How to Install The Draw-Tite 5-Flat Trailer End 48 Inch Harness # 20017 On A Trailer

Updated 02/04/2011 | Published 02/02/2011

Question:

I read an answer to a question about this part number and it said the extra wire was there because one wire went to one side of the tail lights and the other went to the other side. The tail lights on my trailer only has one wire. How do I wire this up?

asked by: Chuck

Expert Reply:

On the Draw-Tite 5-Flat Trailer End 48 Inch Harness, part # 20017, the wires are connected as follows,

White wire is ground wire
Green wire is right turn/brake
Yellow wire is left turn/brake
Brown with green tracer is right side tail lights
Brown with yellow tracer is left side tail lights
Blue wire is the reverse lockout or reverse lights

Normally on a 5-flat connector it would just have an extra blue wire for the reverse lockout feature on boat trailers with a hydraulic coupler. The one brown tail light wire is split to be able to run to the tail light on each side of the trailer.

On the Draw-Tite harness # 20017, the 5-flat connector has another extra wire, besides the normal 5-flat connector wires. That extra wire separates the brown tail light wire, so one brown wire can go to the right side tail light and one wire can go to the left side tail light.

Your tail lights have only one wire because they are grounded by the mounting studs. If your tail light had two wires then one wire is for ground and the other is for power.