How Does 4-Way Wishbone Trailer Wiring Work and Install
Question:
I bought a new 4 pole light kit for my car trailer and it was a V style where you run wires down both sides of trailer and I didnt like the way wires routed so I ran them down 1 sideright side Problem is I cant get my side running lights to work, I connected them to left side tail wiring and routed 1 wire over to left side, should I have connected it to right side wiring then run it over to left side does it know difference?.Also the wires are yellow/brown and green/brown so I have 2 browns, do I hook 2 browns together on one lug on trailer connector.Do they need to be grounded also as they did not have ground wires on them Hopefully you follow what Im saying haha, 2009 chevy 2500 HD diesel
asked by: Scott F
Expert Reply:
You have what is called a wishbone harness like # A20WB. This type of harness take the running light circuit and splits it at the trailer connector so that you do not have to run a jumper wire from one tail light to the other. The yellow/brown wire is the running light circuit for the driver side. The green/brown wire is the running light circuit for the passenger side.
Either of these wires will carry the running lights for the trailer, they are just split to make it easier to wire to the tail lights.
Many trailer lights ground through the mounting hardware if there is not a ground wire present. All lights will need to be grounded. If you have a lot of extra running lights, they may be too much of a power draw for the vehicle wiring system to handle and thus they will not power on.
All grounds, including the main trailer connector ground, will need to be attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces. On aluminum trailers, if the ground to the frame at the lights is not sufficient, they will not work and you will need to attach those grounds to the main trailer connector ground.
Products Referenced in This Question
20 Ft 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness - Wishbone Style - 30" Ground
- Trailer Wiring
- Trailer Connectors
- Trailer End Connector
- 11 - 20 Feet Long
- Plug and Lead
- 4 Flat
- Optronics
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Pollak Black Plastic, 7-Pole, RV-Style Trailer Connector - Trailer End
- Trailer Wiring
- Trailer Connectors
- Trailer End Connector
- Plug Only
- 7 Round - Blade
- Pollak
more information >
Continue Researching
- Article: Trailer Wiring Diagrams
- Shop: Hopkins Endurance Easy-Pull Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector - Trailer End - 25' Long
- Video: Hopkins Endurance Easy-Pull 4-Pole Flat Trailer Harness Installation
- Shop: Hopkins Endurance Easy-Pull Y-Harness with 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector - Trailer End - 20'
- Shop: 35 Ft 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness - Wishbone Style - 42" Ground
- Search Results: trailer wiring kit
- Search Results: wiring kit
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Search Results: wiring harness
- Search Results: hopkins wiring harness
- Video: Hopkins Wiring - Trailer Connectors - HM38138 Review
- Video: Wesbar Wishbone Style 4-Flat Trailer End Connector Installation
- Video: Hopkins Wiring - Trailer Connectors - HM48205 Review
- Shop: 20 Ft 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness - Wishbone Style - 30" Ground
- Search Results: boat trailer wiring kit
- Shop: etrailer Spare Tire Mount for Trailer with Angle-Iron Railing - Clamp On
- Shop: 40 Ft 5-Way Trailer Wiring Harness - Wishbone Style - 30" Ground - 5' Auxiliary Wire
- Shop: Hopkins 4-Way Flat Trailer Wiring Kit - Vehicle and Trailer Ends
- Search Results: trailer wiring harness
- Search Results: e99045
- Video: Review of TecNiq Trailer Lights - Clearance Lights - TN72RR
- Video: Review of TecNiq Trailer Lights - Recessed Mount Mini Red LED Side Marker Trailer Light - TN96MR
- Video: Optronics Trailer Lights - Tail Lights - STL76RB Review
- Article: Wiring Trailer Lights with a 5-Way Plug (It's Easier Than You Think)
- Q&A: Wiring Connections For Wishbone Harness To Use On Trailer Wiring
- Q&A: What is the Difference Between Over 80 inch and Under 80 inch Trailer Tail Lights
- Q&A: 4-Way Trailer Connector that has 5 Wires
- Q&A: Why Does 4-Pin Trailer Wiring Have 5 Wires
- Article: Troubleshooting 4 and 5-Way Wiring Installations
- Q&A: Trailer Turn Signals Both Blink at the Same Time When Right or Left Turn Signal is Turned On