Truck to trailer wiring and the "issues"

[leonz]

I have a 2 ton maxxam dump trailer and 2008 1/2 ton Isuzu I 290 pick up.

The fellow that I bought the trailer from wants $300.00 to install a complete new braking system for the trailer and what ever wiring I need for it(He was not willing to install the wiring when I bough the trailer from him as he was "too busy").

Have any of you just spliced the 6 wires to the female plug by removing the tail lights and splicing them on the related wire for the brakes, tail, turn signal and four way signals?

I would love to have LED spot back up lights on the trailer but I would need to replace the existing trailer harness with a new one and resplice the new tail lights and add LED spot lights on magnets that could be set on the fenders and removed later after the backing up is done.

I would not hesitate to put the LED spot lights/wide light bar on the removable tail gate of the trailer as it would make a world of difference as I would rather have good back up lighting already mounted and out of harms way. I have room for more cable in the trailers wire hangers so that is not a problem.

I don't use it that often and the existing battery is shot and I would love to have a power lead to the battery connections to run it off the truck as these deep cycle batteries are very expensive. I have two battery tenders and I would buy a third if I could simply use a small truck battery with 850-1,000 cold CCA instead of a deep cycle battery for it.

I used two sets of jumper cables to power the pump the last time I used the trailer which was in December of 2020.
Using the jumper cables after splicing the 25 five foot cables together with 4/0 butt connectors and using water proof shrink tubing would probably be simpler in the scheme of things as the butt connectors and shrink tubing is not that expensive. I could just buy a single medium voltage line splice that has a water proof body too I guess.


The male trailer plug and cable is something I would like to change to a second female plug mounted on the trailer tongue where I would use a male to male cable using the existing cable.

I thought about selling it and buying a one ton low profile dump trailer too but no one rents dump trailers locally and as its 10 years old it needs sand blasting painting.

The trailer has less than 2,000 miles on it, and I bought a landscapers ramp for it when I bought it and I doubt I would get a decent offer for the trailer anyway as is.

 

[grsthegreat]

nearly all trucks i have ever dealt with have plug in couplings underneath for tail lights, brake lights, etc. they make adapter kits that plug inbetween these couplings that allow 7 way/4 way connector ports. im not familiar with izuzu though. check with napa.

something like this

04-12 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon Isuzu I Series Pickup 7 Way ...

04-12 Chevy Colorado GMC Canyon Isuzu I Series Pickup 7 Way RV Trailer Wiring Plug Prong Pin Brake Control Ready - This Wiring Fits The Following Vehicles:2004 - 2012 Chevrolet, Colorado, All Styles2004 - 2012 GMC, Canyon, All Styles2006 Isuzu

www.trailerjacks.com

 

[Roadworthy]

Generally mist later trucks do have lighting connectors of some sort from the factory. I do not know Isuzu at all. Some are concealed under a spring cover which protects them when not in use. If you lack a factory outlet connections can be added from existing lights though many will add a kind of isolator box to eliminate load on the lighting circuits themselves. The box will also combine and select wiring as required for brake lights versus turn signals for four wire plugs. Your braking can be another story. If you have electric brakes you should add a brake controller in your truck. With it you can select how much braking to do depending on whether the trailer is full or empty. Of course surge brakes eliminate the need for a controller. Check out stuff offered at etrailer.com or similar.

 

[skipmarcy]

I would imagine an Isuzu 1/2 ton would NOT have the harness for a 7 pin system, only a 4 wire for lights at the most. It would take a professional to properly install a brake controller and appropriate wiring for a trailer brake. A 7 pin has the aux pin for backup lights etc as well as a pin for charging an on trailer battery. I always solder & heat shrink truck/trailer wiring - never butt connectors and never, never scotch-locs.