running lights with trailer

[RTRAM]

For the first time, I was towing a trailer at night. Its a small ATV trailer with a flat four plug. When I hooked it up, all the lights were on and everything looked good. About two miles down the road, a guy pulls up next to me and tells me I have no tail lights, either on the trailer or the truck. I also noticed that my dash lights were out. I pulled over and changed the 20A fuse and everything was good again. But, by the time I got on the road a 1/2 mile, my dash lights were out and the trailer and rear lights were out again. Since the street lights were bright and two miles to go, I just went home. The brake lights and turn signals worked, just the running lights were out.



Do I need to up the fuse from a 20A to ???. or do I have a short somewhere??

 

[bnbrown]

I would wager you have a short somewhere. Looks like it is on the wire that serves the running/tail lights, could be that it is a short in the wire that only contacts when the wind blows it back against the metal of the trailer. A little trailer shouldn't be too hard to find. I have often see those four flat wires get striped bare where they go from the trailer to the plug from sitting on the ground or getting caught up in the hitch, so just start at the front and follow the wire around its path.
I would not up the fuse from 20A, if I remember right the wire is only 14 gauge at best (I think on the 2nd gen it is 16ga), which can only handle a little over 20A.

 

[dpuckett]

While yer at it, install a relay on the taillight circuit- it'll save you a headlight switch.



Daniel

 

[bnbrown]

I would second that if you ever plan on towing a trailer again add a relay. If it were me I would run a wire from the trailer plug up under the hood, into a relay controlled by the factory running lights and put a 10 amp fuse on it (fuse size would be selected to match the gauge of wire and probable load), this way if your trailer shorts out you dont lose the truck lights also. I am not sure how the factory tow package wires for trailer (seperate relay or not) but in any case it looks like your trailer plug is wired direct into the main lighting.

 

[RTRAM]

The trailer wiring was connected directly to the rear wiring harness. How do I move is to under the hood? What do I tap into?