Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

[ascus4]

Trailer lights weren't working properly on the trailer I just got. Opened them up to inspect and they were pretty badly corroded. The trailer had some salt water use as well as fresh. Vehicle harness was corroded as well.

I probably could have cleaned them up but 40.00 got me a complete light kit with wiring harness, side markers and the whole bit, so I decided to replace everything. Was a pretty easy job and now all electrics on the trailer are new.

My question is this, how do I keep water out of the lights. They are sealed everywhere except the bottom there the wires enter. Is it supposed to act like when you take a drinking glass, turn it upside down and stick it in water where the air trapped inside prevents the water from entering?

What is a good preventative maintenance thing to do to the lights. I hate to open them up every time I use the trailer to spray them with something. Seems like that would wear out the seals faster.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

Coat the bulbs with dielectric grease to keep moisture out of the sockets. Unplug the trailer lights before backing into the water. Water on a hot bulb causes them to pop. I also remove the lenses and coat the joint with vasilene to seal that part of the lamp. I use silicone to seal the holes where the wires enter. Any gaps serve as a vent so the upside down glass analogy doesn't work if air can escape.

 

[ascus4]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

Agreed, the housing has to be perfectly sealed to allow the upside down water glass idea to work. I assume this is rarely the case and that it's fairly normal to have water fill the housing and I need to take the other precautions that you mentioned and view the upside down water glass as not dependable.

I also thought of sealing the wire holes with caulk of silicone. Probably helps a lot. Probably not 100% though.
Although, sealing the bottom would prevent water from draining if it got in elsewhere.

 

[Splat]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

Option B,

imho trailer lights are expendable, and need to be replaced every 4-5 years anyways.

I know opinions vary on this thought, but I just think it's just the nature of the beast.

Bill

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

how about some sealed LEDs? they are down to about $60/set now, and are pretty much maintenance free.

 

[quackaddict1]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

LED's are the ticket, if you have a trailer you want to keep the LED's are the way to go IMO. I would also go he extra step with LED's and run your grounds all the way back to the plug instead of to the trailer, then there should be little reason for them to work.

I agree with the comment about regular lights being disposable, good setup will get you 4-5 years of good service, after that is probably better to just replace if they act up, a decent kit only runs 25 dollars or so.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

thats what u need....$50 for those, and i added 2 more fender marker lights for 10 bucks a piece. Came with all new wiring, i grounded all lights individually to the trailer, then the trailer harness ground also.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

thats what u need....$50 for those, and i added 2 more fender marker lights for 10 bucks a piece. Came with all new wiring, i grounded all lights individually to the trailer, then the trailer harness ground also.

So that's your completed trailer project, redone4x4? Sweeet....

Who blew out the 12 gauge hole in your tag???

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

that was it, almost finished. I didnt have the side guide bunks on or the side marker lights. its all done now though haha. those LEDs are sooo much brighter than they look in that pic...really made a world of a difference. erased the plate, just for good measure haha.

 

[ascus4]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

This is pretty much what I was thinking. 40 or 50 bucks a pop and an easy job, why not.

What about mounting them up higher. My trailer has vertical side posts in the rear that sort of sandwhich the boat onto the trailer.
How about mounting them up on these.
Wish I had a pic but you probably know what I mean.

Option B,

imho trailer lights are expendable, and need to be replaced every 4-5 years anyways.

I know opinions vary on this thought, but I just think it's just the nature of the beast.

Bill

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

Thats where mine are, 5 feet off the ground on the end of the guides. They have NEVER been dunked

The "pole lights" are very compelling but still a bit pricey.

 

[escapade]

Re: Replaced trailer lights and care of them.

I like the idea of the pole lights however most people are not looking 5 ft in the air for your brake lights... I have mine mounted in the regular postion havn't had to replace them from the P.O but did new wiring and blubs for maintance reasons.