Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

[BrianS.]

I just noticed the entire section of the underside of my Trailer Lights is exposed. Wouldn't boat Trailer Lights normally be waterproof? Or is that considered an upgrade?

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

Those trap air inside and water only comes in so far. Or so goes the theory. They drain immediately. Sealed units are better, more expensive to buy, and you can't just replace the bulb. The new LEDs show great promise but are very expensive.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

Makes sense about the air being trapped. Only reason I ask is because both bulbs were totally fried and I'm not sure why since I unplug my lights before I back into the water.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

The trapped air units work all right until you get a crack or have a bad seal on the wire connection and your done.
take a look around and find yourself a set of LED. I found a set on E-bay 2 years ago for not much more than a normal lamp. It;s been 2 years now and no more lamp issues. More than happy with the change.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

or put guide ons on your trailer and mount your lights on top. $7 lights mounted plus the continuous ground wire so no trailer ground to go bad.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

Interesting, I already have guides maybe I'll look into putting the lights on them. Good idea, thanks.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

mine had pcv pipe over them, i took the cap off and mounted a pvc T on top, took the sabre saw and cut the front half off. made a great mounting bracket, you will half to run a ground wire to the mounting bolt. i ran my grounds all the way to the harness plug.

 

[Khanhfucious]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

^ Do you have a pic of that? I just put home made guides on my trailer, and my lights are due for an upgrade, so I wanted to do something that'll both look cool, and'll be foolproof (or at least last). My dad never unplugs the trailer, etc etc.

 

[aggiedave98]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

btw the way the cheaper "waterproof" lights work is similar to this easy experiment:

fill your sink up w/ water.

take an upside down glass and push it down into the water. there is a limit on how far water comes up b/c of the air trapped inside the glass...

hope that helps at least understand it...

 

[spartanpele]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

If you want to avoid any possible headaches with blown fuses, simply pull your electrical trailer hookup right before backing into the water (in the staging area). Then before you leave the dock, hook them back up.

I blew many a fuse because my so called waterproof lights were getting water somehow.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

Guess you didnt read my 2nd post.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

You guys that are blowing fuses when launching with lights connected must be driving Fords.

I have 3 trailers that get dunked regularly, and have never lost a light at the launch or blown a fuse in over 30 years.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

Uh, my Ford as hasn't blown a fuse or lost a trailer light.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

These are pretty cool looking and only $35.00

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

Pulling the cabling doesnt work for those of us with disc brakes.

Buy LED's

 

[waterbill]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

I bought these LED light sets for my trailer. They were great, but one day I found that 7 of the 12 LEDs on one side went out , and 4 of the 12 on the other side went out. I took the assembly apart and found out the whole LED cluster is encased in a resin and that there is no way water can get in. They are probably foolproof, water-wise, but not from an electronic standpoint. What could have caused some of these LEDs to stop emitting light is hard to say. Unfortunately, they were made in China, and I threw away the receipt. Now I need to fork out another $50. Before I tried the LED sets, I had the upside-down glass principle type. They never failed, but I always removed the bulbs, hosed 'em out and WD'd them after each use--a big but effective rig-a-marole.

 

[Pony]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

 

[jake069]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

I have to woinder where your boat is, empty trailer, snow on the ground......frozen in lake?

 

[Pony]

Re: Are Trailer lights normally not water proof?

I have to woinder where your boat is, empty trailer, snow on the ground......frozen in lake?

LOL, the boat at that time was flipped over, resting on tires, and covered in snow.

I was just getting ready to go get a small aluminum boat I was getting from my uncle. It was the middle of February. Oddly enough the day that pic was taken we got 10" of snow an I had to shovel out the trailer the next morning so I could go get the boat. Two nights later It was -32F 8)