I should wire all my trailers like this

[Iplayfarmer]

I got a very small tilt trailer for hauling around lawn and garden tractors as I buy and sell them. I've used it a few times, and I love it!

In order to fix a crack in the framework, I lifted the trailer onto it's side and secured it to a beam in my garage/shop. The trailer needed all new wiring too. After the crack was fixed I left the trailer on its side to do the wiring. That made wiring the trailer rediculously easy. I'm sure that next time I have a trailer to wire I'll be looking for a way to swing it from the rafters.

The first picture below is the fix for the crack. That's a chunk of old bed rail welded over the crack.

The second picture is the trailer on it's side with the wiring completed.

 

[Ford tractor]

Yes, flipping stuff on it's side makes for some easy work. Funny how we figure that stuff out as we get older and no longer enjoy laying on cold hard cement and having dirt and crud falling in our faces...

Last trailer I built for rumbling through the woods has the wiring wrapped in spiral plastic and then run in square tube from the front to the lights. No rubs no rips no errors for (knock on wood) 10+ years. Next biggest thing was no splices in the wires, just straight shot from the plug to the lamps and the plastic housings sealed tight. The sockets are also slathered with "dielectric grease" that keeps them from corroding. Actually works. Doing all that has made my DIY trailer the most reliable one I own.

 

[Travelover]

Great idea flipping the trailer. In some plants, pickup truck chassis assemblies are put together upside down then flipped before they go to body decking.

I worked in a trailer rental place between high school and college and I learned that if you want dependability, all wire connections must be soldered, with shrink tubing over. The ground wire should be soldered to the steel frame - not that hard if the metal is clean. This experience was in a salty environment.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Great idea flipping the trailer. In some plants, pickup truck chassis assemblies are put together upside down then flipped before they go to body decking.

I worked in a trailer rental place between high school and college and I learned that if you want dependability, all wire connections must be soldered, with shrink tubing over. The ground wire should be soldered to the steel frame - not that hard if the metal is clean. This experience was in a salty environment.

I'm not ambitious enough yet to solder the stuff. I thought I was going the extra mile by wrapping my scotch locks with electrical tape and spraying the ground connection with battery terminal sealer. Leave it to TBN to keep the carrot out in front of me to always be improving and finding a better way.

 

[Travelover]

I'm not ambitious enough yet to solder the stuff. I thought I was going the extra mile by wrapping my scotch locks with electrical tape and spraying the ground connection with battery terminal sealer. Leave it to TBN to keep the carrot out in front of me to always be improving and finding a better way.

I hear ya. I got tired of hooking up a trailer for a customer on a blustery zero degree night, only to find the lights didn't work.

Around here the salt spray works into every connection.

 

[Car Doc]

I did my HM car trailer like that plus I got to finish all my welds it sure is easy on the back not crawling around on a creeper or a piece of cardboard.

I always solder and shrink any wiring I do specially outdoors wiring the rule is for me anyway-I find I don't have lights when I need it the most and not have time to work on it happens every time!

 

[CowwFace]

Humm,

I wonder if this will work with my camping trailer? :laughing::confused2:

Carry on,
Phill

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I did my HM car trailer like that plus I got to finish all my welds it sure is easy on the back not crawling around on a creeper or a piece of cardboard.

I always solder and shrink any wiring I do specially outdoors wiring the rule is for me anyway-I find I don't have lights when I need it the most and not have time to work on it happens every time!

I live in a very dry climate, so my experience may not be typical. I've found that if I use extension cord material and if i use scotchlocks wrapped in a good, stretchy electrical tape my trailer wiring works just fine. The other trick seems to be using plenty of zip ties to keep it the cords from moving and rubbing. I think on this one I did a little better job of securing the cord in the right place with the zip ties, etc. I think being able to work comfortably helped a lot.

I've also learned to not troubleshoot any trailer wiring. If I get a trailer with a short, I pull out all of the old stuff and install all new. I've never pulled out any of my own work.

To CowwFace: Be sure to post pictures when you try it with your camp trailer. I'm sure there are many of us that would like to see that.

 

[Car Doc]

I live in a very dry climate, so my experience may not be typical. I've found that if I use extension cord material and if i use scotchlocks wrapped in a good, stretchy electrical tape my trailer wiring works just fine. The other trick seems to be using plenty of zip ties to keep it the cords from moving and rubbing. I think on this one I did a little better job of securing the cord in the right place with the zip ties, etc. I think being able to work comfortably helped a lot.

I've also learned to not troubleshoot any trailer wiring. If I get a trailer with a short, I pull out all of the old stuff and install all new. I've never pulled out any of my own work.

To CowwFace: Be sure to post pictures when you try it with your camp trailer. I'm sure there are many of us that would like to see that.

You are pretty lucky we have plenty of rain and plus they use salt in winter months so any driving in the wet adds the possibility of corrosion year round especially on the tow vehicle wiring.

 

[ray66v]

I always solder and shrink any wiring

That is the only way to go.