Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

[gt2003]

Ok, another newbie question, I think the left turn signal bulb on my boat trailer is shot. Can I just replace that one bulb or will I have to buy another complete light assembly since the current one is waterproof? Hey, someone's gotta ask, why not me!

 

[woosterken]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

yes you can ... unless it is an led sealed fixture.
if it has screws on the front to remove the lens, just remove it and replace the bulb, then use some knd of silicone to reseal the lens

woosterken

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

Depends on the age and type of lights that are on it. Most are sealed units in the last 15 years no way to take apart. As mentioned if there are screws on the lens cover you can probably replace bulbs, no screws no take apart and you have to replace the unit. Really check the pins on the back IF it is a sealed unit alot of times its the connector pins on the back of the light housing. Even better rig up a few wires to a spare battery and hard test it then you know for sure..

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

Mine have most likely not been waterproof for years. I disconnect when dunking the trailer and re-connect when drained out afterwards. I do however only launch / recover in fresh water.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

All tail lights have replaceable bulbs, except LEDs. If the red lens has screws, remove it and replace the bulb. If the red lense is sealed, the bulb/socket assembly slides out from the bottom so you can remove the bulb. Its a simple job!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

Not all bulbs are replaceable, there are many that arent LED that you cant replace without major surgery to the housing. Been there done that, by the time you get it apart, replace the bulb and try to patch it back togather. Should have just bought the new unit, installed it and been done with it. I have had two different trailers with incandecent bulbs which were sealed units that were not replaceable at all. The new unit is about 7 - 10 bucks depending on where you purchase and it is compression held in to the rubber ring and just has a 3 prong connection on the back.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

Ok, I'll rephrase my response. I never SAW......yada yada.

I have only ever bought marine grade submersible type lights. I have seen lights at Harbor Freight for 7 bucks but never tried them. Even cheap lights at the marina will cost double that, and even those won't last more than 4 or 5 seasons.

The sealed lights on my trailer are open at the bottom and the entire bulb / socket assembly snaps out and is removable. When I first bought them it was to replace / upgrade the OEM lights. Before installing I greased the bulbs. That was 1984 and they haven't been touched since then. They cost 4 times the std. units, but the service life of the lights and bulbs makes them quite cost effective.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

As the others have said, some bulbs can be replaced, some can't as they are sealed units.

Do yourself a favor and get rid of the incandescent bulb lights and replace them with LED lights. I've had my fair share of blown bulbs, (one trip replaced the L before leaving home and then the R bulb before leaving the launch ramp ) but don't have anyone to blame but myself as I don't unplug the lights... They help me while backing down dark ramps at night. I've launched 30-40 times with the LED lights and they are still going strong.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

From the salt water perspective: none of them are waterproof; all of them will go bad. It's a "when" and not an "if'.
When I drive behind a trailer I assume the lights don't work. I hope the people behind me do the same.
Unplug when you launch; white lithium grease on the fittings; heat shrink and minimize connections; seal what you can--all a good idea.
If you seldom trailer, consider the removeable light harness, so it is exposed only when you are actually on the road. We do this for a trailer that is heavily used at the ramp but seldom goes on the highway; lights have lasted 15 years and outlasted one trailer.

 

[Aussie Bunyip]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

The "as bought" lights on my trailer were pathetic. They depended on an air bubble forming inside the plastic housing to keep the water out. They got the big toss as soon as I discovered how they worked. I bought some LED's and have never looked back. I welded some boxes to hold the lights and mounted the boxes on a tube. One each side of the trailer at the rear. The lights now sit 5 feet above the road and cannot be swamped with waves when launching etc. The license plate is bolted to one of the poles (made from 1 1/2" gal tube) and is located in a vertical manner. The wiring is continuous from each side and conects at the tow bar to the car. This has been the greatest idea since sliced bread was brought out. The LED's can't be stolen as I made them to be installed with an Alen Key and the small access hole is covered with a reflector. It has proven itself to be a perfect job. License plates on trailers can be installed verticaly in Aust.
Aussie Bunyip

 

[JimS123]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

The "as bought" lights on my trailer were pathetic. They depended on an air bubble forming inside the plastic housing to keep the water out. They got the big toss as soon as I discovered how they worked.

Maybe you should have tried them. They are the best. Any pair like that I ever bought never need to be replaced. As I said in my last post, my current set is 26 years old and still running the original bulbs.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

One other note I didn't see above - when replacing them, get the correct wattage/current rating. If not, one side will be dimmer than the others. If you have cheap lights (think, harbor freight), it will be tough to find a matching bulb. In that case, you will be better off replacing all the bulbs at once (just went through this on my little trailer). Good luck.

 

[109jb]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

The "as bought" lights on my trailer were pathetic. They depended on an air bubble forming inside the plastic housing to keep the water out. They got the big toss as soon as I discovered how they worked.

Maybe you should have tried them. They are the best. Any pair like that I ever bought never need to be replaced. As I said in my last post, my current set is 26 years old and still running the original bulbs.

I agree with JimS123, these are the best lights I have ever had on a trailer. The gasket seal type always seem to leak after a while, but the bell jar type I have never had a problem with. Also, while LED's are nice, they too can fail. My father has a 2 year old trailer with LED's on it and the entire left light stopped working due to a cold solder joint inside the unit to the ground wire pigtail. I cut it open for him and fixed and resealed the light. I also have a trailer with LED's and one side has about 1/4 of the led's not working anymore. I'm guessing it is something similar to what I found on my father's trailer but haven't had time to mess with it. The lights on that trailer are about a year old and I put them on because my father in law shattered one of the old lights with a tractor. I went with LED's because everyone talks about how great the LED's are. I do like that the LED's are bright and hard to miss, but on the other hand, I owned a boat that had bell jar lights for for about 10 years and never did anything to the incandescent lights on it. I never unplugged at the ramp and never had to change a bulb in 10 years. Everything fails eventually.

 

[Low dsrt jon]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

Sure you can unless the seal breakes the lens when you take it apart. LDJ

 

[Skagit Hunter]

Re: Can individual bulbs be replaced on trailers

sealed lights have a weap hole....So they are not completely sealed. Bulb lights are a joke...unplug wait for them to drain..... Then the time you forget to unplug.
LED's make life easier....But cheap ones are junk to. You get what you pay for in lights.

Cut and solder ALL connections. And double heat shrink. I go one step further and use liquid tape on the ends of the outer heat shrink.
Do it right and they will last for years. I use mine in salt and fresh.