Recommended Wire Gauge For A 5-Way Wire Harness Ground Wire
Updated 02/03/2026 | Published 07/22/2024
Question:
Hello, The ground wire on my boat trailer broke near the grounding point. It is a 5 way harness. What gauge wire should be used to splice into the broken piece and attach to the grounding stud? I was thinking 14ga to be safe from a chart I found from your site. I also need to replace my safety chains after one came loose and was dragged at highway speeds for quite a while. Is there anything I need to be aware of when replacing these? Thank you for your assistance. Jeff
asked by: Jeffrey G
Expert Reply:
Hey Jeffrey,
The minimum wire gauge for a 5-way wire harness ground would be 16AWG so you'd be good using 14AWG. As for the chains, we'll need to know the GVWR of your trailer to ensure we're picking out the correct capacity to handle the weight of the trailer in the event of a breakaway.
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Samuel C.
2/3/2026
Hey Jeffrey, did you get a chance to use the 14-gauge wire for your trailer’s ground connection? Once you confirm your trailer’s GVWR, we can make sure the new safety chains match the right capacity. Your update could help others working on similar trailer repairs.