Trailer lighting question?

[rusty ol ranger]

I need to replace the taillight assemblys on my car trailer.

I see LEDs are cheaper then normal lights...but my question is i read somewhere you cant run LEDs and normal lights on the same circuit?

I have a 3 light bar (incadescent) that im assuming runs off the taillights, but it works so i dont wanna replace that too just to try to save a few bucks.

 

[Curious Hound]

I believe the incandescent bulbs on thevtow vehicle generally add enough load so that the flasher works. I have LED lights on my trailer and they work fine plugged into the truck.

 

[RonD]

It would be better to use incandescent bulbs on the trailer if that's what the Ranger has

The problem is that LEDs draw less amps so if they are on the same circuit as an incandescent bulb it can cause the LED to flicker and even burn out
You can add resistors to LEDs so they have the same amp resistance as incandescent bulbs, you don't get the lower amp draw but do get the longer life of LEDs

 

[rusty ol ranger]

It would be better to use incandescent bulbs on the trailer if that's what the Ranger has

The problem is that LEDs draw less amps so if they are on the same circuit as an incandescent bulb it can cause the LED to flicker and even burn out
You can add resistors to LEDs so they have the same amp resistance as incandescent bulbs, you don't get the lower amp draw but do get the longer life of LEDs

All my vehicles are incadescent. I was wondering about the middle clearence light bar on the trailer being normal lights but then running an led taillight off the same circuit.

Ill just stick with normal lights. Im not a huge fan of led anyways.

 

[Snoranger]

We do it all the time at work… it will be fine.

Everything is slowly being changed over to LED. W have some trailers with LED on one side and incandescent on the other.

 

[sgtsandman]

My trailer has all LEDs now. It seemed like every time I went to use the trailer when it had incandescent lights, one of them wasn’t working correctly or they were burnt out.

That problem went away after I converted to LEDs.

As far as mixing lights on the trailer, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[superj]

And they make HD relays so you won't lose the flash from not enough resistance

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Anyone ever use the lights with the push in quick connects?

 

[sgtsandman]

And they make HD relays so you won't lose the flash from not enough resistance

That was never an issue for me with trailer lights. It certainly is a thing if you convert your vehicle lights from incandescent to LED. The vehicle lights will provide enough resistance to keep the turn signals and hazard lights operating normally.

 

[sgtsandman]

Anyone ever use the lights with the push in quick connects?

I have not. All mine have plugs but I wired them that way.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

So i found some one diode LEDs that look like normal lights but last like LEDs...

Maybe ill run those if itll be ok

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I have not. All mine have plugs but I wired them that way.

I didnt realize all the light options. Last time i bought trailer lights they were all basically the same

 

[sgtsandman]

I didnt realize all the light options. Last time i bought trailer lights they were all basically the same

There are certainly a lot of different ways to go now. Not just the solder them in or (gasp) wire nut them together anymore.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

There are certainly a lot of different ways to go now. Not just the solder them in or (gasp) wire nut them together anymore.

My current ones are electrical taped lol

 

[Curious Hound]

My current ones are electrical taped lol

Nooooo!!!! Say it aint so!