Installing the 4-Wire Pigtail of the Optrionics Tail Light # STL68RB to 5 Wires from Vehicle

Published 09/18/2017

Products Featured in This Question

Fusion LED Trailer Tail Light - Stop, Tail, Turn, Backup - Submersible - Oval - Red/Clear Lens

(504)

$52.40

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

(847)

$23.02

Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector - 16-14 Gauge - Nylon Insulation - Blue - Qty 5

(1104)

$7.34

Hook Probe Circuit Tester

(60)

$12.27

Roadmaster Brite-Lite 3-to-2 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles

(121)

$64.90

Question:

My vehicle has 5 because I wired them. It is an old truck with no towing package or special wiring. I picked the 5 wires from the existing tail lights, stop, reverse, turn bulbs. There is no existing 'trailer' wiring. I have 5, you show 4.

asked by: Dave W

Expert Reply:

You may want to double check your 5 way from your vehicle, because normally the stop and turn signal functions are combined on a single wire and are separate wires based on left side and right side for turn signal. So, you'd have ground, left turn and stop, right turn and stop, running lights, and reverse as your 5 wire functions. I recommend using a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to test each pole function on your vehicle.

The LED Trailer Tail Light - Stop, Tail, Turn, Backup - Submersible - 14 Diodes - Oval - Pigtail # STL68RB has the 4 wires because the Stop and Turn functions are combined on the majority of trailers. To connect this you will match the following colors and functions:
White wire for ground function
Brown wire for backup light function
Red wire for brake light and also turn signal
Black wire for tail light/running light function

I recommend using the Deka Heat Shrink Butt Connector - 16-14 Gauge # DW05744-5 to make these connections.

expert reply by: Jason S

Dave W.

9/18/2017

Jason S.

9/18/2017

In that case, you will want to use the Roadmaster Brite-Lite Wiring Converter # RM-732 which will allow you to combine functions to allow you to tow standard trailers. This will combine the brake light function with the turn signal wiring on the same wire. I've attached an article on trailer wiring to assist. For trailer wiring, I recommend the 35 ft. Wishbone 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness with 42" Ground Wire # A35W42B. This wishbone harness will give you running light wire on each side of the trailer so you don't need to run a jump wire from one light fixture to the other. It gives you a cleaner wiring option.