Simple trailer wiring
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Joined: May 2002
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Simple trailer wiring
Could someone please quickly explain simple trailer hookup for a four wire connector. My trailer's pretty messed up and I'm not sure which wires go where. I have brake lights, running lights, and L/R blinkers. Please explain which wires go to which wires coming out of the back of the lights, etc (green, brown, and yellow). Will take first two answers that agree!
Thank you kindly.
Thank you kindly.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 201
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Simple trailer wiring
Groundrunner:
Here is a simple way to remember a 4 wire setup that I was told years ago.
1. White is the ground. It is the only exposed connector on the vehicle side as it won't short anything out.
2. Brown is the common running lights. There should be a brown wire on the left & right halves of the trailer wiring harness.
3. Green is the right turn/brake light. It goes on the same side that the green grass should be on a 2 lane road.
4. Yellow is the left turn/brake light. It goes on the same side that the yellow dividing line should be on a 2 lane road.
Rules 3 & 4 apply here in the US and any other country that drives on the "right" side. If you drive on the "wrong or left side" the green wire still controlls the right turn/brake and the yellow wire still controlls the left turn/brake.
If this happens to be on a boat trailer, and the new taillights are pre wired into the harness, don't cut the wires to run them back, keep the wires intact near the lights, pull the wires forward through the trailer and make your connections near the hitch were they are less likely to get dunked when launching.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Here is a simple way to remember a 4 wire setup that I was told years ago.
1. White is the ground. It is the only exposed connector on the vehicle side as it won't short anything out.
2. Brown is the common running lights. There should be a brown wire on the left & right halves of the trailer wiring harness.
3. Green is the right turn/brake light. It goes on the same side that the green grass should be on a 2 lane road.
4. Yellow is the left turn/brake light. It goes on the same side that the yellow dividing line should be on a 2 lane road.
Rules 3 & 4 apply here in the US and any other country that drives on the "right" side. If you drive on the "wrong or left side" the green wire still controlls the right turn/brake and the yellow wire still controlls the left turn/brake.
If this happens to be on a boat trailer, and the new taillights are pre wired into the harness, don't cut the wires to run them back, keep the wires intact near the lights, pull the wires forward through the trailer and make your connections near the hitch were they are less likely to get dunked when launching.
Good luck and I hope this helps.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 25
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From: Benton USA
Simple trailer wiring
Sportdeck262 is right on with the colors! One thing you need to check before you start cutting wires lose though is for a good ground to the trailer. Some of the time the white wire will not be connected on one end or the other. This will cause the trailer to ground through the hitch ball only. Strange things will happen with the lights on the trailer without a good ground. Things like side markers blinking with the turn signal. Anyway if your hooking up a new rig you need to check and make sure it's not like the new style chevy vans they have to many wires at each tail light and have to run through a device to combine the wiring to conventional 4wire. 
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,415
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From: Lower 48
Simple trailer wiring
Absolutely correct. I like the way you stated which side the green and yellow run. I would assume you're running a Ford since you're on the Ford page. You can buy an aftermarket trailer plug for the tail lights on the truck. You simply seperate the plug under the back of the bed and it simply plugs between the two mating ends you just seperated. Instant trailer connection.
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