Maintenance & Restoration

MountainHome · 04-12-2008, 12:03 AM

Just purchased a 92 17.5' Bigfoot trailer and have no idea how to do anything to it - the last owner said three of the top running lights on the back of the trailer do not work. A friend of mine pulled one of the lights off thinking they would just screw off from the base but it came right off the fiberglass! I guess step one would be to try to get in the light itself - sorry I guess you have to start somewhere - how do you get into them without breaking them? Any info would be wonderful. Thanks- a BC newbie

Joe MacDonald · 04-12-2008, 05:10 AM

show us a picture or give us a name and part number?

usually the lens pries away from the base on most marker lights, But I'm not sure about the burros.
Joe

Darwin Maring · 04-12-2008, 10:23 AM

Now uld b the time to install LED running lights.

Tractor Supply in the US has them for a very reasonable price.

Pete Dumbleton · 04-12-2008, 11:38 AM

Helping friends with utility trailer lights, I have run across some where the bulb(s) is manufactured as part of the light and the whole thing is replaced as a unit.

If several lights aren't working, then it's likely the wiring, and if it's the wiring, it's likely the ground/return wires.

Darwin is right on about LED lights because they will draw far less current and not create TV current problems, esp if your trailer lights are just tapped into the TV lights and not on a tow-package relay.

Doug Mager · 04-12-2008, 03:47 PM

The #1 MOST COMMON REASON for non functioning running lights IS A BAD GROUND!!!
IF you can get the cover off to expose the innerds, take a look at the wiring. Pull the bulb clean the terminal ends & contacts in the fixture with a fine sandpaper (or whatever) and also check the ground wire inside the fixture. It MAY need to be removed from the ground and cleaned as well and reinstalled. IF you can, also check to see the the bulb itself works ....easily done by replacing it (to test) with its next door neighbour bulb (if ITS working). If it works put it back in BUT once these bulbs are out, its always wise to replace it with a new one. Saves redoing all this next year!!!