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Convert your vehicle's 3-wire system to a 2-wire trailer system with this converter kit. Works with LED lights. Includes circuit tester and quick splices.
Features:
Specs:
Some vehicles operate on a 3-wire system, wherein the brake and turn signals run on separate wires to illuminate different lights. Most trailers run on a 2-wire system, which means the brake and turn signals travel the same wire.
If your vehicle operates on a 3-wire system, it will need to be converted to be compatible with the wiring system of your trailer. That's where a tail light converter comes into play. This converter lets you combine the brake and turn signal functions of your vehicle so they run on a single wire to activate your trailer's tail lights properly.
| Wire Color | Wire Function |
|---|---|
| Green | Right turn |
| Brown | Tail lights and parking lights |
| Red | Brakes |
| White | Ground |
| Yellow | Left turn |
Since your vehicle's wiring code determines how you'll wire this converter, consult the included instructions to determine where you should splice into your vehicle's wiring. Use a circuit tester (sold separately) to identify each wire's function. Then use heat-shrink butt connectors to attach the input wires of the tail light converter to the corresponding wires from your vehicle.
Secure the converter box to a flat surface inside your vehicle near the tail lights. You can do this using cable ties or double-sided tape (both sold separately). You may need to drill through the surface you're mounting it to if you use cable ties. It's helpful to check behind the surface you're prepping to ensure there's nothing behind it before you drill. Double-sided tape offers a no-drill option - just be sure to clean the surface first to make sure the tape can adhere fully. Find a raw metal surface to use as a grounding point and secure the white ground wire using the provided ring terminal and a self-tapping screw (sold separately). Cleaning the surface prior to securing the white wire will ensure your converter is fully grounded. Finally, secure the converter wires to your vehicle using cable ties.
Use a small amount of dielectric grease on the 4-pole connector to help prevent corrosion.
Quick Tip: We install a lot of wiring harnesses and prefer to use heat-shrink butt connectors because they provide a more secure connection than quick-splice connectors can provide. It also allows you twist the wires together and check that they're wired correctly before securing them more permanently.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (370 Customer Reviews)
Convert your vehicle's 3-wire system to a 2-wire trailer system with this converter kit. Works with LED lights. Includes circuit tester and quick splices.It worked after modification. No tester or wire connectors in package. Description
It included them. That's called false advertising! !
Katrina B - 05/22/2023Works great for my 2006 Honda Element, and video was incredibly helpful. Wish the green wire (for running to right turn signal) was longer; had to splice another wire on to extend it. Otherwise perfect, and a great value!
Jody - 10/05/2022Quick shipping! Helpful customer service rep on the phone. Installed everything myself (lucky me I had an auto lift to use), bought a 4x8 flatbed trailer on craigslist, and pulled a piano, desk and other furniture about 250 miles with my 1997 Toyota Corolla.
Thanks a bunch for the great product!
Used on my 1992 Miata for a little trailer to pull the bike around; They haven't caused any issues and were pretty easy to install!
This turned my seperate turn and brake lights into the standard combined brake and turn flat 4 set-up.
Lee P - 06/11/2019Paid about $XX more than I would have on [another website] and waited several more days only to get what looks like a used unit in a padded bad. No original packaging. No directions. Will no shop here again.
Thomas M - 01/27/2022Very easy to install. Comes with everything needed. I highly recommend this wiring kit.
I needed a hard-to-find hitch for my '98 Montero, overnight, no less. I ordered this part along with a harness from etrailer with overnight shipping. I don't live at the end of the world, but you can see it from here, so I wasn't optimistic about everything arriving on time for my trip. Shortly after the order was placed I received emails from etrailer's staff indicating the part wasn't at their main warehouse and would have to be sourced from another. They updated me throughout the day and the following morning. The parts arrived early afternoon. Installation took little time at all with their helpful wiring harness install video. Great thanks to George J, Bridget A and Madison H and others for seeing this through.
This product was delivered to me in factory condition, with more quick splices than needed for the job in the case I messed up. There is even a circuit tester included. Useful if you don't already have one.
This product was very simple to install and works perfectly fine.
Great wiring harness at a great price. A little difficult to install (not the wires fault, it was all due to the car itself, which was virtually impossible to access the rear wiring) however, once I got to the wires, the install was very simple. I could have used some paperwork telling me what the wires were, but I read other reviews beforehand saying the same thing, so I was not surprised. I LOVED the included tester! VERY fast shipping, too!
Midwest F - 08/13/2014
Wires weren't marked as to what was what, with exception of one. figured they were pretty much standard wiring colors for trailer, still had to find out to make sure. Little included circuit tester works well, saves time having to find mine. Other then the unmarked wires, product works well. That's why I dropped it one from top rating
Mark J - 07/14/2014I was a little skeptical of this product because it didn't come with instructions. But I looked it up on[line], and it worked exactly as advertised. Thanks, etrailer.
My order just arrived. I have not installed it all yet. I know everything will be just fine. I have installed products from etrailer.com for a garage I worked for, and a hitch for My Dad's vehicle. This one is for Me. Good quality products and outstanding customer service all at a great price. Thank You etrailer.com I am already satisfied with this purchase. Peace
Looks like there will be no issues but there was no instructions at all. I would have had more problems if someone had not spelled out how to wire it in a review. It you don’t have any electrical experience, I would not purchase this one.
Victoria B - 09/07/2020Throughout our order, etrailer kept us up to date on it's packing and shipment of the products we ordered, including the tracking number. We received our order quickly (about six days). We ordered the Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2" - 75089, and the Upgraded Circuit Protected Tail Light Converter Hardwire Kit w/ 4-Pole Connector and Circuit Tester - 119178KIT for our 1997 Mercury Villager, an older van with a lot of life still left in it. Both arrived in excellent condition. The next day I installed both items. The Trailer Hitch Receiver took me about an hour. The only problem was getting it angled so I could slip it over the tail pipe, but once up it fit perfectly. Bolts went in nicely, though the space is a bit tight for the tools I owned to tighten them. Still, there was no problem patience did not solve. The video instructions were excellent, and the paper instructions helped me see what direction the washers should go. For the Protected Tail Light Converter Hardwire Kit, the video instructions were invaluable. Though I used the tester to be sure, the wiring descriptions and placement were on the money. There were a couple minor issues that were easy to correct. The green wire that goes to the right turn signal is a bit short. Though I could not attach it to the wiring by the connector, there was no problem cutting off the lower wrap and attaching it to the proper wire at the bottom of the bundle. When I hooked it up to my trailer for a test, the break lights did not work. I took off the splice connector for the break wire, and when I did the clip broke. The metal bar that should have cut through the wire jacket did not cut all the way through. However, the kit comes with a spare splice clip. I installed the new clip in the same spot as the old and perfection! I was set. The trailer hitch receiver was a bit heavy, but as long as you can lift some weight on your back there should be no problem (I work a desk job, get little exercise and I am close to 60). I am extremely pleased with the whole experience. The quality appears excellent and I saved $200 to 300 dollars I would have spent at UHaul. That's money I can now use for some fun in our boat!
All parts were delivered promptly. Hitch ball, electrical wiring, connectors and small parts were carefully boxed separately inside a large box which contained the hitch. I appreciate your careful attention to ensure that nothing was lost during transit.
I would not say this was an "easy" install, but for the significant savings in cost of an OEM harness it was worth it. The OEM harness had to be installed by running from front to back under the drivers so the time involved may be a wash.
Buyers need to understand this unit must be installed by tapping into the existing rear lights by opening up the driver and passenger side panels in the rear compartment (next to the spare tire wheel well). If you do not want to mount the "harness box" inside the spare tire compartment, there is a great place behind the driver side panel, however, you will have to lengthen the right turn signal wire (green) to reach the right light.
I ran the 4 plug trailer harness through the license plate rubber plug by cutting a slit in the plug and running the 4 wire set through it. The bumper will have to be removed (don't have to take off bumper cover) by removing the 2 screws on each side of the bumper. Depending on how you route the harness through the metal bumper frame that is now exposed, and how long of a tag end you want, you may have to lengthen the 4 wire set with a splice, I did. You may be able to avoid any splice by mounting in the spare tire compartment.
Trailer lights are bright, no dimming at all.
Easy to install. Works great after having this for over a year.
I bought this wiring along with the HiddenHitch, hitch ball, and ball mount. The wiring assembly was clearly marked but the wire colors don't match up with the Honda Element's wires- no big deal, just use the little doodad thing that is included that lights up when you poke the right wire. (I obviously got a friend who knew what they were doing to do that part.)
The most problematic part was figuring out how to route the wires to the brake lights- I looked at the video clips provided, but they were only somewhat helpful given that none of them were Honda Elements. I ultimately came up with something much simpler (a 1/4" drill bit is a beautiful thing) that took far less time. The only thing on the wiring assembly that would be more helpful is if the green wire that goes to the right tail light was about 3 inches longer.
took a bit to figure out how to get it over both bumper screws. turned out i need to do the one opposite the exhaust 1st. had to disconnect the mount for the fuel line/filter. after installation the fuel line/filter mount plate doesn't fit into the frame but since the arm for the hitch goes through the fuel line/filter assembly it kinda doesn't matter, the hitch is holding everything up.
getting those bolts and plates together seemed impossible at 1st. i ended up tying some box string around the tip of the bolt (wrapping around the threading), taped off the tip to keep the string on, and dabbed some oil onto the bolt. then i thread the string through the plate opening and shoved 1st the bolt then the plate into the access hole on the car frame. this way i was able to line up the plate hole and gentle work the bolt back to the hole, then vertical to drop through the opening. i had to use a thin allen key to move things around as well but it worked and honestly it was super easy, took 5 min/bolt including taping off the string.
I just installed my trailer wiring harness I purchased from etrailer.com For the do it yourselfer that can trace and figure out which wires are needed to splice into, it is a very good kit. I chose to solder my connections instead of using the supplied crimp connectors. I've seen these connectors corrode after a few years and then you have to eliminate it and fix the connection. Also, I chose to attach the converter to the frame with a heavy duty tie strap instead of using the adhesive pad that is attache to it. The only other thing I might suggest is a self drilling screw to attacht the ground wire. Having said all that, I would highly recommend this Kit. It saved me between $400 and $900 dollars according to the horror stories I've read online. You Guys need to get this product out there, maybe go to some Dodge forums. Good Job.
Works great and as advertised. Watch an online tutorial to simplify the process. On my Avalon, the easiest way was to not probe the wires but disconnect the connector in the vehicle wiring harness close to the left tail light, inside the trunk under the carpeted trim and do the circuit testing from there. Tester comes with the converter, along with instructions.
This product worked exactly as advertised- it spliced in well to my car's existing electrical system and provided the appropriate signals to the trailer. Combined with a shop manual for my car, it was trivial to set up and install.
That said, I have some concerns about the long-term viability of the splice connectors used- it seems like a design that would allow corrosion to start in the electrical system. When I have time, I'm thinking of switching to a more robust solution that would probably involve soldered and sealed connections. That said, for a quick-and-dirty lighting solution, this kit works very well.
Product arrived in 3-days using the least expensive ship offering. The instructions were very well done. The hitch mounted on the Honda Civic with zero issues. The secret was reading ALL of the instructions.
The wiring kit was complete and worked perfectly. It did not include instructions, but it is a rather straight forward process splicing the labeled wires to the appropriate car wires.
This is my second kit from etrailer and I'll be back when I purchase another vehicle in need of a receiver hitch.
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