Trailer light recommendations

[marops]

Hi All,<br />I bought cheap lights for my 18' trailer last year while rebuilding it and although I was thorough with the installation, grounding was a real pain in the neck; had all kinds of problems and you should see the overkill of wire between truck frame and trailer neck that I used to get it to ground decent enough for proper light function.<br /><br />So I'd like to replace lights this year with some of decent enough quality for more reliability (hoping that there is a relationship). I plan on doing alotta traveling.<br /><br />Any vendor recommendations? LED or standard?<br /><br />Thanks for you help!<br />-Jack

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

You can get led and standard waterproof taillights of course the led are higher but flashier if you are in to that, almost double the price of standard lights, you can get kits at Walmart-Kmart ect with all the wire connectors and running lights and taillights for around $25 or the led for around $50 and replace everything. Remember the cheap standard lights arn't all waterproof the ones that are will have a groundwire comeing out of the light the elcheapos wont they ground through the mount bolts.

 

[marops]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Thanks, BR.<br /><br />Yeah, LED's seem pretty expensive. Instead of a kit I'm prolly better of buying decent red tail lights and amber lateral lights separately. I like the idea of having a ground wire coming from the light itself. The existing one's ground through the mounting hardware and that may be part of the problem. I'm not worried about bulb maintanance; that's easy.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

grease the bulb sockets and the bolts that mount them. this is was i did to my cheap set and they lasted for many years (6) so far no problems but i do always disconnect my lights before i head down the boat ramp

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Originally posted by wayne34609:<br /> grease the bulb sockets and the bolts that mount them. this is was i did to my cheap set and they lasted for many years (6) so far no problems but i do always disconnect my lights before i head down the boat ramp

Pick up a tube of di-electric grease at the autoparts store.

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Best trailer lights I've come across.<br /><br /> http://iboats.com/mall/index.cgi?prod_id=40566&current_category=wesbar water proof&cart_id=649184918 <br /><br />I've also seen the replacement capsules at WalMart. <br /><br />Nick in Spartanburg, SC<br /> http://www.geocities.com/jeff_nicholas/BBR.html

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Only bad thing about the cheap lights is if you guys are like me, half the time i forget to unplug them when i launch and the cheap ones let water in and needless to say when you hit the brakes there goes the bulbs.

 

[cajun555]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

I buy the el cheapos. Thing I don't do is depend on the trailer as my conductor for ground. Most cases the 4 wire conductor you only use 3 wires and the 4th I use for ground at the lights as well as grounded to car.

 

[JasonB]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Go with the LED's. I just refured a 1972 model trailer and replaced all lights with LED. No bulbs to blow again and the led's are brighter. They are more expensive as I have about $100 invested in lights including markers. Knowing that I will never have to sit at the ramp in the dark to fix a blown bulb or getting glass in my hand trying to replace one that shatters is worth the price. I used to go through $10-20/year on my two boat trailers. No more.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

once you go LED,,you'll never go back to bulbage..

 

[cuzner]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Go led,you can save money through e-bay.I only did my trailer 2 years ago( I got tired spending a couple of hours every spring getting them to work),but have a freind who did his 4 years ago.Haven't had a problem.<br /><br /><br /> Jim

 

[nimmor]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Something else you might want to consider will help two problems. Install some form of pole on the back of the trailer and mount your lights on the top of it. You will of course need two of them, one for both sides. This will keep them out of the water and help in backing the trailer. Before doing this if my boat was not on the trailer I couldn't see where it was until it was starting to jackknife. I used 1 inch square tubing and welded it on the trailer and then painted them to match.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Originally posted by RANimmo:<br /> Something else you might want to consider will help two problems. Install some form of pole on the back of the trailer and mount your lights on the top of it.

Thats what I have done except my lights now sit snugly in the transom rod holders and get put in the back of the truck when not needed. The pole is where the trailer plug is and it serves as a guide. The only water they will ever contact is rain.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[djvan]

Re: Trailer light recommendations

Sealed beam lights work good, they are waterproof and rubber mounted, get them at wal mart. These are also available in LED. I like the flat oval style but if round ones fit your configuration better I would use those.<br /><br />DougV>