Date:         Mon, 20 May 2002 11:37:18 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: lighting harness for trailer question
Comments: To: s w <smorewhisky@YAHOO.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

It is not a simple plug in unless someone already did it for you.

Depending on how many lights are on the back of the trailer you may need
a trailer light adapter. The Vanagon has separate bulbs for each turn
signal and brake light. Many trailers use the same bulb filament for the
turn signal and brake light on each side. The adapter combines the extra
Vanagon wires into a smaller number  of wires needed by the most common
trailer light setup and also isolates the trailer lights from the
Vanagon lights. If this is not done then both sides on the trailer will
flash when either turn signal is on. Also, without the adapter the brake
lights will over ride the turn signals so the trailer lights won't blink
for turns if the brake pedal is down.

I prefer to just mount an extra yellow light on each side at the rear of
the trailer so all the trailer lights have the standard colors and the
turn signals are not connected to the brake lights. No adapter is needed
in this case.

The adapters are available cheaply at W~mart, and most FLAPS. Under $20
I think.

Mark

s w wrote:
>
> have a utility trailer about to show up and was
> wondering how you go about hooking up a lighting
> harness for it. do you have to splice into the tail
> lights and turn signals or is it a simple plug in?
> thanks for any info...
>
> =====
> Scott Wilson
> 85 GL Westfalia
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience
> http://launch.yahoo.com