Parts Needed for Custom Wiring a Trailer For Separate Turn and Brake Lighting

Updated 08/17/2015 | Published 08/15/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Tail Light Converter with 4-Way Flat Trailer Connector and Install Kit

(380)

$48.21

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

(171)

$38.14

16 Gauge Primary Wire - Black - Per Foot

(61)

$1.14

Metal Loom Clamp -1/4"

(177)

$2.87

35 Ft 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness - Wishbone Style - 42" Ground

(847)

$23.02

Deka Ring Terminal - Heat Shrink - 12-10 Gauge - 1/4" Ring ID - Yellow - Qty 1

(41)

$1.92

Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector - 16-14 Gauge - Nylon Insulation - Blue - Qty 10

(1104)

$13.84

Self-Tapping Screw - 1/4" -14 x 3/4" Long - Zinc

(76)

$1.67

Pollak 7-Circuit-Breaker Junction Box

(12)

$56.90

Quick Splices - Self-Stripping Connector - Closed Port - 14-16-18 Gauge - Blue - Qty 1

(56)

$2.80

Question:

I have a 2004 Elantra GT. I plan on building a tear trailer to tow with this vehicle. I want to wire the trailer for separate amber turnsignals. Im assuming I can do this by using a 5 wire connector and no converter. but I want to also include protection for both the vehicle and trailer. Can I do that with fuses or circuit breakers? Also, if I do this can I then take a converter and put a 5 wire connector on the input end and then use that converter to tow a conventionally wired trailer with a 4 wire connector?

asked by: Tom

Expert Reply:

In order to have separate turn and brake lights on your trailer, I strongly recommend using a 2-wire to 3-wire converter, like the Tow Ready # 118158 on the trailer. This will allow you to have 4-way connectors on both the vehicle and the trailer. The 4-way connectors are much more common than 5-way connectors, and will allow to you tow other things with your vehicle, or tow your trailer with other vehicles, without the need for an adapter. This converter box is not designed to be exposed to the elements, so we recommend protecting it using a junction box, like # PK52249, or something similar.

You will want to use a wiring harness, like # A35W42B, to wire your trailer. This will provide you with a 4-way flat trailer connector at the front of your trailer. With this harness, the white wire will be grounded, the green wire is your right turn and stop, the yellow wire is the left turn and stop, and the brown wires will run to the left and right tail lights.

The converter will need to be installed on the green and yellow wires between the trailer connector and the lights. The converter box will either need to be spliced into the ground wire with a quick splice # SWC502905-1, or grounded independently, with a ring terminal # DW05740-1 and a screw # FA1131822. If you will need additional wire to run from the stop light wire on the converter back to your lights, you can use 16 gauge wire # 16-1-1. To connect the wires, you can use butt connectors # DW05744-10. To keep your wiring protected and out of the way on your trailer, you can use metal loop clamps # A0250.

On your 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT you will want to use a wiring harness like the Tow Ready Upgraded Circuit Protected Taillight Converter Hardwire Kit With 4-Pole End # 119178KIT, that you referenced. this wiring harness will hardwire into your vehicle's wiring and provide you with a 4-way flat connector at the rear of your vehicle. This wiring harness will work with the wiring I recommended for your trailer, as well as other trailers with 4-way flat connectors.

Using these products for the wiring of your trailer and vehicle will allow for an easier install, and safer, wiring setup. This way, the products will be used in the way the manufacturer intended, and you will be able to have some protection under their warranties.