Troubleshooting LED Trailer Lights on 5 x 8 Foot Tilt Trailer

Published 10/12/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Combination LED Trailer Tail Light - Submersible - 6 Function - 11 Diodes - Passenger Side

(1285)

$20.84

Load Resistor Kit for LED Turn Signals - 50 Watts - 6 Ohm - Qty 2

(36)

$13.21

Question:

If you used the Trailer Tail Light - 6-Function - LED - Submersible - 11 Diodes - Red Lens - Passenger # STL8RB then I recommend running a jump wire from the frame ground at the light to the mounting hardware on the unit. It sounds like the ground is not making a full contact, so the 12V battery is giving enough power to overcome the ground issue. I've attached a video of this particular light and the ground wire connection to the mounting hardware. The other possible issue is that some vehicles require a load resistor when using LED lights because the lights don't draw enough power for some vehicles to recognize connection. You may want to use Load Resistors or in some cases the Trailer Connector Adapter w/ Lamp-Out Sensor Bypass - 7-Way RV to 7-Way RV - Vehicle End # 20142 is enough resistance.

asked by: Chip W

Helpful Expert Reply:

If you used the Trailer Tail Light - 6-Function - LED - Submersible - 11 Diodes - Red Lens - Passenger # STL8RB then I recommend running a jump wire from the frame ground at the light to the mounting hardware on the unit. It sounds like the ground is not making a full contact, so the 12V battery is giving enough power to overcome the ground issue. I've attached a video of this particular light and the ground wire connection to the mounting hardware.

The other possible issue is that some vehicles require a load resistor like # DI34ZR when using LED lights because the lights don't draw enough power for some vehicles to recognize connection. You may want to use Load Resistors or in some cases the Trailer Connector Adapter w/ Lamp-Out Sensor Bypass - 7-Way RV to 7-Way RV - Vehicle End # 20142 is enough resistance.

expert reply by: Jason S

Chip

10/12/2018

Jason S.

10/12/2018

It still sounds like a ground issue so I have a couple suggestions to try. First suggestion is to see if the issue is that it is a tilt trailer because it basically has two frames joined at a pivot and run a jump wire from the outside frame to the frame attached to the axle for a solid ground between the frames. If that doesn't solve it, then I recommend using a load resistor like # P230004A-2 to require more power be drawn from your connector to just before the tail lights to see if slightly more power draw overcomes the slight ground issue.