Trailer wiring with seperate stop and blinker lights on motorhome.

[windmill602a]

Typical trailer lights have a combination brake/turn signal light (red). My motorhome has separate lights and wires for brake (red light) and blinker (yellow light). How do I wire the motorhome to the trailer? Note: the other lights are no problem to wire.
I assume that if I connect the blinker wire and the brake wire from the motorhome to the single brake/blinker wire on the trailer, the motorhome blinker lights will come on when the brakes are applied and vise versa.
Thank you!

[Thunderfoot]

For trailers with a combination brake/turn signal you'll need a wiring convertor for your MH. You can find these at any auto parts store, most Wal-Marts, rv supply stores, or online. It's not a difficult project at all and the wiring diagram will be supplied in the package.


Oh, and

[Skip426]

Head into Auto-Zone or NAPA, and explain your problem , there is a control box available. ( that on some units is factory installed; if they have a 7 pin plug-in)

NOTE: make sure you get the right control , because the opposite is available, for coach with multi lights ( brake and turn in same bulb ) to red brake & amber turn on the trailer.
EDIT: I see Thunderfoot types faster than I do.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by windmill602a

Typical trailer lights have a combination brake/turn signal light (red). My motorhome has separate lights and wires for brake (red light) and blinker (yellow light). How do I wire the motorhome to the trailer? Note: the other lights are no problem to wire.
I assume that if I connect the blinker wire and the brake wire from the motorhome to the single brake/blinker wire on the trailer, the motorhome blinker lights will come on when the brakes are applied and vise versa.
Thank you!

windmill602a,
First, let me ask you something. Do you have a 7-pin plug on the back of your coach already? If so, have you checked the output of each pin in that plug? If so, what were or are, the results?

If you don't have trailer plug on the back of your coach, first, that would be kind of "abnormal" and second, then you'd have to tie into each wire that is supplying power to each filament, in each tail light. You only have to tie into one side for what's called "tail/marker" lights or, in the old days, "running lights".

But, what you'd have in a wiring bundle, leading up to a plug on the back of the coach would be,

1. Rt turn
2. Lf turn
3. Brake lights
4. Tail/marker lights
5. Ground

Now, what most folks would do in this situation is, add what's called a TAIL LIGHT CONVERTER. What that does is, takes the separate turn signal and brake lights into the input side of the converter. Then, on the output side, you'll have a COMBO-BRAKE-TURN, for each side.

1. Rt turn/brake
2 Lt turn/brake
3. Tail/marker
4. Ground

You'd then take the out put side of that converter and, wire it into the trailer plug at the rear of the coach. Now, you'll have a what most would call a normal plug. So, when it comes to wiring up the trailer, you're all set.

And, while some suggest going to an Auto Zone or, many other standard auto parts stores, I've found that these TAIL LIGHT CONVERTERS are not normally stocked because they are not a high sales item. That doesn't mean you're not going to find one there, it just means that when I've searched my local auto parts stores for that particular Tail light converter, they looked sideways at me (kind of like that crooked head puppy look).

What you want is called a THREE WIRE TO TWO WIRE. And yes, there are TWO WIRE TO THREE WIRES ones too. Those are more common. Below is the exact one you need from Amazon. I've done this type of setup a zillion times so, if you've got any questions, please feel free to PM me, be glad to help.
Scott


Curt Manufacturing 58240 Tail Light Converter 3 To 2 Wire

[windmill602a]

Great info, thanks to all!
I will install one of these this weekend. Should be pulling a trailer with my Ford T Model soon!

[Wizard]

This is what I had to use, purchased from Amazon

["007"]

This TECH INFORMATION LINK will give you many combinations of trailer wiring from coach to trailer.

[Dr4Film]

Originally Posted by Wizard

This is what I had to use, purchased from Amazon
Attachment 93616

Excellent simple answer and it is called 5 wire to 4 wire converter.

X-2

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[ShapeShifter]

Originally Posted by windmill602a

I assume that if I connect the blinker wire and the brake wire from the motorhome to the single brake/blinker wire on the trailer, the motorhome blinker lights will come on when the brakes are applied and vise versa.

Correct! You do NOT want to do that!

I agree with the others: if you don't already have a standard 7 pin trailer socket on the back of the motorhome, you're going to need to add a converter box.

If you don't already have a trailer socket, have you looked around in back near the hitch to see if there is already wiring for it tucked up out of the way? If so, your work is probably already done for you. These days, it's kind of unusual for the factory wiring not not include trailer connections.