To be highway legal,
a trailer must have running lights (taillights and/or marker lights), turn signals and brake lights. Some trailers even have backup lights. Of course, this means you must tap into the tow vehicle’s electrical system.
CONNECTORS
Electrical power is transferred to most boat trailers — and some camping trailers — by using a four-way connector, or a five-way (for the back-up lockout circuit) if disc brakes are used. On the other hand, most camping trailers — along with some boat trailers — use seven-way plugs. Some very large travel trailers even use nine-way plugs.
In a seven-way plug, two wires control the turn signals and brake lights, a third operates the running lights, and a fourth is used for ground. The fifth wire operates backup lights, a sixth operates the electric brakes, and a seventh wire is used for auxiliary power — such as charging a trailer battery while towing. Don’t allow the trailer wiring or plug to dangle and scrape the ground. The most efficient and safest way to loom the wiring harness along the trailer’s tongue is to install clips that hold it to the trailer’s frame. These are available from hitch dealers.
Connectors get dirty and need occasional cleaning. With the flat plastic plug commonly found on boat trailers, a few in-and-out, twisting motions with the pronged part of the connector will free the open plug of dirt and corrosion. With a round connector, a contact cleaner will do the job — and while you’re at it, clean the insides of your vehicle’s plug receptacle, too. If you plan to shorten the wiring for a better fit between tow vehicle and trailer, be sure to leave enough slack for tight turns. Otherwise, you’ll disconnect or tear the wiring.
ELECTRIC BRAKE CONTROLLERS
While almost all boat trailers use hydraulic brakes with a surge actuator (some hybrid electric-over-hydraulic actuators have come on the scene recently, and at least one company is offering waterproof electric drum brake systems for boat trailers), the vast majority of camping trailers operate with electrically controlled brake systems.
For electric brake systems, you will need to install a brake controller. Many brands are available, but all work on the same basic principle. An amplified electric signal is sent to the trailer’s brakes (via an electric brake controller) when the driver depresses the tow vehicle’s brake pedal.
In addition, the trailer’s electric brakes can be applied independently — without applying the tow vehicle’s brakes — through the in-cab controller. This feature allows the driver to use the trailer’s brakes to help bring mild trailer sway under control.
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