how important is unhooking lights

[H20Rat]

Re: how important is unhooking lights

Always leave mine plugged in.....Always Keep my lights out of the water.

So..... No trailer light problems.

But... your trailer isn't road legal either if those are your only lights.

(missing a license plate light at a minimum, as well as the center mounted clearance lights. Of course, you might be in a state that doesn't require either...)

 

[badbowtie]

Re: how important is unhooking lights

I have had my trailer for 5 years and rewired it when I got it with led tail lights and everywere else just sealed semi lights. I have never unpluged them and have never had a problem. But a couple years ago I went down to a lake in Kentucky that was about 2 hours away and when I pulled up to launch a guy from the dock came up and said get in the boat and I will launch you. I said I got it and he said no I have to launch because people can't backup and they can't park. He also said it is a rule that I had to unplug my lights so he went inside to answer the phone when he came back me and the wife already launched and I already parked. But after the day on the lake we headed all the way back home and when got home unhooked the boat and noticed I never hooked the lights back up. So needles to say I don't ever unhook anymore and at night the lighs are nice in the water to load.

 

[Ray Teagarden]

Re: how important is unhooking lights

smokingcrater,

Tennessee requires no trailer registration.

Note that darn near all boat trailer lights are so low as to be very difficult to see under the best of conditions, dangerous in my opinion.

My trailer lights are at the following driver?s eye level, a huge plus I?d say, so if you have those low mounted lights, you would do well to also have lights at following driver?s eye level.

Towing boat trailers for many years in California, I had my lights and license plates (lighted) mounted high on my trailers with no problem with the California Highway Patrol. In fact, I received many compliments on how visible my rig was.

Side clearance lights are also mounted high, at same level as tail lights. Because all lights never get wet, I never have a light problem and can safely leave them plugged in while launching and loading. Lights being on are a big help when loading at night.

I built a few hundred trailers, for many years, with lights mounted high and never had a rear end collision.

 

[JimS123]

Re: how important is unhooking lights

I have had my trailer for 5 years and rewired it when I got it with led tail lights and everywere else just sealed semi lights. I have never unpluged them and have never had a problem. But a couple years ago I went down to a lake in Kentucky that was about 2 hours away and when I pulled up to launch a guy from the dock came up and said get in the boat and I will launch you. I said I got it and he said no I have to launch because people can't backup and they can't park. He also said it is a rule that I had to unplug my lights so he went inside to answer the phone when he came back me and the wife already launched and I already parked. But after the day on the lake we headed all the way back home and when got home unhooked the boat and noticed I never hooked the lights back up. So needles to say I don't ever unhook anymore and at night the lighs are nice in the water to load.

Its simply impossible to leave the launch ramp (or house for that matter) without having the lights hooked up!

Its on the pre-drive safety manual checklist!!!

You know:
1. Check hitch connection.
2. Check safety chains.
3. Check lights to be sure directional, brakes work.
4. Check winch.
5. Check transom tie-downs.
Yada
Yada
Yada

 

[Fjandy]

Re: how important is unhooking lights

Its simply impossible to leave the launch ramp (or house for that matter) without having the lights hooked up!

Its on the pre-drive safety manual checklist!!!

You know:
1. Check hitch connection.
2. Check safety chains.
3. Check lights to be sure directional, brakes work.
4. Check winch.
5. Check transom tie-downs.
Yada
Yada
Yada

Too funny. I've only looked back once to see my trailer weaving behind me by the saftey chains. Luckily, it was only a stand up jet ski. I always unlplug. Force of habit. I think it reminds me to check everything else one last time.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: how important is unhooking lights

smokingcrater,

Tennessee requires no trailer registration.

Note that darn near all boat trailer lights are so low as to be very difficult to see under the best of conditions, dangerous in my opinion.

My trailer lights are at the following driver?s eye level, a huge plus I?d say, so if you have those low mounted lights, you would do well to also have lights at following driver?s eye level.

Yep, i agree completely!! Vastly better and safer.

My statement still holds true though, that if those are your only lights on the trailer, you are 100% not road legal. (assuming the trailer is >80 inches wide, which I'm sure it is.) If you managed to find a HP having a really bad day, you could receive a ticket. You also risk being held liable if someone slams into your trailer at night because it wasn't properly lit.



http://www.ehow.com/list_7680298_trailer-light-specifications.html

Lights Required On Trailers 80 Inches Or Wider

There must be three red rear identification lamps at the center, spaced horizontally 6 to 12 inches apart to show trailer width.