Parts Needed to Rewire Vintage Trailer

Updated 09/02/2020 | Published 08/31/2020

Products Featured in This Question

Standard Trailer Light Kit with 25' Wire Harness

(452)

$28.35

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(104)

$1.84

16-Gauge Bonded 3 Wire - per foot

(42)

$1.55

Wiring Kit for Hydrastar Electric Over Hydraulic Actuators

(12)

$83.84

Question:

I need to buy new wire for running new exterior lights and tail lights as well as electric brakes on my 1960s trailer. Could you lead me to the appropriate product. The attached image represents what I am trying to do

asked by: Lindsay P

Expert Reply:

The most effective way to wire your trailer would be to use a 7-way pigtail running into a junction box. For the pigtail, I'd recommend the etrailer # HS381-9000. Keep in mind, there's a couple of accepted wire color coding conventions, and the color coding on this pigtail might not match what's existing, so be sure to look at the product description video I've linked for the color codes. The box includes the ring terminals, but not the mounting hardware.

This provides a tidy way to make all your electrical connections and keep them easily accessible yet protected from the elements. For your lighting functions, I'd recommend a length of 16 gauge bonded 3 wire, part # 16-3B-1. This is sold by the foot, so you'll need enough length to run from the junction box to each lamp. For the brake wire, you'll want to use # 10-1-1 which is also sold by the foot.

You can do the clearance lamps as a single run if you wish, that's typically the easiest way to run the running lamp circuit, but if you'd find it simpler to split the circuit at the junction box and run one leg down each side, there's nothing wrong with that.

expert reply by: Mike L