Posted 2008-09-29 8:36 AM (#92263) Subject: Trailer Wiring
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
Here's a new one: our 1999 4 Star trailer lights don't work inside the horse area, and neither do the rear spotlights. There are switches on the rear for them but they do not work. My hubby is trying to diagnose but isn't sure if the power should come from the truck or the trailer batteries. Anyone know how they are "typically" wired. Also he wants to know if the trailer batteries are, or can be, recharged by the truck if wired properly. Any help would be appreciated.
He says it looks like the wires for the rear lights come straight from the truck connector up front. He's pretty handy and the 4 Star dealer is about 3 hours away so I'd LOVE for him to get this fixed! thanks!
Posted 2008-09-29 9:13 AM (#92266 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
Typically it will run straight from the truck. If it has a battery, they will normally run from the battery to the hot wire and just tie it in from the positive side. In other words, you should be able to just unhook the battery and still have power from the truck. Now if it is an LQ, all bets are off. Probably cut and tied into the converter.
Posted 2008-09-29 9:45 AM (#92268 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
What kind of truck? As has been previously discussed on this foum, Ford trucks do not supply power whithout having the ignition key in the on position. Some GM trucks do't either unless you have the proper fuse in place. That's the first place I would check.
Posted 2008-09-29 10:14 AM (#92271 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
1999 Ford F250 Diesel truck and yes, it's a LQ (professionally done if that makes a difference. Thanks again! He's out there messing with it and I hear cussing on and off. . .
Posted 2008-09-29 10:15 AM (#92272 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
On my Ford diesel, the ignition switch not only has to be on, but the motor has to be running to get power to the rear auxiliary circuit.
On my Sidekick, I changed the wiring from that circuit to the trailer's B+ battery supply. Now I have a stand alone circuit similar to our Exiss. It's much more convenient.
Posted 2008-09-29 10:20 AM (#92274 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
I have a 01' Ford 350 V10 and the key just has to be on. Our 02 Featherlite that we just traded also had to have the key of the truck on for the horse interior and load light to be on.
Posted 2008-09-29 10:29 AM (#92275 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368 Location: Georgia
The load/horse interior lights on my LQ trailer run off the trailer batteries. Trailer does not even have to be hooked up to truck. Are your LQ batteries charged? Most LQ batteries charge (if the battery switch on trailer is in "on" position) when you are plugged into an electrical outlet. Good luck.
Posted 2008-09-29 1:59 PM (#92297 - in reply to #92263) Subject: RE: Trailer Wiring
Veteran
Posts: 192 Location: Hutto, TX
Good work gang! This is the husband and I found the trailer plug miswired which had blown the truck AUX fuse. The AUX powers the rear lights only (horse area and ext spotlight). There is a pair of rolled up wires that are tied to the AUX (white wire) on the trailer neck and I am thinking about tying them to the trailer battery to be able to 1) run those lights from there 2) charge trailer batteries when truck is running. Make sense? Right now they are completely independant and it sounds like many other LQ's are wired like this. Any concerns?
Trailer Wiring
