2 quick trailer questions

[gt2003]

1. I see from reading around that it is a good idea to put my trailer up on blocks over the winter to prevent flat spots on the tires. How is this normally accomplished? This is my first year at this so I'm trying to get it all figured out for the future.

2. Boat trailer and sea-doo trailer lights all worked fine earlier in the year. I went to tow them recently and all the lights light up but the signals/brake lights on the trailers aren't working when I turn them on/apply the brakes. Towards the end of the season, the male post on my 4 prong receptacle on my truck got bent. I bent it back and hadn't towed the trailers since then. Is it possible to test with an electrical tester? I've got an multimeter but would need some help with the actual process of testing. I could also go buy a small electrical tester pen or similar if needed. From the brief description is it probably from the receptacle plug on the truck or is there anyway to tell?

Thanks in advance. Looking forward to fixing the little things before it warms up again here.

 

[RFoster130]

I just put it up on jack stands.

 

[Rampage]

I went to Pep Boys and bought a connector that had 4 small L.E.D lights on it. If the lights where nice and bright and the trailer light was still not working I knew it was a problem with that wire on the trailer. It saved me allot of time and guess work.

 

[gt2003]

Ok, I bought a Pen style continuity tester and just got done testing. Here's what I found:

I clipped the alligator clip to the bottom/male post which is the ground from what I've been told. Then, with the parking lights on I tried the bottom female receptacle and it lit up very brightly. The 2nd up barely lit and the top barely lit. I then turn on the left signal I believe with the parking lights still on. Testing on 1st receptacle was still a solid light then testing on the next one up was a bright, blinking light and the top was barely lit. I changed signals to the right signal with the parking lights still on. The bottom receptacle still lit brightly, 2nd up a very dim light, top receptacle bright, blinking light.

I picked up a new harness from the auto parts store today. Is this needed or does it sound like things are working the right way?

Where should I look next?

UPDATE!:

Since I had the new wiring harness on hand, I plugged it in and got the exact same results as above. I'm not sure if that helps but want to give you all the info that I know. Thanks.

 

[gt2003]

Results after tonight:

The boat trailer lights seem to be working fine with the exception of having a bulb out on the left rear light, easy enough.

The sea-doo trailer is still an issue. All the lights light up very bright when they are plugged in. I have identified 3 ground wires on the trailer and will be cleaning them and making sure they are cinched down good and tight tomorrow.

My next thought is to test each individual wire on the trailer side of the plug. How would I use my pen tester to do this? I guess I'm asking where I should connect the alligator clip.

Thanks in advance. I'm hoping to get this baby figured out tomorrow!

 

[Rampage]

If it where me I would buy a power probe. you can put power and or ground to each wire individually.

http://powerprobeonline.com/pp219ftc--power-probe-ii--219.html

 

[James.Moon]

It seems to me it is the brake lights that don't work. If the signal lights work and they are the same bulb filament as the brakes, then I would check the brake light circuit wiring on your tow vehicle. Easier said than done without a wiring diagram. The wire from the brake circuit will usually wye into both bright bulb (signal ) light circuits. Do the brake lights work correctly on the tow vehicle? If not for sure the problem is tow vehicle wiring. If they do work OK, I am probably not helping you. Good luck.

 

[Watson91]

Have you taken the covers off and wiggled the bulbs? The bulb setups on trailers are terrible, especially if they are cheap. Most of the time bulbs just wiggle around and make their selfs loose. This causes the bulb to either not fully light or not light at all.

If this has been checked then make sure all your grounds are clean. After wards, probe your plug on your tow vehicle to make sure all current is flowing through it correctly. Then if you are still having problems work your way back. Plug your trailer in and probe the wires behind the trailer plug to make sure the plugs not bad. Then go back to wires running into light brackets and make sure your current is moving through there.

Basically work your way back. Eventually you will find the problem, it may be time consuming, but if you try the hit-and-miss method you end up with more time and frustration in the subject.