Trailer Lights - Ground Question

[SeaStar69]

I just painted my old Holsclaw trailer and was curious about the ground wiring. Do I have the run the ground to the trailer frame or can I run it straight from the lights to the trailer plug? Just wondering why the trailer lights are usually grounded through the trailer frame.

Thanks, Jim

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

You can run a separate ground and in fact a lot of people do that, and on a lot of common wiring things it is a common practice to use a frame ground and for the most part it works fine with the exception of boat trailers because of the dunking into water.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

Using the trailer frame as the ground requires less wire, so it is appealing to the manufacturers.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

I run both, a short frame ground lead to have the trailer at the same ground potential as the truck, and a run to each light to make sure that the lights actually work.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

I have the same brand of trailer and I used the frame of the trailer as a ground....... I had to run an additional ground wire near the pivot joint since the pivot point was not a reliable ground. I no longer have any problems.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

A chunk of stout metal 16 feet long makes a very good ground. It is the connection TO that chunk of metal that must be sound in order to have a good ground. That means each light fixture needs to be solidly grounded to the frame. Otherwise, if you like to string wire, that works too. Mount the fixtures correctly and there is no need for all that extra wire.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

Using the trailer frame as the ground requires less wire, so it is appealing to the manufacturers.

And appealing to anyone who would like to use the existing mass of metal as a ground. Adding extra ground wires to each light is just unnecessary if you have good clean ground connections at all the lights and at the hitch where the harness attaches.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailer Lights - Ground Question

If using the frame as the ground, you need to inspect the tongue to frame joints. A bonding strap across those joints will ensure the frame is electrically tied together front to back. Tilt trailers need a bonding strap across the pivot point as well.