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View Full Version : splicing into brake lights.



BryanRT360
05-30-2012, 02:46 AM
I would like to tie into the brake light's of the R/T for when its on the trailer, so when the trailer lights come on so do the brake lights on the R/T. I would use some sort of weather pack for easy hookup..

Will I have any issue with backfeed or anything else?

The trailer is grounded through the ball and I have a 10g wire direct from the neg terminal on battery strait to the plug for the trailer. The lights are 16ga iirc.

KicknAsphlt
05-30-2012, 03:46 AM
You shouldn't....IIRC, most (if not all) trailer wiring kits are just a straight splice. If you want though, I'm sure you could wire in the appropriately-rated diodes on your signal wires if you're that worried. Personally, I'd try a straight splice until you have a problem.

GoFastGray
05-30-2012, 04:24 AM
My dad wanted to do that to mine. I didn't feel like hacking my stock wires when the LED's we have are bright enough.

bwdakrt
05-30-2012, 08:54 AM
A simple plug & play setup.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=BK_7551563_0249732422

Adobedude
05-30-2012, 12:07 PM
I would like to tie into the brake light's of the R/T for when its on the trailer, so when the trailer lights come on so do the brake lights on the R/T. I would use some sort of weather pack for easy hookup..

Will I have any issue with backfeed or anything else?

The trailer is grounded through the ball and I have a 10g wire direct from the neg terminal on battery strait to the plug for the trailer. The lights are 16ga iirc.

I would hook the R/T lights up to the tow vehicle brake lights, not the trailer brake lights, and add a ground between trailer and tow vehicle so you are not relying on the ball for ground. Make sure you know what fuse is for the tow vehicles brake lights and have a few spares....

Last time out I put the emergency flashers on the R/T and left them on for the entire drive home

BryanRT360
05-30-2012, 12:37 PM
You shouldn't....IIRC, most (if not all) trailer wiring kits are just a straight splice. If you want though, I'm sure you could wire in the appropriately-rated diodes on your signal wires if you're that worried. Personally, I'd try a straight splice until you have a problem.
Cool

My dad wanted to do that to mine. I didn't feel like hacking my stock wires when the LED's we have are bright enough.
I have an extra harness so I won't be hacking up the r/ts wires.

A simple plug & play setup.

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/CatalogItemDetail.aspx?R=BK_7551563_0249732422

Pretty much what I planned on doing. Any idea how long the wires are?


I would hook the R/T lights up to the tow vehicle brake lights, not the trailer brake lights, and add a ground between trailer and tow vehicle so you are not relying on the ball for ground. Make sure you know what fuse is for the tow vehicles brake lights and have a few spares....

Last time out I put the emergency flashers on the R/T and left them on for the entire drive home

Re-read the Op. I have a 10ga direct from tow vehicle battery to trailer.

Not a bad idea on the flashers. If I don't get around to wiring in the brakes before the next time out, this is what I will do.

bwdakrt
05-30-2012, 12:47 PM
Pretty much what I planned on doing. Any idea how long the wires are?

More than enough wire to connect to the trailer. Has a 4 wire flat connector.

sunike32
06-03-2012, 01:40 AM
When I towed the TKO truck home from Maryland, I left the running lights on in the truck while it was on the tow dolly. The last thing I wanted was someone blasting into me on the way home at night. As long as you aren't going too far you shouldn't have trouble with the battery. I stopped twice on the way home just to let the truck run and keep the battery up.

That being said, I don't see why you'd have any issue tapping into the harness as long as some weather pack connectors are used :biggthumpup:

Five9Dak
06-03-2012, 04:27 PM
You might already have the beginings of a trailer harness on the R/T you could tap into. . Mine did, even though it wasn't connectorized.