Does Trailer Lighting Ground Through the Hitch Ball
Question:
Okay havent had my boat trailer out in 10 years. My question is does the trailer need to be grounded to my truck for lights to work? I hooked up 4 way trailer plug to my truck and I have no lights working on trailer so I put a test lights to my truck and all works fine on truck, but I didnt set trailer on the hitch ball, does it have to be hooked to ball to get its ground for the trailer lights to work?
asked by: Don
Expert Reply:
In some cases trailer lighting will ground through the hitch ball but that's typically only if the actual ground circuit is insufficient. This is not an ideal setup. It needs to ground through the wiring of the trailer harness.
You can test this by setting the coupler on the ball and if it works you know the ground of the trailer needs to be improved. Otherwise you'll get intermittent lighting functions when your trailer hits bumps.
I attached a couple help articles for you to check out as well.
Mike F.
8/1/2020
Hey have a 2010 Keystone camper. When running lights are on rt turn signal wont work. When I pull the bulb out and use my tester it will work. Put bulb in no blinker. The tail light works.
Jon G.
8/11/2020
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9/8/2020
Had new adaptor put on truck but having no lights on camper. When I did have lights no turn signals or break lights. Camper is a 1977 Shasta. HELP