Trailer lights, bad ground?

[Tri-Motorhead]

Yes, I do have electric breaks. They do function. At least with the FJ they did, I haven't adjusted the breaks on the Cyber truck, as it pulled and slowed just fine with regen...More to ponder.

I'm thinking I'm just going to bite the bullet and have trailer light pro take a look. i have no immediate camping plans, so I have time.

electrical is definitely a trip.

I'll let yall know what I find out.

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[Tri-Motorhead]

Also I did pull the connector off truck and checked the wires for tightness in the harness, all good there.

 

[CyberGus]

Doesn't the Towing menu have a "Trailer Light Test"?

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

I believe I found the Problem! Right side Electric brake doesn't engage in an independent test (No Vehicle). The left side I can hear engage and disengage when 12volts are put to it the right side is silent. So now I know where to start tracing my problem from.

the FJ isn't smart enough to diagnose the problem and the left side of course is the drivers side so I when I would test the brakes that was the side i have always seen and heard working.

Though the FJ did sponsor the use of its battery for the test. We thank it for its service.

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

Doesn't the Towing menu have a "Trailer Light Test"?

it does and the lights do the dance as they are supposed to. I just get the red camper of death when I put the CT in Drive. Which means something has a wiring issue. i believe I found the culprit in being in my right trailer brake wiring. time will tell.

 

[mongo]

it does and the lights do the dance as they are supposed to. I just get the red camper of death when I put the CT in Drive. Which means something has a wiring issue. i believe I found the culprit in being in my right trailer brake wiring. time will tell.

Was the original headlight test done in drive vs light test in park?

 

[Woodrick]

Yes, I do have electric breaks. They do function. At least with the FJ they did, I haven't adjusted the breaks on the Cyber truck, as it pulled and slowed just fine with regen...More to ponder.

I'm thinking I'm just going to bite the bullet and have trailer light pro take a look. i have no immediate camping plans, so I have time.

electrical is definitely a trip.

I'll let yall know what I find out.

Absolutely don't trust the truck brakes or regen to slow the trailer. In an urgent stop, you need all the friction from all the wheels.

You can get a tester from Amazon for about $15. It's always worth having one.

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

Yes, absolutely. I ran with the Fj without trailer brakes for a while, can get spooky. Trailer dry weight is 2,000# I might get to 2500# if I have to fill the 12 gallon fresh water.

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

Giving up and scheduling a service call. After putting the 12v - to the frame, all lights and brakes work, trailer light turns red once put into drive. it is blue when in reverse.

I'll give them both the truck and the trailer to play with.

signed frustrated...

 

[Jack27]

Trailer light problem? That never happens! ?

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

Right?! Trailer works just fine on my Toyota FJ. Of course it isn't smart enough to find an issue.

My last thought is to replace my 7 pin on the trailer side, it is 21 years old and never failed before.

 

[Woodrick]

Right?! Trailer works just fine on my Toyota FJ. Of course it isn't smart enough to find an issue.

My last thought is to replace my 7 pin on the trailer side, it is 21 years old and never failed before.

What an interesting way of putting your last sentence.


Most people familiar with trailers would have said "it's 21 years old? Damn, that's about 14 years longer than most electrical systems on trailers last."

I've worked at a camper store. I've had campers for many years. I've redone many bulbs and connectors. Just the old incandescent light bulbs on the interior had to be cleaned every few few years.

Did you get a trailer tester from Amazon or where ever? Cheap, fast, and enlightening.

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

What an interesting way of putting your last sentence.


Most people familiar with trailers would have said "it's 21 years old? Damn, that's about 14 years longer than most electrical systems on trailers last."

I've worked at a camper store. I've had campers for many years. I've redone many bulbs and connectors. Just the old incandescent light bulbs on the interior had to be cleaned every few few years.

Did you get a trailer tester from Amazon or where ever? Cheap, fast, and enlightening.

It’s also the last thing for me to replace in my electrical system. Upgraded batteries, charge controller, solar, lamps to led, etc. All have been maintained well over the years and the camper doesn’t sit long. Definitely could just be an age related item I have yet to replace.
I did test truck on a friend’s trailer today, it is definitely not the cybertruck.

So now I know it is the trailer.

 

[Woodrick]

It’s also the last thing for me to replace in my electrical system. Upgraded batteries, charge controller, solar, lamps to led, etc. All have been maintained well over the years and the camper doesn’t sit long. Definitely could just be an age related item I have yet to replace.
I did test truck on a friend’s trailer today, it is definitely not the cybertruck.

So now I know it is the trailer.

Thanks for the update.

Trailer electrical systems, especially the vehicle lights might not seem that they have a rough life, but they do. And to top it off, yours is 20 years old. Trailer lights are generally no where sealed as well as automotive lights. They often have pop-on covers and are seldom watertight. Even the bigger, brake/turn lights are often far from weathertight.
And they then go through the temperature extremes and rarely get used, compared to a vehicle.

Luckily, it's probably a very simple issue that most anyone with basic electrical knowledge can trace down.
Camper repair have gotten a notorious rating and that's exasperated by long wait periods.

 

[Tri-Motorhead]

Thanks for the update.

Trailer electrical systems, especially the vehicle lights might not seem that they have a rough life, but they do. And to top it off, yours is 20 years old. Trailer lights are generally no where sealed as well as automotive lights. They often have pop-on covers and are seldom watertight. Even the bigger, brake/turn lights are often far from weathertight.
And they then go through the temperature extremes and rarely get used, compared to a vehicle.

Luckily, it's probably a very simple issue that most anyone with basic electrical knowledge can trace down.
Camper repair have gotten a notorious rating and that's exasperated by long wait periods.

it was so simple, amazed I missed it when splicing in the ground wire to frame.

it was the reverse light wire. My Scamp doesn’t have reverse lights. The wire terminated just inside the wall, went nowhere with no complete circuit.

I purchased a small led light, wired it in and TADA!!!!

I did replace my 7 pin pig tail. As discussed outlived the average lifespan.

Now I need a camping trip, hmmm where to go.

Thanks

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