Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2006 07:41:30 -0400
Reply-To: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Re: Typical wiring for Vanagon > trailer?
In-Reply-To: <20060618110137.9495.qmail@web81703.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Rather than "Custom" wiring and lights, I prefer to wire the flat 4
trailer connector "Standard". You can buy the power converters as
powered or non-powered units. The powered units cost more but instead
of the trailer lights taking their power from the existing taillight
circuits, the converter has a wire directly to a 12 volt source and will
run many trailer lights without any load on your taillights.
A really good reason for standard wiring is you can pull a different
trailer, such as one from U-Haul, without again having to rewire.
Yet another 2¢ worth.
Mike
'85 Westy with a TAP 970 powered converter
Evan Mac Donald wrote:
> If the trailer needs rewiring anyway, why not put seperate brake and turn signal lights on her? There will be one less thing to possibly mess up your van...
>
> Just use the 4-wire connector for the "hot" leads, and add another wire with a good quick-release for the ground. I would consider that "simpler" than the converter, because there is one less thing to break. Plus, more lights mean better visibility for your trailer.
>
> My rambling $0.02.....
>
> Mike Elliott <j.michael.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> Yep, you're right. Bentley's clearly shows individual R and L turn
> circuits with a separate brake light circuit.
>
> Looks like WM are the folks to visit. Luckily, I have one 5 miles from
> here.
>
> --
>
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> KG6RCR
>
>
>
> On 6/17/2006 12:59 PM mark drillock wrote:
>
>>Most trailer lights use the same bulb filament for brake lights as for
>>turn signals. Since our Vanagons have different filaments for each,
>>you need a tail light converter so the separate signals from the
>>Vanagon can be combined. The big WM retailer sells these for about
>>$15, in the trailer accessories section. These convert the 5 wire
>>Vanagon setup to a 4 wire trailer plug.
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>Mike Elliott wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Mellow Yellow's sidekick, Lady Bug, has been transferred from storage
>>>duty to be reallocated to the camping division.
>>>
>>>By this I mean that I've unloaded all the crap from our little 50''
>>>teardrop utility trailer and plan to clean it up so I can haul camping
>>>gear in it. The wiring needs to be replaced, along with the rear lights.
>>>I reckon West Marine can provide those, along with fiberglass patch kits
>>>and trailer wiring bits.
>>>
>>>I am looking for a typical wiring diagram showing how to connect the
>>>trailer to the rear lights of Mellow Yellow (84 WBX).
>>>
>>>I will be using the simple, conventional flat, four-pin connector and
>>>wiring conventions. Just need operate the trailer's running lights &
>>>turn/brake lights.
>>>
>>>--
>>>
>>>
>>>Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
>>>71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
>>>84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
>>>KG6RCR
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
| 
