05-21-2008, 04:09 AM
With the lights on, when you apply the brakes, all the lights on the trailer go out. GROUND PROBLEM. The ground connection is strong enough to provide some lighting functions but not all. This is called a weak ground. When the taillights and brake lights are used at the same time, it creates the maximum amp load of the lights on the trailer. Check the following to restore proper ground:
[ol][li]The connector on the vehicle should have a ground wire secured tightly to a clean surface on the frame. A wire attached to the body or a surface with undercoating or rust can cause a ground problem [li]The connector on the trailer should have a wire from the connector secured tightly to a clean rust free surface on the trailer. [li]Each tail lamp assembly at the back of the trailer also must be grounded. This is done in one of two ways. The first is by a separate wire coming from the back of each tail lamp assembly being secured to the frame. The second, and most popular, ground is achieved through the bolts of the tail lamp assembly. In this case, the lamp housing must be attached to the frame of the trailer. There must be a solid (clean and rust free) electrical connection. [li]The last possibility to explore is in the trailer design. If the trailer has a tilting bed, it is possible the ground is not passing through the pivot point resulting in a poor ground. The solution to this is to route a ground wire from the connector at the front of the trailer to each lamp assembly at the back of the trailer bypassing this pivot point. [/li][/ol]NOTE: It is not recommended to ground thru the trailer coupler to hitch ball.
Good Luck and I am sure this will resolve the issue.
[signature][/li][/li][/li]
[ol][li]The connector on the vehicle should have a ground wire secured tightly to a clean surface on the frame. A wire attached to the body or a surface with undercoating or rust can cause a ground problem [li]The connector on the trailer should have a wire from the connector secured tightly to a clean rust free surface on the trailer. [li]Each tail lamp assembly at the back of the trailer also must be grounded. This is done in one of two ways. The first is by a separate wire coming from the back of each tail lamp assembly being secured to the frame. The second, and most popular, ground is achieved through the bolts of the tail lamp assembly. In this case, the lamp housing must be attached to the frame of the trailer. There must be a solid (clean and rust free) electrical connection. [li]The last possibility to explore is in the trailer design. If the trailer has a tilting bed, it is possible the ground is not passing through the pivot point resulting in a poor ground. The solution to this is to route a ground wire from the connector at the front of the trailer to each lamp assembly at the back of the trailer bypassing this pivot point. [/li][/ol]NOTE: It is not recommended to ground thru the trailer coupler to hitch ball.
Good Luck and I am sure this will resolve the issue.
[signature][/li][/li][/li]