Parts Needed to Add Lights to 50 Foot, Triple Axle Trailer with No Existing Lights

Question:

I am buying a trailer with no lights. I would like to put lights on the trailer. The trailer has three axles and is about 50ft long. What products do you recommend. I am on a budget, but dont want crappy equipment.... not that you guys sell crappy equipment. Thanks for your help and time.

asked by: Ryan H

Expert Reply:

Thanks for the photo of your trailer! The taillights I recommend for your trailer are the Optronics Over 80 Inches, Rectangular Submersible Trailer Tail and License Light, Left-Hand # ST17RB and the Right Hand # ST16RB.These lights will provide you with the stop/brake light, tail light, turn signal, rear reflector, license plate lights, rear side marker lights, and rear side reflectors needed for trailers 30 feet or longer.

For front side clearance lights and reflectors as well as intermediate side marker lights and reflectors you can use the Optronics Trailer Clearance or Side Marker Light with Reflex Reflector # MC32AB. These will also work for your trailer if it is wider than 80 inches and needs lights at the front for clearance. If your trailer is 80 inches wide, you will want 6 of the # MC32AB lights.

To provide rear identification lights, I suggest the Optronics, Sealed 3-Light Truck and Trailer Identification Light Bar # MC93RB. These lights come pre-installed on a light bar for the back of your trailer.

You will also want all of the wiring and hardware needed to wire the trailer for lights. Starting with the trailer connector, I recommend using the Trailer Wiring 7-Way Upgrade Kit # HS381-9000. This kit will provide you with the 7-Way trailer-end connector, a junction box to make wiring connections, and all of the hardware and ring terminals needed to make the wiring connections at the junction box.

To run the wiring for the lights, you can use Bonded 4 Wire # 16-4B-1, which is sold by the foot. For the best connection between the wiring and the taillights, I recommend some heat shrink butt connectors # DW05744-10.

In addition to lights, if your trailer has a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds, you will also need conspicuity treatments for the trailer. You will need 2 pairs of rear upper body markings, 1 continuous bumper bar marking, 1 continuous rear lower body marking, and 2 continuous side markings. These treatments are available in strips, like 8, 18 inch strips in part # RE18T, or in a tape roll, like the 150 foot roll part # RTR15066PB.

All of the information on lighting requirements can be found in the linked help article. This article will help with placement and other requirements when installing these lights on your trailer.