Correct placement of trailer lights

[dccordell]

My old boat trailer only had one set of tail/brake/turn signal lights when I got it. Their placement is no where near the sides or rear of the trailer. There is no clearance or side marker lights.

For the lighting requirements, I'm looking at these two sites:

Federal Lighting Equipment Location Requirements for Boat Trailers
Trailer Light Guide

Being that the trailer is wider than 80", it seems as though I'm missing several of the required lights, including front side marker lamps, and front/rear clearance lamps.

With the current placement of the tail/stop/blinker lights, do you guys think I should leave them where they are, or move them to the outside of the trailer so they can serve as the rear clearance markers as well? I hate to move them because the [new] wires won't be long enough. Can I get away with leaving them in the current location and adding some rear red clearance lights?

Also, I don't have any suitable mounting location for the required (3) lights in the rear middle. What would you guys recommend for that?

Here is what I'm working with, and the locations I need to add lights. Does this seem right? (This is the trailer/boat when I first dragged it home, it looks a lot different now!)

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

I don't know the length/weight of your boat, but that trailer may be too small for it. If it's around 19-20' and 3K lbs, I'd want to be on a tandem axle trailer. You can find used them all day long on craigslist for $350-500.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

You may be right about the trailer being undersized. I really don't know the weight of the boat yet. As far as I know, the trailer is original to the boat. The older guy I bought it from had it many years and always hauled it on this trailer (he was my neighbor this whole time, and I remember seeing the boat hauled many seasons). Now I know that doesn't mean it is right, but I do hope to use the trailer at least a season or two as I've already replaced a few parts on it.

I actually did buy another replacement trailer from Craigslist, but it turns out it was too small too, so without any other luck at the time, I decided to refurb this trailer instead. Once I get the trailer legal, I'll get it weighed, then I'll weigh it again with the boat to get a good idea of the weight of the boat itself, then maybe make some more permanent decisions about keeping or swapping trailers.

 

[projectcop]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Dccordell;
I agree the trailer looks a little short. But, if you are required to have three lights centered; how about a metal bar with the three lights on top and suction cups on the bottom? You could wire it with quick-disconnects and use the suction cups to attach it to the center rear of the boat?

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

That's always a possibility, projectcop, and it has crossed my mind in the past.

I don't think I'll be towing the trailer much after sun down, if at all, so I'm not sure how important the center and clearance lights are. I would think the tail/stop/turn lights are most important during the day, but I guess I didn't write the regulations, and law enforcement probably wouldn't think the same way as I do. :laugh:

I'm looking at maybe adding a cross member at the rear of the trailer, just to hold the center light. I'll have to see what kind of metal I can find at a reasonable price to do that, though.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, to issue Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Regulations to which manufacturers of motor vehicle and equipment items must conform and certify compliance. FMVSS 209 was the first standard to become effective on March 1, 1967. A number of FMVSS became effective for vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1968. Subsequently, other FMVSS have been issued. New standards and amendments to existing standards are published in the Federal Register.

If your trailer was manufactured before this date you don't need the lighting requirements

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

I don't know the length/weight of your boat, but that trailer may be too small for it. If it's around 19-20' and 3K lbs, I'd want to be on a tandem axle trailer. You can find used them all day long on craigslist for $350-500.

3K lbs 19 ft on a tandem - that is nuts. I would see if you can find the capacity of the axle, but you can certainly put even a 5-6K boat on a single axle trailer if it is the right trailer.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

3K lbs 19 ft on a tandem - that is nuts. I would see if you can find the capacity of the axle, but you can certainly put even a 5-6K boat on a single axle trailer if it is the right trailer.

I agree, but in general most single axle trailers I see use 3500lbs axles. So if the trailer weighed 700lbs, and the boat weighed 3000, you are past the axle rating. Even with 5K axles and the boat loaded up with gear (3300-3500), it would be close enough to the axle weight limit for me to want a tandem setup. Obviously there are tons of boats on single axle trailers running around just fine, but if I have my choice between spending a $200 refurbing a rough single axle, or buying a decent tandem axle for $3-400, I'll pay the extra money and save the hassle. As a matter of fact, if he wants to swing to Tulsa, I've got a nice tandem Rolco for him!

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Just looking at some pictures of the trailer and axle that I have here at work, it looks like a 2"x3" axle. I'll measure when I get home to verify that.

Having said that, it seems most sites that sell 2x3" axles are rated for 5200lb. Does anybody know if that is generally a standard rating for 2x3" axles?

What's more interesting is that the old hubs were 5 studs, so the new hubs are 5 studs. Looking online, it seems 5-stud hubs are around 1250-1350lb rated, so not even close to 3500 or 5200 total. I wonder now if maybe I have underrated hubs on the trailer for the 2x3 axle.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

My perhaps mistaken impression is that once you get to 5 lugs the spindle and bearings are the determining factor.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

JHaving said that, it seems most sites that sell 2x3" axles are rated for 5200lb. Does anybody know if that is generally a standard rating for 2x3" axles?

If its 5 lugs, its almost a guarantee, its a 3500# axle,

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

I have 5200lb axles and they are 6 bolt.
I know it's not my money and i don't mind spending yours:lol: but i think in the long run it's cheaper with less headaches to get another trailer and scrap the one you have.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Just a quick update:

I decided to keep the tail lights in their existing location, at least for now. I added (2) rear outside clearance lights (red), a 3-lens center light on the rear (for trailers over 80")(red), (2) front side clearance lights (amber), and (2) side lights about 6 feet back from the hitch coupler (amber). This seems to meet the requirements for my trailer, so hopefully there won't be any problems. I also have a couple amber and red reflectors I'm going to add, just to really make this thing visible at night (if we ever haul it at night). I'm also considering putting a couple reflectors on the rear of the boat, since it hangs so far past the rear end of the trailer where the lights are. I just don't want that to look silly on the boat.. I haven't tried it yet.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Also, I'm planning to take the whole rig to the CAT scales down the street to get the weights of the trailer/boat combo. That will show me where I'm at with the axle issue.

One thing I notice is that in the few pictures I can find of these kinds of boats, they all have a single axle trailer that looks similar to mine. Take that for what it's worth, which may not be much. I'm still unsure on the exact model of boat (even with the title in hand), so the NADA weights don't give me much confidence.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

IMO, those little ovals like you have on the trailer don't look bad when placed high on the boat transom.

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

IMO, those little ovals like you have on the trailer don't look bad when placed high on the boat transom.

That's what I was thinking. Those ovals on the trailer are actually lights, but I have some that are just reflectors in the same oval shape that I may attach to the transom. Either that, or get some of that red reflective tape and put a strip along the back there.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

They sell reflective tape which is a new requirement that might be cheaper and easier to install. It's red and silver

 

[NYBo]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

I would have moved teh combination lights outboard to where you put the marker lights. The hull really blocks them where they are.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Now that i look at the pic again, you have the marker lights in the wrong place. They should be on the sides. Around from where they are now and the brake lights where the marker lights are.If i see the brake lights right, they already have side marker lights on them. If this is so you can get rid of the ones on the back and move the brake lights there

 

[dccordell]

Re: Correct placement of trailer lights

Thalasso, I think you're right.. I should move those brake lights to the outside. I'll have to get on that. I'm glad I have plenty of extra wire...