Have trailer running lights were working and now out along with my back tail lights. All others lights work when headlights are on. As I'm crossing the country, is it possible to "hot wire" my lights from the headlight to the tail light in an effort to be safe until I can get it into the shop. Now nowone can see me in the dark. This connection may also make my horse trailer running lights work too. Not sure and appreciate any assistance.

Thanks

Curtis

 

Did you check the fuse for the taillights?

 

I had problems with the lights on my trailer and after inserting and re-inserting the plug several times I still could not get the lights to work. I then reach under the metal box and shook the wiring and the lights came on. You could have a loose connection in that area.
GregM

 

Check the trailer for a short too.

 

Yes, but it's not a good idea.
The circuit needs to 1) be fused and 2) not overload the headlight switch & wiring to avoid a nasty electrical fire. The effort to do this safely is about equal to the effort needed to find & fix the original problem.

2x on the above, check the fuses and trailer wiring for shorts.

Buy a box of quality fuses. Use the owner's manual to swap out all fuses for brake, park, signal (under hood on my 2001). Sometimes the tiny fuses look OK but don't pass current. At worst this will waste $2.50 and ten minutes. It may turn the lights on.

First you need to get the truck lights to work while disconnected from the trailer. Then check the trailer. If you have a loose battery, use it to energize 1 trailer circuit at a time using alligator clips, wire, test light.

Use an incandescent test light, not LED. An LED will light on very little current where a bulb will glow dim. The LED will fool you but the bulb will look wrong.

If 2 circuits are having a problem, look for a mechanical problem, ie grossly shorted against trailer frame, or similar. Check the grounds and light sockets. Smegma will re-direct your electrons.

 

If the trailer is shorted and you can't find it, you can install a low-amperage, self-resetting circuit breaker in the trailer harness. That way, it won't blow the fuse in the truck and at least you'll have the trailer's tailights flashing every 30 seconds or so to be visible...

Doug