Wiring and Lighting Component Recommendations to Re-Wire Tandem-Axle Car Hauler Trailer with 7-Way

Question:

I have a steel 2005 run-of-the-mill because I cant recall the name of it at the moment open car trailer w/ electric trailer brakes. I had completely stripped it of all lighting and electrical for sandblasting and painting. I have it back now and am preparing to rewire it. In addition to the electric brakes, I am installing an electric trailer jack at the front and mounting a 650 CCA deep cycle battery for the winch and the break away switch. Would I be correct in utilizing the 7 wire harness and the 38656 junction box when rewiring it? If not can you make a suggestion. This trailer is used approximately once a month. Insofar as lighting, I have LED brake/tail lights and intend to reuse them, however I would like to replace the side marker lights 2 red, 2 amber mounted on the front and rear of the fenders and the marker strip at the rear edge w/ LED as well. Can you make a suggestion for those?

asked by: Tom P

Expert Reply:

A junction box like the Spectro # 38656 is a perfect way to re-wire your tandem-axle car hauler. This box provides plenty of room inside its weather-proof housing to make all of your lighting, 12V and brake signal connections. Please refer to the linked video. We use this box on just about all of our in-house re-wiring jobs.

You'll also want to use ring terminals like 3M part # 44-5310A for all of the junction box connections; these will both save you time and provide longer-lasting connections. Dielectric grease like # LT37534 is also recommended to help keep moisture out of the connection points and to deter corrosion.

Instead of the Deka jacketed wire you referenced, part # DW04914-1, you might consider the Hopkins # 7-Way Molded Trailer Wire Connector # H20046 which has an 8-foot length of jacketed 7-way cable molded into the 7-way trailer-side plug. This might save you a bit of wiring time. You will also need wire for the various trailer lights and for the brake and 12V power circuits. For brake circuit and trailer jack wiring you can use part # 10-2-1 from Deka, which is 10-gauge 2-conductor jacketed wire sold by the foot. Single conductor 10-gauge wire is also available as part # 10-1-1, also sold by the foot.

You may also want to consider using wire loom to protect your new wiring from road salts and abrasion. We offer Hopkins # 39035 which is a 10-foot length of 3/8-inch diameter plastic loom. Metal loom clamps are available as well, such as part # A0500 from Redline.

For your new LED-type lights you can use the link provided to see all options in clearance lights; filters in the left margin will let you sort the results based on the type, shape, mounting style and colors you need. We also offer various mounting configurations within our available range of LED lights, including surface-, flange- and flush-mount types. You can also filter the lights shown by dimension and color.

For an electric trailer tongue jack we offer both bolt-on and weld-on types in weight capacities from 1000-lbs up to 3500-lbs. Jacks with wheels or a foot plate are available and with varying amounts of lift. For example the etrailer # EJ-3520-WBX powered jack will work with your trailer 12-volt system and is rated for 3500 pounds of lift at the tongue.