into your car.
You then just buy the matching harness that fits that plug. I just did a Honda Pilot and a Honda CRV, could not be simpler. On my vehicles the harness comes with a module to take care of the separate red or yellow turn signals. Only takes a couple of minutes, and no worries about shorts etc.
Got mine at etrailer.com for about $25. I put the link in that takes you to the page where you look up your vehicle and get an exact fit harness.
Link:
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Brake light on trailer wiring
Yikes! Stop what you are doing!
You can do thousands of dollars in damage to the numerous circuit boards that control almost every function in a modern vehicle. All it takes is one back-feed on the wrong wiring harness.
The days when you can just tap into wires has passed.
There is a custom engineered wiring harness available for you specific car of truck....... do yourself a big favor and get the proper set-up.
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