Recommended Parts and Wiring for Adding LED Lights to Aluminum Cargo Carrier with Ramp

Question:

I just purchased a 2019 Subaru Ascent, with a hitch. The hitch has a regular trailer lights connector and, a flat 4 pin connector. Im handicapped, and just purchased an aluminum scooter carrier that looks like your MaxxTow MT70100 for the Ascent to carry on its hitch. How do I connect the three wires from the light STL79RB to a four pin, flat connector. I only wish to have the strip light for extra visibility of my carrier, not for turning etc. Also, I believe the aluminum carrier cannot be used for the earthling wire, how/where, can I attach this wire? The length of the wiring only needs to be about 5 feet long, my carrier is only 27 inches wide. I had hoped to buy a similar LED strip light with the four pin flat, plug already attched but haven't found any. Im not good with wiring, as you can tell. Thanks,

asked by: Philip A

Expert Reply:

Thank you for all of the helpful information! I do have a few different options for you to add LED lighting to your scooter carrier.

You can definitely use the Optronics Streamline LED Trailer Tail Light # STL79RB with wiring like the Hopkins Endurance # HM38134 by just using heat shrink butt connectors # DW05744-5. Since your carrier is aluminum you will need to cut off the eyelet on the ground wire and splice it to the white wire on this harness. The Hopkins wiring harness is only 48" long so if you need that extra length you can use the 12" extension # 9653P to accomplish this.

What I recommend using instead is the LED Light Kit # 98174LED because it comes with simple plug-in wiring that includes the 4-Way flat connector. You can then mount the LED lights to your carrier using the bracket # BK70BB (see attached picture that a customer sent in). The longest end of this wiring is 48" so if you need some extra length you can simply use the same extension # 9653P to reach the 4-Way flat connector on your 2019 Subaru Ascent.