Vehicle to Vehicle Tail Light Converter

by: Gabriel05/02/2023

The tail light converter worked better than expected. Successfully added a third brake light to a unique trailer. Took the guesswork out of project with the instructions provide.1569292

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by: Doug02/10/2024

Product does its job, the 5 star review is because of etrailer. They provide lots of get information upfront and have wonderful tech support. They have earned my business.1727173

This product works well with some thought and acknowledgement that it has limitations.

I have just bought my second one. The previous one failed after five years.

This new one etrailer recommend the use of diodes to prevent feedback to the towing vehicle.
This is not a bad idea but was not previously available.

The circuit diagram that comes with this unit was misleading to me.
Eventually I figured it out and will passon what I learned.
My trailer has separate orange indicators.
It is wired as all my trailers are with a seven way plug.

You will see each diode having three connections.
Two from the towing vehicle and one to the indicator bulbs.
I just used one of the diode input tags connected to the appropriate wire from the seven way.
The output I fed to the indicator bulbs.
I have three indicators on each side of the trailer and they can all run off of the same tab.

I am enclosing a few pictures.
The first one is the old unit which was housed in a separate box screwed to the chassis.
Then I had a second box which held all the connections.

The second picture shows the new unit contained in its own box with the five diodes used.
The box is just a plastic project box from Radio Shack.

The last picture is of the finished unit all sealed and ready to go.

Now for those limitations.
Do not expect this to work as though it were an extension of a four wire vehicle.
The indicators will work and the brake lights work BUT the indicators go off when the brake is applied.
The unit cannot run the separate indicator and the brake at the same time.895556

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Peter

10/11/2021

No problems so far

I gave up trying to find a wire to tap for a third brake light on a 2013 GMC Sierra, so I ordered a 2 to 3 wire adapter ( #118158) as recommended by you expert Michael H. He stated that only one of the inputs was needed, but both Left and Right turn were required to make mine work at all. That aside, the product was received quickly and installation was simple using the enclosed diagrams. I have never seen anything mentioned anywhere about waterproofing undervehicle connections. I do and they last for years. 108554

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Sam

5/6/2015

Does the 3rd brake light flash when using the hazard lights?

Anonymous

5/24/2015

Yes, emergency flashers will flash the third light also.

I wanted to covert a rear, high, center, red light from a running light to a 3rd brake light. This was the answer. It took less than 1/2 hour to plan and install this converter and it works perfectly. I now have a 3rd brake light on my Off Grid Trailers Pando 2.0.1459512

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by: Rob C.06/20/2018

I use Optronics oval LED lighting exclusively and I don't think this was made to work with them because of the rapid response of the LEDs. I use this so that on a 4 wire system I can have turn signals on the side of the trailer. When you first hit the brakes, there is a fast blip of light from the side marker/turn signals. With an incandescent bulb it would be too fast to light the bulb. This is something I can live with. I think this works great with no problems so far.524581

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This converter worked great for what I intended it for. I was wanting to add a third brake light to back of my fifth wheel trailer. I purchased STL179RB Glolight Thinline LED also. I tried to wire this direct. It won't work, it flashes when you turn the turn signal on. A friend of mine recommended this after doing a search on the etrailer website. Etrailer support recommendation was installing two lights. Duh! that's why I wanted a third brake light, I already have two lights that function as stop/tail/turn. The installation in these pictures is not complete. I was trying to avoid drilling holes in the back of my trailer, I still may have to. I am going to enclose the wires going up the trailer to the light in some white wire loom. The light at present is secured with only white RTV, not sure that will hold. I'm still trying to avoid drilling new holes, may have to though. I hooked up all the wires on the input side, white to ground, green to right stop/turn, yellow to left stop/turn. I hooked only the red wire to red wire of the light on the output side. I hooked the ground (white wire) of light to input side of converter. Yes, it works and no it does not blink when either blinker is turned on. The additional two wires on the output side of converter are not being used nor is the additional wire of the light. Sorry for the long review, don't usually write reviews at all. Anyway, if this will help even one person it will be worth it.428692

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First off the customer service at etrailer is by far the best that I have dealt with. If I had a question, they sent me an email response very quickly. Secondly, the shipping is extremely fast. I placed the order and it came to an APO AE address (military stationed in Germany) via USPS Priority Mail and it arrived in like 5-7 days, I was shocked when it arrived, because I was expecting at least another 3 or 4 days.

So, as far as the product. Works great and was just what was needed.
Project was to make an adapter that I could plug into my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee U.S. spec and use a German trailer. My friend did all of the wiring and made the adapter, so I do not take any credit for any of it. Just sharing this, to those trying to figure out if it can be done.
Moving on, the adapter is a 7 pin/blade normal American plug that goes into the back of the JGC and the other end of the adapter is the 13 pin German (European) socket. We tried it without this product and all worked except when you hit the brakes the brake lights were faded and the blinker lights were lit up as if they were the brake lights. So, had to get this product and separate the brake/blinker light on the American side and have separate brake and turn wires on the German side.
Put this product between the two in the middle of the adapter, wired it up and all works great!
I used 2 zip ties around the product and a bunch of electrical tape to hold it to the adapter, at least to give it a better look.

Now I only have to plug in the adapter whenever I use a German trailer and all works correct. When done towing, remove the adapter and everything is back to the American system. Did not have to cut/splice or do anything to the wires on the JGC or the trailer, all was done at the adapter.

Thanks again to etrailer for providing awesome customer support and shipping!
Jeff
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by: Neil C.06/03/2020

Used to add little LED marker turn lights on the corners to vintage two circuit airstream trailer. The led corner lights now are red running at night, red stopping by day and switch to yellow, when turning, day or night.807567

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Interested in adding a third light up higher on your trailer for additional visibility? This product will separate the turn signal and brake signal on a four pin connector so you can add a running and brake light up higher to be visible. Simulates the third light that most cars and trucks have these days in the center of the back window. Positive for the semi-trucks visibility. You do not really think they can see the normal trailer lights 12" off the ground when following close behind or coming over a hill do you?
Included a picture with just the running lights illuminated.
Thank you etrailer for having the right products in stock! Most other dealers did not know what I was talking about and one even told me it was against the law. Called state highway patrol and they encouraged the additional third light! I also added the higher side running lights when semi's are merging behind you at night.
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Installed correct. However, can tell the lights are now dimmer than before installing the converter. Not to happy with dim brake lights.
The converter works as said otherwise.1579741

Jenny N.

5/19/2023

I wanted to ask you if your vehicle has LED lights? I know that this converter will work correctly if the trailer has LED lights, however will not if the tow vehicle has them.

I was looking for a way to add a third tail light to a vintage trailer and this proved to be just the ticket. Easy to install and worked great right out of the box.

Plenty of communications from etrailer staff along the way. Just wish they would provide tracking info so you could plan for expected receipt date.97067

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Great service on a part I wasn't aware was available. Was going to use a 7 pin adapter to power seperate lights on a little camp trailer. This will simplify my needs.
Thanks..519348

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It work great 1st try 1753669

by: K.J.02/02/2022

Since my trailer is 100% LEDs, I would not have chosen this for the two to three wire conversion since the description specifically states "not for LEDs". But after a discussion with the tech guys, I installed it and it has worked flawlessly.1257154

K.j.

2/2/2023

Still working perfectly!

Great company very helpful 1728162

Shipping was fast. Installation was easy. Works as designed. Couldnt ask for a better result. Now my tow car is all wired correctly. 728438

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Easy painless installation!
I used this product to install a third brake light on my TC Teardrop camper. 492604

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The VtoV converter works great and solved a problem I have been dealing wiht for almost 6 months.
My one suggestion to anyone adding a trailer harness to a vehicle that was also wired for flat towing by an rv, that you realize and understand the difference between two wire and three wire systems. This description can be found in ETrailers videos. I found after much frustration I needed this unit because the two wire system coming from my RV conflicted with the plug and play trailer harness. It separated the incoming signal into a 3 wire system allowing my Jeep to operate as designed, and the trailer harness to also work.
As good and helpful everyone at ET have been I only wish we could have identified the conflict sooner.
But overall, I will recommend and use ETrailer again.1530496

by: Jim R.04/05/2020

The "Vehicle To Vehicle Tail Light Converter", Item #118158 is serving my needs well. I refitted my trailer completely using all LED lights. I mounted the converter inside the "C" channel underneath my tongue mounted toolbox for a little added protection. I also soldered all connections throughout the re-wire and used heat shrink &/or liquid rubber over all connections. I feel that proper planning prevents poor performance. I ordered numerous lights from etrailer also, and all are working fine. When I chose to call them with a question about one of their products, it was answered quickly and appropriately. I am a business person, and that's customer service!774797

Jim R.

4/6/2021

The tail light converter is still working fine. I have no regrets.

My taillight adapter arrived quickly, undamaged, and exactly as advertised. Prior to ordering, I emailed etrailer.com techs with a question. They responded quickly and with excellent advice.

This little converter is simple to install. My trailer has a shared turn signal/brake wire. The adapter allows me to connect a lighted license plate frame that also has a third brake. 117721

John D.

3/5/2015

What great customer service! You guys and your products are fantastic. The items I bought are working 100

The perfect solution to hook european trailers with separate blinker and brake lights to U.S. vehicles that combine the two. Piece of cake to install, works great. Many props to E-Trailer for supporting the troops by providing shipment to APO/FPO. Note, The trailer ground passes over this devise to the ground coming from your vehicle. Not clarified in the instructions but easy enough to figure out. 90057

Martin S.

1/16/2015

Still loving it.Thanks, Marty

by: Matt08/21/2023

Works as intended 1651378

by: Christian G02/26/2020

I installed a European 13pin receiver on a 2018 Ford Explorer and stowed the wiring adapter under the vehicle. Worked flawlessly so far with caravans and bike carriers. 759280

Christian G.

3/1/2021

Still working flawlessly, even with lots of snow, ice and sludge

by: Aaron03/27/2018

I used this to change the wiring and harness on a European trailer to work with my standard US 4-pin trailer outlet.
Pretty simple and straight forward with the diagrams and write-ups that I found on this site.
489560

Aaron

3/27/2019

The parts are still on my European trailer and working well! The trailer is a German brand and started its life there in Germany being pulled by my American-spec Jeep Wrangler. The trailer’s wiring and the Jeep’s connections needed to be massaged in order to work. The parts I ordered from etrailer and the writeups for the project on your site made it all possible. Now the trailer is titled and registered in Virginia and enjoying its life on this side of the Pacific!