What Can I Use to Power LED Trailer Lights w/Vehicle that Converted to LED Taillights?

Updated 10/21/2026 | Published 10/09/2026

Products Featured in This Question

Curt 2-to-3 Tail Light Converter for Towed Vehicles w/ Incandescent Tail Lights

(87)

$28.94

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

(44)

$10.37

Question:

I have a 2009 Nissan Rogue with incandescent tail lights and headlights converted to LEDs. I read a review that said this product C56196 that Im looking at doesnt work with LED tail lights, which I have on a small utility trailer. Both have a 4 wire system. There are no brakes on the trailer. Will this product work with the current setup or do I need something else? Please advise.

asked by: Bob

Expert Reply:

Hi Bob,

You're correct that the Curt 2 to 3 Wire Taillight Converter part # C56196 won't work with the LED lights on your trailer. Since your taillights on your 2009 Nissan Rogue have been converted to LEDs and your trailer has LEDs there's likely not enough power draw for the vehicle to recognize that a trailer is attached. If your trailer lights don't work at all, I suggest testing for function at the vehicle's 4-flat to make sure that each wire has power. Once you've made sure all the wires are working properly, you'll need to install load resistors like the Load Resistor Kit for LED Turn Signals - 50 Watts Part # DI34ZR. The load resistors act as an electrical dummy load and fool the vehicle's wiring into thinking that the incandescent bulbs are still installed. They do generate heat, so they'll need to be secured to a clean metal on the trailer's frame. One wire on the resistor will go on the yellow wire (Left turn/brake) and the other will be ground to the frame. The same process will be repeated for the second resistor on the green wire (Right turn/brake).

Do your trailer lights function at all when plugged in or is there no functions at all?

expert reply by: Claire H

Bob

10/19/2026

Claire, You misread my question. The headlights were converted to LED's. The taillights on the Rogue are still incandescent. The trailer lights are LED's. It sounds like the converter will work with the current setup. Let me know what you come up with.

Claire H.

10/19/2026

@Bob A 2009 Nissan Rogue has separate not combined wiring so the Curt 2 to 3 Converter part # C56196 wouldn't work because it has three wires not two coming out. The headlights being LEDs shouldn't have any effect on the taillights because they're on different electrical circuits and the trailer taillights are functioning off the signals from the vehicle's taillight circuit. Because your trailer has LED lights, the common issue that causes the lights not to work is the low power draw from the lights that causes the vehicle doesn't recognize a trailer is plugged in, which is why I suggested the load resistors. Do your trailer lights function at all when plugged in? Do you know if your trailer has combined or separate lighting? Trailers are usually combined lighting systems, which means there are two wires and it uses the same light bulb to signal both braking and turning.

Bob

10/20/2026

@ClaireH I replied with a question, but I'm not sure if I hit send. The one LED trailer taillight works, the other doesn't. A voltmeter shows power into the UHaul brand converter from both wires, but no voltage going to the one light that doesn't work and voltage going to the light that works. This sounds to me that the Curt unit that I originally questioned about would work. Should I reach out to Curt? Bob

Claire H.

10/21/2026

@Bob If you have power into the converter, but not into the light, it sounds like the converter in your trailer wiring has gone bad. The easiest option to fix that would be to replace the trailer wiring harness in the vehicle, like the Curt T-Connector Vehicle Wiring Harness w/4-Flat part # C56033. It's a plug in harness so the only splice you'd have to do is the black power run that's run to the battery. The Curt 2 to 3 wire converter is intended for use with vehicle's that have combined wiring at the taillights that combine the brake and turn signals. Because your Rogue has separate wiring, you have three wires not two, so the 2 to 3 wire converters wouldn't work, and it cannot be wired in backwards.