Maybe someone has a solution for me- I can't seem to get the lights on my trailer to work-let alone the brakes- I have checked the plug in on my truck and everything works there- I have took a wire brush to my reciever hitch and the truck hitch, got a new ball, and said alot of cuss words and drank alot of beer- and still nothing comes on- my boyfriend can hook up and has lights- what's my next move besides buying a new pickup or more beer- and yes I am considering using the boyfriends truck- but his is only a half ton- I'm pretty partial to my dually
Posted 2006-06-11 6:09 PM (#42869 - in reply to #42866) Subject: RE: lighting nightmare
Expert
Posts: 2954 Location: North Carolina
Sounds like a bad ground between the truck and the trailer. You shouldn't depend on the ball-hitch to provide the ground. After all they move relative to each other.
I would first confirm the truck's ground at the connector, then the trailer ground connection.
I have been finding a lot of problems with the ground connections to the aluminum. (my six year old aluminum skin trailer) When I find the problem, I redo the connection with "Nolox" a compound used in the electrical trade for aluminum wiring.
Posted 2006-06-12 7:15 AM (#42884 - in reply to #42866) Subject: RE: lighting nightmare
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Kansas City
Okay I know this was a serious question, but I can't help it. Have you considered switching boyfriends to find someone with power. Hey some people choose their horse over their spouse!
Posted 2006-06-12 8:55 AM (#42892 - in reply to #42866) Subject: RE: lighting nightmare
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: Memphis, TN
Best thing for checking those trailer plugs is a little light tester that you can buy for about $5 at your local auto parts store. It has a light inside a pen looking thing with a ground clip and a pointed probe to test each connection on the truck plug. Plug diagrams can be found on website. as stated above, probably blown fuse or loose wire on your truck. Keep the dually!
Posted 2006-06-12 5:03 PM (#42919 - in reply to #42908) Subject: RE: lighting nightmare
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by statzk on 2006-06-12 4:22 PM
That thing is sweet. I may have to get one of those...
They make a tester like that with a battery for testing the trailer too?
~K
ive seen them at trailer shops but i doubt they would be cost effective for you or i. i just use my battery charger and a "test lead", the kind with about a 2" alligator clip. just hook the negative off the charger to the trailer frame, then one end of the test lead to the positive off the charger, then touch or wedge or clip (if you need to get to the other side of the trailer) into the pigtail.
Posted 2006-06-12 6:17 PM (#42922 - in reply to #42866) Subject: RE: lighting nightmare
Regular
Posts: 74 Location: Stites, Idaho
I've done the whole wire tester to the plug- everything lights up- then when you hook to the trailer nothing lights up- does a 96 Dodge have a fuse for the ground- I'll have to be digging around- I also did a ground from the truck to the trailer without anyluck- beginning to think all that high quality road de-icer they use around here is finally taking effect on things
lighting nightmare
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