Troubleshooting Wiring Problem on 1977 Travel Trailer
Question:
we have 1977 kit Champanion trailer. We have tested all the running lights, tail, and clearance lights on a battery to see if they worked. And they did . But when we plug into the truck connector we dont have lights. We checked the truck connector and it had power, But when we plugged them in together the lights stayed on only for a minute, and then must of blew a fuse on truck connector, because the connector now doesnt have power on the truck. Please help, we need some ideas. Thanks so much.
asked by: Maureen
Expert Reply:
The first thing you'll want to do is get the trailer connector on the truck operational again. The procedure for this will depend largely on the year, make and model of the truck. If the truck is newer, it would likely have a factory tow package that uses relays to control and fuses to protect the towing circuits.
When you checked the function of the connector on the truck, are all the features dead (right turn/brake, left turn/brake and running light) or are some working? If some are working and some aren't, there's likely a blown fuse. Your vehicle owner's manual should have a fuse diagram describing which fuses protect which circuits, check the fuses and replace as necessary.
If you find a blown fuse, you'll need to check the wiring on the trailer to find the short circuit that caused the short that blew the fuse. Start at the trailer connector, and trace each circuit back to its lamp. Look for pinched wires, loose connections or cracked/worn wire insulation that would allow the copper wire to short out on the trailer frame.
If you'd reply with the year, make and model of the truck, I might be able to provide more specifics. I've also linked to a help article that will help with trailer wiring troubleshooting.
