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  1. Flat Tow Wiring Harness
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Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles w/ Incandescent Tail Lights
CURT

Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles w/ Incandescent Tail Lights

Part Number: C56196
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$34.56
Retail:$46.05
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Flat Tow Wiring Harness
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Tow safely and legally with this wiring converter. Ensures that the brake and turn signals from your motorhome with a combined lighting system appear correctly on your towed car with a separate lighting system. Made for incandescent tail lights. 1-800-940-8924 to order CURT flat tow wiring harness part number C56196 or order online at etrailer.com. Free expert support on all CURT products. Great prices and Fastest Shipping for Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles w/ Incandescent Tail Lights. Flat Tow Wiring Harness reviews from real customers.
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  • Reviews (78)
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CURT Flat Tow Wiring Harness - C56196

  • Tail Light Converter
  • Splices into Vehicle Wiring
  • CURT
  • Universal Fit

Tow safely and legally with this wiring converter. Ensures that the brake and turn signals from your motorhome with a combined lighting system appear correctly on your towed car with a separate lighting system. Made for incandescent tail lights.


Features:

  • Ensures the brake and turn signals on your towed vehicle match the signals on your RV
    • Converts the 2-wire signal from your motorhome to a 3-wire signal for your towed car
  • Pairs with your tail light diode kit (sold separately) to carry signals from RV to towed car
  • Installs easily - includes color-coded wires with wiring diagram
    • Does not require a heavy-duty flasher or direct battery connection
  • Provides consistent, reliable performance with surface mount technology (SMT)
    • Shines brightly while producing minimal heat
    • Ensures reliable operation in rough road conditions


Specs:

  • Application:
    • Tow vehicles with combined brake and turn signals
    • Towed vehicles with separate brake and turn signals
    • Incandescent tail lights only
  • Max amperage:
    • Tail light: 5 amps
    • Brake light: 2.1 amps
    • Turn signal: 2.1 amps
  • 1-Year limited warranty


Note: Cannot be installed backward for use with a 3-wire tow vehicle and a 2-wire towed.


Combined Lighting System vs Separate Lighting System

Combined vs Seperate Lighting System

A combined lighting system (also known as a 2-wire system) uses the same light bulb to signal both braking and turning. (In other words, the car signals a turn by flashing the brake light.)


A separate lighting system (also known as a 3-wire system) has the brake signal and the turn signal light up independently of each other. Typically, the turn signal is amber.


In order to use these two together, you need a converter that can accurately translate the signals from the motorhome to the towed vehicle.




56196 Curt Combined Taillight to Separate Taillight Wiring Converter for Flat Tow Vehicle with Incandescent Taillights

Installation Details C56196 Installation instructions


California residents: click here


Customer Satisfaction Score:

Ratings & Reviews

4.8

78 reviews
Tow safely and legally with this wiring converter. Ensures that the brake and turn signals from your motorhome with a combined lighting system appear correctly on your towed car with a separate lighting system. Made for incandescent tail lights.

by:

You can never go wrong buying from eTrailer. Product arrived quickly and does what was expected.



by:

i used this on my trailer so that i was able to use taillights with separate (amber) turn signals, it works like it is supposed to, BUT it doesn't work with LED tails bc it drops the brake wire voltage coming out of the convertor to 10v causing the brake light LEDs to not function properly; i solved this issue with a voltage regulator (10-32v in - 13.8v out) so if you've got a little wiring knowledge or are using incandescent taillights then it will work great for you.

Matt M. profile picture

Matt M.

6/3/2020

so far its still working just like it did since day one, no complaints so far.



by:

1 Tail Light Converter - C56196 :
i was a little confused, but finely figured it out.
2 Tail Light Isolating Diodes (Qty 4) - 48955 :
i was told i would need these (their for towing a vehicle, not a trailer)
etrailer salesperson should had known that(they were told)
wasted money, cost to ship back



by:

worked as described. used on 2017 silverado to connect topper brake light



by:

Works great for stop/turn/ tail lights with yellow signal capability on my sled deck, only issue is when hazards/brake lights activate there is a short flash of yellow before the electronics take over. Great solution for the price.

Jesse profile picture

Jesse

11/19/2021

Still working good, no issues yet!



by:

I used this product to wire the center, high-mounted brake light on a pickup truck camper shell. I used the wires from the rear brake lights. All I can say is that it works like a charm. It does exactly what it's supposed to do.

Mark P. profile picture

Mark P.

1/28/2021

It’s still working like a charm.



by:

It works as described under normal circumstances, but I have one problem with the hazard flashing.
Using it makes the brake lights light up on my trailer and not the turn signals like on the car.
I still have to do some research on that issue.

Hh profile picture

Hh

8/17/2018

Hi, Still using it and Im happy with it.



by:

This item is exactly as advertised. I use it to convert a U.S. Spec vehicle with red turn signals to pull a E.U. trailer with the yellow turn signals and works like a charm. I have ordered several times from this company and continue to receive excellent service from the ordering processing all the way thru to the delivery.
Would recommend both this product and the company to anyone asking.

Scott profile picture

Scott

6/25/2019

After one year this is still working strong with no issues. Very good quality.



by:

I found a camper shell for my Ranger that had an LED brake light, but it had never been wired up before. Before I found this product I had simply spliced a connection into one of the vehicle's brake light circuits. While this DID work, it also meant that it would flash the turn signal from the side that I wired it into (I used the left side; Ford used amber turn signals on the Ranger from 1993 to 1999, but mine is a 2011). This would have confused anyone behind me whether I was slowing down, turning, or both with too many flashing lights at once. This tail light converter was the solution to this problem. An ordinary converter (3-to-2 wire) will NOT work b/c it can't be wired in backwards (tried it before on a similar project). Same for this one (it even says it on the labeling) except it works in the opposite direction (2-to-3 wire). I wired it in the same way as just the light itself, & nothing happened. Eventually I found out it needed power from the left AND right brake lights for it to function. EUREKA! Everything lit up when I pressed the brake pedal. I also found out that the hazard flashers run through the brake light circuit in the converter after being separated from the turn signals--the brake light still flashed along with them (but ONLY them); the same thing happens with the high-mount stop lamp on my Wells Cargo trailer, so I can live with that. Had to find extra wiring to reach the right side though. Only suggestions are to make the the input wires longer & explain in the instructions that you need the left AND right inputs for the converter to run properly. Otherwise an excellent product!



by:

The purchase was very easy. After the post office did not deliver my first order I reordered and paid extra for UPS shipping. UPS left the package at my door and everything is good.

Earl profile picture

Earl

6/12/2017

Installed on my Yamaha Venture. Everything is working after the first year.



by:

Does what it says it does. Internally, it uses a relay that triggers when both turn signal inputs are activated, so there is a pulse on the output when hitting the brakes, or when the cautions are activated.

I used this to install turn signal / marker light combos on my trailer. This stops the brake light functionality from lighting up the turn signal portion of the marker lights, but there is still a brief pulse or strobe when the brakes are hit, or the cautions are activated.

I would have personally used a mosfet in this unit instead of a relay, as the switching and signal processing would be orders of magnitude faster with no pulse or strobe effect.

So, it does separate out the brake lights from the turn signals, but not 100%, more like 95%



by:

Used it to wire up a third single brake light bar on a teardrop trailer. Works well. OEM trailer lights are LED which necessitated the choice of this controller over the standard controller. Written and graphic wiring instructions posted by etrailer were easily followed, and so far, after a year of use, no issues. Thanks.



by:

The tail light converter works as it should - make sure that the ground wire is connected solidly then you'll be fine . Specially on boat trailers that could cause issues.
The ground wire is the first to corrode and suddenly nothing is working any more.
I greased all the ground wire connectors- also on the vehicle side ....



by:

Purchased a set of European style taillights for a trailer rewire I was doing. Got everything wired in and couldn't get the taillights to work properly due to they had a 5 wire configuration, after some research found that over seas the turn signal and brake signals are separated on trailers, in the states ours are combined on one signal wire, thus they're wasd no way to make these lights work, until I stumbled upon a forum and there was a link to etrailer and what do you know here's this little black box that does what I need. I ordered it but yet was hesitant cause I really didn't think it would work. Once installed all works perfect. I stil got to use my taillights I wanted on my rewire and everything works just as normal.



by:

Does exactly what it says, converts from combined turn signal/brake light to separate turn signal and brake light circuits. I am using it to pull a Bushtec motorcycle trailer (with separate brake light circuits, 6-conductor flat connector) with a motorcycle (with combined signal and brake light circuits). I just hooked it up in conjunction with a circuit isolator I already had wired in to a 4-condoctor flat harness tonight and it works. So now I have the 4-conductor connector for a rack I use instead of a trailer sometimes and the 6-conductor connector for the Bushtec trailer. The only drawback I have found is the third brake light on the spoiler of my trailer dims if I am braking and signaling a turn at the same time. It does this each time the signal flashes. But for the price, I'm happy with it.



by:

Worked great, used to convert trailer plug into a workable connection for the third light on my camper shell and with a y connection I can still attach trailer wiring. Thanks



by:

The product worked very well. Was able to adapt the trailer wiring to the motorcycle wiring very easily.

Rick profile picture

Rick

4/13/2018

both units still working and I am very happy with them.



by:

fast shipping



by:

This convertor did exactly what I wanted it to do. The wires were clearly marked which made for easy installation. I rewired my trailer and wanted to put yellow turn signals on along with the red brake lights. I was able to use a standard 4 wire plug to my vehicle and the convertor did the rest.



by:

The CURT 2-to-3 wire conversion kit was easy to mount and install.
Upon fist glance, there seemed to be an issue with the quality of the plastic box, and where the seems did not meet. However, the longevity of the part is yet to be seen. The converter was marked clearly, and instructions were good.
I used the converter for a Swedish boatwashing machine that was imported into the USA. The European style connector was removed, and the CURT conversion kit was wired in. After wiring up the inputs and outputs as labeled on the part itself all lights worked independently just as they should. Great product with ez to understand instructions and works as it should.



by:

I recently purchased a new CanAm Spyder and had a trailer hitch installed to pull my small camping trailer. The Spyder output cable has combined brake and turn signal connections while my trailer has a separate turn signal and brake hookup. After calling Etrailer and speaking with Rick about my problem he suggested I use the C56196 converter. This small unit was exactly what I needed and it works perfectly.



by:

As always, shipping was faster than quoted. Excellent. Ordered on Tuesday and arrived on Thursday. I used this to isolate the brake/turn signal for installation of a third brake light on a teardrop camper. Easy installation, clearly marked wiring. Worked as expected.



by:

I needed to wire my camper to my GMC Terrain. The wiring harness I bought works perfectly. Now I have brake lights, running lights and turn signals.



by:

Works like charm. Easy install. This application was used for my chevy avalanche to meet the foreign countries specifications on lighting requirements. Simple wiring solution to split the turn signal from brake light signal.



by:

I built a generator rack on the back of my travel trailer and added additional break, running, and turn signals. Using this device I was easily able to use the existing 4 pin connector on the back of the travel trailer to wire up all my new lights.


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Show More Reviews

See what our Experts say about this CURT Flat Tow Wiring Harness

  • Buzzing Noise from Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter Part # C56196
    I spoke to my contact at Curt and they informed me that the reason you are hearing the buzzing noise and the third brake light is flashing when using the Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter part # C56196 is because the green and yellow output wires need to be connected in order to send the proper resistance through the circuits. The only way to properly install a third brake light on a trailer would be to run a signal wire for the vehicle's third brake light to the trailer's third brake...
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  • Troubleshooting Non-Working Light Signals After Installing A Curt Tail Light Converter Wire Harness
    Hey Larry, A faulty ground can cause all sorts of goofy problems so it's a great place to start your troubleshooting. I'd check the ground for the tail light converter # C56196 as well as the ground for the lights. Are the lights on the trailer LED? If so you'll need to install resistors # TK32VR for each circuit for this converter to be compatible. From there you can doublecheck that you have the wires connected to the appropriate tail light wiring on the towing vehicle to ensure the...
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  • Wiring a Camper Shell Third Brake Light on a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado
    I've never heard of an actual third brake light connector on a camper shell to plug in on a truck and we don't carry any parts to do that. The light generally needs to be hardwired into the truck's brake light circuit. The issue with this on your 2017 Chevrolet Silverado the brake light and turn signal circuits are combined on one wire. So if you just wire it in the camper shell's brake light will also flash with the turn signals. To solve this issue we recommend using a vehicle to...
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  • Separating Combined Tail Light Wiring on 2009 Chrysler Town and Country
    You are correct that you can use a 2-to-3 converter, the Curt # C56196, to separate the combined circuits on your 2009 Chrysler Town and Country so your brake lights and turn signals will operate independently of one another. In regards to Diodes # 48955, you should use them to prevent backfeeding. I have added links to video reviews of the converter and diodes for you to check out as well.
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  • Recommended Roadmaster Base Plates For Flat Towing A 2007 Jeep Wrangler
    If you already have a Roadmaster tow bar for your 2007 Jeep Wrangler then you'll want to get Roadmaster base plates as well to avoid having to purchase adapters. For a standard factory bumper you'll want the Roadmaster Direct-Connect Base Plate Kit # 1429-3. These direct connect style base plates will offer you a quick and easy attachment point for your tow bar. To flat tow your 2007 Jeep Wrangler you'll also need a tow bar wiring kit, braking system, and safety cables. If you haven't...
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  • Converting 2 Wire Trailer Wiring to 3 Wire to Isolate the Stop Light Signal From Turn Signals
    For the combined wiring required on most trailers, the Tekonsha wiring kits work extremely well. It sounds like you have a lighted bike rack that isn't wired for standard trailer connection, so you will need to use a converter like # 118158 or # C56196 to separate out your turn signals from the brake lights.
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  • Can Two Of The Curt 2-Wire to 3-Wire Converter C56196 Be Used To Convert RV To 3-Wire System
    Yes you can use two of the Curt 2 to 3 Wire Tail Light Converter # C56196, one on each side of your RV to convert its 2-wire system to work with 3-wire lights. Doing it this way will prevent you from having to run the wiring from one side to the other on your RV. You will not need to use any resistors, and the turn signals will work just fine. I included a video of the # C56196 for you to take a look at.
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  • Can Curt 2 to 3 Tail Light Converter # C56196 be Installed on Trailer Wiring
    Hey Frank, yes you absolutely can mount the Curt 2 to 3 converter part # C56196 on your trailer instead of on your tow vehicle for the exact reason you mentioned.
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  • Troubleshooting Turn Signals Coming On When Pressing Brake Pedal After Converting to 7-Way
    To start I have attached a help article of ours near the bottom of the page which covers 7-way wiring. On your utility trailer the turn signals and brake lights would have the same circuit from the vehicle. If you installed some different tail lights which have separate turn signals then you would need to add a Converter # C56196 to separate the signals for the lights. This converter is only designed for use with incandescent tail lights so if you have LED tail lights you will need to add...
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    The Curt Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter # C56196 is what you need to separate your brake light signal from your turn signal. This converter will take your combined turn and brake signal and isolate them so you will have left turn, right turn, and stop. This will help you to isolate the brake light so that you can meet the European standards.
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  • Recommended Converter To Separate Brake Lamp and Turn Signal Circuits
    Yes, there is! To separate the signal you'll want to use the Curt 2 to 3 Wire Tail Light Converter item # C56196. You would wire the converter inline with the right and left turn and brake circuits. You will want to install the converter some place where it's protected from the elements. If the design of the trailer makes that difficult or impossible, then you can use a junction box like item # 3375601100 to protect the converter. For LED lights you will also need to add Resistors item...
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  • Converter for Separating Brake and Turn Signals
    Hello Bill; the converter you're referencing won't work that way. What you need is the Curt 2 to 3 Wire Tail Light Converter # C56196. This is specifically designed to separate the combined turn and brake signals.
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  • Recommended Wiring Connector to Use a European 13 Pin w/ Standard 7-Way Connector
    Hey Frederik. We do not have a wiring adapter for a 13 pin connector but I do have everything you need to convert your trailer to a standard 7-way and/or your VW to a standard 7-way. To convert your trailer you'll need the following parts: Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter item # C56196 - This will combine the separate brake and tail lights that are on European trailers. etrailer Trailer Wiring 7-Way Upgrade Kit w/ Junction Box and RV Style Connector item # e99011 - This kit contains...
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  • How to Convert 4-Way for European Trailer With Separate Turn Signals and Brakes
    Hey Rick! The solution for your wiring is not on the vehicle side and this is not bi-directional. You will still use a standard 4-way like the Curt # C56496 for the vehicle (any 4-way will work). On the trailer side you want to install the Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter # C56196. This will separate the turn signals and brake light so the trailer lights will work with any vehicle. What kind of trailer do you have?
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  • What Lights Will Flash with Tow Ready and Curt Converters?
    Hey Ezekiel, thanks for reaching out! Great questions about the Tow Ready # 118158 and Curt # C56196 converters. When you put your hazards on, all bulbs connected to that output side of the converter for the turn signals will flash. As for the LED function...that's been a sore spot for years with these things. We've had customers successfully get them to work at times, but Tow Ready and Curt get frustrated when people talk about it and they're adamant that these don't work with LED nights....
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    Hi Caleb; how did you decide to convert a 2023 Ford bed into a trailer? The 7-way on your vehicle is designed to work with a trailer that has combined stop/turn signals. To separate this back out and work with the lights on the converted truck bed you will need the Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter # C56196.
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  • How to Separate Brake and Turn Signal for Tail Light Installation With Separate Functions
    You will want to use a converter to separate out the signals and not use the electric brake output circuit. The Curt 2 to 3 Wire Tail Light Converter # C56196 will do exactly what you need.
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  • How to Separate Out Running and Brake Combined Signals on a Multiplex Wiring System
    Hey Benjamin, thanks for reaching out! It sounds like your vehicle has multiplex wiring so you need the ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness w/ 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector and Installation Kit # 119250KIT. This takes all of the needed wiring circuits and splits them up into the standard trailer wiring 4-Way flat connector: - Running - Ground - Left Stop/Turn - Right Stop/Turn The Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter # C56196 will then allow you to separate out the brake and...
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  • Can Trailer Wiring Running Lights be Converted to Turn Signals
    Hey Roy, yes you can wire up the running lights on your trailer to be turn signals but you will need to use a taillight converter to get the turn signal circuit separate from the brake lights since that is how trailer wiring is. For that you'd want the part # C56196 which will accomplish this. Once you wire the input side to your current wiring the yellow and green wires would carry just the turn signals by themselves.
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  • Wiring A Trailer For Separate Brake And Turn Signals
    The Tail Light Isolating Diode System with Wiring Harness # 38955 you were looking at is for towed vehicles so I misinterpreted your question and recommended the additional diodes. If you were just wanting to wire your trailer for separate lighting then you'll just need a converter # C56196 and you'll splice it in after the 7-way/junction box on the trailer. On the 7-Way wiring, locate the wire for the left turn and brake and attach it to the yellow wire on the converter input side. Connect...
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  • Is The Curt 2 To 3 Wire Tail Light Converter Compatable With LEDs.
    Yes, you will need to install resistors like the Optronics Load Resistor for LED Lights - Male PL-3 Plug and Pigtail # ALEDRST1B or the Optronics Load Resistor for LED Lights - Male PL-3 Plug and Female PL-3 Plug # ALEDRST2B. The Curt 2 to 3 Wire Tail Light Converter # C56196 is not compatible with LED lights and will need resistors.
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  • How to Convert 13-Pin Euro Plug to US 7-Way
    It is possible to convert your 13-pin connector to a 7-way. You will need the Curt 2 to 3 Wire Tail Light Converter # C56196 to combine the separate brake and tail lights you have now. You will also need the # H20042 you looked at which is 3' long or the # H20044 for 6'. The 7-way functions are as follows: White Wire - Ground Red Wire - Left Turn and Brake Brown Wire - Right Turn and Brake Green Wire - Tail/Running Lights Blue Wire - Brake Power Black Wire - 12 volt (hot lead) Yellow...
    view full answer...


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