RV trailer running lights wiring issue
I have a camping trailer from 1978, and while getting ready to go on the road again I noticed the running lights are acting wonky. I think it must be a wiring issue but don't know much about electrica...
Forum Discussion
First, the large red "headlights" are called tail lights. Those should have bulbs in them with 2 filaments. The dimmer filament should light up when you turn on the headlights. All of the marker lights (yellow and red) up top should also light up with the headlights. These are all fed from a single pin on the trailer plug.
Next, the brighter filaments in the tail lights are for the brake and turn. With the brakes on, both tail lights should get much brighter. When you use the turn signals, the same filament should blink and only that one. None of the marker lights should flash. There is one wire for each turn signal coming from the trailer plug.
Since you say other lights are flashing, I'm going to guess that your ground connection from the truck to the trailer is bad. Check for a white wire coming from the trailer plug that attaches to the frame. Without a good ground, the different circuits will share with each other through the dual filament bulbs.
Next, the brighter filaments in the tail lights are for the brake and turn. With the brakes on, both tail lights should get much brighter. When you use the turn signals, the same filament should blink and only that one. None of the marker lights should flash. There is one wire for each turn signal coming from the trailer plug.
Since you say other lights are flashing, I'm going to guess that your ground connection from the truck to the trailer is bad. Check for a white wire coming from the trailer plug that attaches to the frame. Without a good ground, the different circuits will share with each other through the dual filament bulbs.
