rewiring 2000 f250 trailer harness

[TravisNuwa81]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

I think if you can test the trailer like I said, using just 12V straight to it's lights, you'll find out what the issue is.

AHHHH!!! Ill skip the cord and use a booster box and test each prong of the camper side!

[TravisNuwa81]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

I think if you can test the trailer like I said, using just 12V straight to it's lights, you'll find out what the issue is.

Starting fresh... I pulled the truck side socjet and there was a bad 12v wire got new socket realized the order of wires is messed up. Cutting the other end off and putting a new spade ends on the cord and into the camper underbelly. What a mess!

[TravisNuwa81]

Well got everything rewired. Hardwired the cable I to the camper and..... nothing! No better than before. Which means that the problem is inside the camper. Beyond my reach.... im about to put it on craigslist amd be done with it.... I dont know what else to do!

[TravisNuwa81]

I think im gonna put magnetic trailer on the bumper... I don't drive at night so im not super worried about the running and clearance lights. Ill tie the trailer brakes into the harness uo front and run the tail lights along the underbelly

[TravisNuwa81]

Soooo its not the damned camper....... the magnetic lights do it too!!!! Is there any other grounds on the truck? I found the one above the spare tire on the frame... wheres another? Im confused!

[RoadrunnerII]

Travis
Go ultra simple here now
Take the magnetic lights and put them in the box of the truck backwards so you can see them in the rear view or turning your head
Now put a ground wire on the magnet bar and run it to a good clean ground on the truck drill a hole and take a file and clean the paint off on both points Gotta be bare metal or it will act funny.
Do all the lights on the magnetic bar work properly now?
If yes
It is definitely a ground issue when you are connected to the trailer.
Easiest fix is to run a ground wire to the rear of the trailer and tie into it for the lights at the rear and into the ground lug on your trailer side harness. Even with the magnetic lights if they are using the magnetic link as the ground path.
Trailer frames are welded but for some reason there are places that the return just is not happy
Went crazy years back trying to make a soft top tent trailer lights work
Ran ground wires to each light
Problem fixed
IF NO when you have the lights in the box of the truck you need to check your wiring further.

The 12 volt electric is doing what it always does
It finds the easiest route back to ground on the battery. It is somewhat like water finding its own level going down a roof and the leak is many feet away from where the water is actually dripping inside the house.
Sometimes with a bad ground the easiest route is thru the light bulbs and wiring for the turn signals or the brakes on the opposite side of the trailer which makes them flash as well or stay on weakly
I have had occasion where the manufacturer used the metal sheeting on the trailer as the ground path. That will not work consistently. Again run a ground wire back to the lights and I mean to each side of the trailer not just to one of them.
I have made up a test light before with just a socket and the two wires
At the front of the trailer try each light wire and ground the ground side back to the truck
If that works then you know the wiring through the plug is all good and you can continue from there
I am voting on the manufacturer is using the sheeting on the trailer as part of your ground path rather than the frame ground.
You need to break it down simpler or you will be chasing ground ghosts the rest of your life on this trailer.
Been here done this ......
Got the shirt, the hat, and all the scars.

RRII

[TravisNuwa81]

Originally Posted by RoadrunnerII

Travis
Go ultra simple here now
Take the magnetic lights and put them in the box of the truck backwards so you can see them in the rear view or turning your head
Now put a ground wire on the magnet bar and run it to a good clean ground on the truck drill a hole and take a file and clean the paint off on both points Gotta be bare metal or it will act funny.
Do all the lights on the magnetic bar work properly now?
If yes
It is definitely a ground issue when you are connected to the trailer.
Easiest fix is to run a ground wire to the rear of the trailer and tie into it for the lights at the rear and into the ground lug on your trailer side harness. Even with the magnetic lights if they are using the magnetic link as the ground path.
Trailer frames are welded but for some reason there are places that the return just is not happy
Went crazy years back trying to make a soft top tent trailer lights work
Ran ground wires to each light
Problem fixed

Otherwise the 12 volt electric is doing what it always does
It finds the easiest route back to ground. It is somewhat like water finding its own level.
Sometimes with a bad ground the easiest route is thru the light bulbs and wiring for the turn signals or the brakes on the opposite side of the trailer which makes them flash as well or stay on weakly
I have had occasion where the manufacturer used the metal sheeting on the trailer as the ground path. That will not work consistently. Again run a ground wire back to the lights and I mean to each side of the trailer not just to one of them.
Otherwise you will be chasing ground ghosts the rest of your life on this trailer.
Been here done this
Got the shirt, the hat, and all the scars

RRII

I will try the grounds from each light. I hope that will do it... I got the magnetic ones to work. Plug was partially unplugged up under the the truck. Now, if I run 2 grounds, one off each tail light will that fix all the lights? Clearance lights too?

[TravisNuwa81]

Originally Posted by RoadrunnerII

Travis
Go ultra simple here now
Take the magnetic lights and put them in the box of the truck backwards so you can see them in the rear view or turning your head
Now put a ground wire on the magnet bar and run it to a good clean ground on the truck drill a hole and take a file and clean the paint off on both points Gotta be bare metal or it will act funny.
Do all the lights on the magnetic bar work properly now?
If yes
It is definitely a ground issue when you are connected to the trailer.
Easiest fix is to run a ground wire to the rear of the trailer and tie into it for the lights at the rear and into the ground lug on your trailer side harness. Even with the magnetic lights if they are using the magnetic link as the ground path.
Trailer frames are welded but for some reason there are places that the return just is not happy
Went crazy years back trying to make a soft top tent trailer lights work
Ran ground wires to each light
Problem fixed
IF NO when you have the lights in the box of the truck you need to check your wiring further.

The 12 volt electric is doing what it always does
It finds the easiest route back to ground on the battery. It is somewhat like water finding its own level going down a roof and the leak is many feet away from where the water is actually dripping inside the house.
Sometimes with a bad ground the easiest route is thru the light bulbs and wiring for the turn signals or the brakes on the opposite side of the trailer which makes them flash as well or stay on weakly
I have had occasion where the manufacturer used the metal sheeting on the trailer as the ground path. That will not work consistently. Again run a ground wire back to the lights and I mean to each side of the trailer not just to one of them.
I have made up a test light before with just a socket and the two wires
At the front of the trailer try each light wire and ground the ground side back to the truck
If that works then you know the wiring through the plug is all good and you can continue from there
I am voting on the manufacturer is using the sheeting on the trailer as part of your ground path rather than the frame ground.
You need to break it down simpler or you will be chasing ground ghosts the rest of your life on this trailer.
Been here done this ......
Got the shirt, the hat, and all the scars.

RRII

It worked!!!!!!! I cant believe it!!!!!! Thank you sooooo much. Thank you all for the help. It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RoadrunnerII]

Glad we all got you sorted out!
This is a great forum Lots of good info on here I have used as well.
Now you got the shirt, the hat, and maybe a scar out of this one.
When in doubt add a ground
Smiles
RRII

[TravisNuwa81]

Originally Posted by RoadrunnerII

Glad we all got you sorted out!
This is a great forum Lots of good info on here I have used as well.
Now you got the shirt, the hat, and maybe a scar out of this one.
When in doubt add a ground
Smiles
RRII

Im very excited to get it out to the campground. I need to get an extended pin box or sliding hitch soon but pull throughs will work