need help 2 trailers one problem

[atomb]

My boat trailer hooks up fine to the truck all is good but my utility trailer is not cooperating.
The boat has 5 wires that go to the female plug-- #1brown/ yellow #2green/ brown #3green #4 yellow #5 white--the plug on this has 4 terminals ---1 female and three male-

-the truck has tconnector in it and a 4 pin with three females and one male..

Moving on to the utility trailer has 2 wires per light #1green/brown ,,, green #2yellow/brown, #3yellow and #4white.
well i hooked the two browns to the brown on the adpter----yellow to yellow and green to green and groundedthe white to the trailer.
Do I have this right ?--- do i need a converter for the utility trailer-im confused. It seems so simple but has got me messed up.

please help- why are there 5 wires joing in the boat trailer adapter and on the utility i have to physically join the two browns from the lights because most universal 4 pins have four wires unlike the one for my boat that has 5 wires to a 4 prong.Sorry if this confusing its killing me. the boat has two browns that go to one prong.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

Try looking at this diagram:

http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm

 

[atomb]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

looks like the browns are spliced together to me. It might be a bad ground ill have to work on that but -am i doing anything wrong does anyone understand the difference in the adapters? 4 prong 5wire and 4prong 4 wire scenario

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

looks like the browns are spliced together to me. It might be a bad ground ill have to work on that but -am i doing anything wrong does anyone understand the difference in the adapters? 4 prong 5wire and 4prong 4 wire scenario

The brown wire is common to both lights (taillight/license/side marker).

My guess is that the 4 prong/5 wire has a seperate brown wire for each side. The 4 prong/4 wire uses the same brown wire for both lights.

Definitely check your ground(s)...experts say that accounts for 90% of light problems!

Here is a nice LED adapter that can isolate a problem between the tow vehicle, and the trailer:

http://www.jcwhitney.com/4-POLE-CON...RS/GP_2004471_N_111+10201+600016436_10101.jcw

 

[atomb]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

thanks rocky road good info ill get me one of them gizmos but its probably the ground ill keep working on it and let you all know how it turns out

 

[bruceb58]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

The 5th pin on the boat trailer connector is typically for reverse which is hooked up to a reverse solenoid to deactivate brakes.

 

[atomb]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

The 5th pin on the boat trailer connector is typically for reverse which is hooked up to a reverse solenoid to deactivate brakes.

Thanks but it dont have a fifth pin i have a fifth wire but appreciate the feedback thanks again. basically the two brown wires seem to either converge by way of the adapter or by manually joining the wires before the 4 pin adapter. either way its 2 wires per light =4 plus the ground 5--which all go to a 4 pin adapter.

 

[htv]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

The brown/green wire and the brown/yellow wire are running lights and tail lights. You have what is called a split wiring harness where the brown wire runs down each side of the frame. These 2 wires are joined together in your trailer plug making it the same as your other trailer with just the 1 brown wire.
Since your other trailer works check the ground as others mentioned, if you have a tilt bed on the trailer grounding is common problem.
You make no mention as to whether you have no lights or some lights or if you are blowing fuses, this would be helpful.

 

[atomb]

Re: need help 2 trailers one problem

i tested the lights and the 4 wires with a 12 volt --thats all good-- when i join them to the harness and ground it thats the point at which the lights are not working- I'm not using any other lights and Im starting to get the picture that the ground is probably the issue -thanks for the info on the split I knew i wasnt crazy most people i talked with looked at me like I had 2 heads thanks and the suggestions - I will try and fix the ground on friday and post back wit my results -thanks again guys-Great group of folks here on iboats glad to have found this forum -many thanks. no fuses have blown so far and only the two back lights am i trying to get to operate at this time.