Trailer connections

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   So...Sister-in-Law bought an older  (95 StarCraft) pop-up camper in pretty fair shape. Wants to tow it short distances with a Subaru Forester. Bought the Curt wiring harness (from e-trailer) specified for her vehicle and plugged it in as instructed. Grounded into metal panel by the vehicles supplied plug.

All she wants to work are the trailer lights, so I got elected to splice into the existing trailer harness which is an 8 pole plug in the tongue of the trailer. Light wiring is exposed and accessible.

With the vehicle running, one wire (don't recall which one)on the output side of the converter box shows 14 volts and the rest of the wires show .65 volts. Not enough to power the trailer lights. This was measured with a digital multi meter.

The battery on the vehicle is weak and needs replaced, but with the vehicle running, shouldn't the output wires to the trailer lights show 12 volts?

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ragadas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 04 Jul 2016 Location: N W Pa. USA Online Status: Offline Posts: 40	Topic: Trailer connections Posted: 19 Aug 2017 at 7:25am
	So...Sister-in-Law bought an older (95 StarCraft) pop-up camper in pretty fair shape. Wants to tow it short distances with a Subaru Forester. Bought the Curt wiring harness (from e-trailer) specified for her vehicle and plugged it in as instructed. Grounded into metal panel by the vehicles supplied plug. All she wants to work are the trailer lights, so I got elected to splice into the existing trailer harness which is an 8 pole plug in the tongue of the trailer. Light wiring is exposed and accessible. With the vehicle running, one wire (don't recall which one)on the output side of the converter box shows 14 volts and the rest of the wires show .65 volts. Not enough to power the trailer lights. This was measured with a digital multi meter. The battery on the vehicle is weak and needs replaced, but with the vehicle running, shouldn't the output wires to the trailer lights show 12 volts?
	Dave & Chris RP 179 2011 Tacoma Access Cab V6 6 speed manual.

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 19 Aug 2017 at 7:36am
	Yes, close to that they are 12 volt lights. Only when energized, right. Taillight line will be at 12 volts when lights are ON. Turn signals 12/0 as lights toggle. Brake light line at 12 volts when brake applied. etrailer has some excellent videos on troubleshooting as does the interweb. (youtube)
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

ragadas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 04 Jul 2016 Location: N W Pa. USA Online Status: Offline Posts: 40	Posted: 21 Aug 2017 at 5:51am
	Thanks Mike.
	Dave & Chris RP 179 2011 Tacoma Access Cab V6 6 speed manual.

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2653	Posted: 21 Aug 2017 at 2:16pm
	Trailer connectors come in three varieties; 4-pin, 6-pin, and 7-pin. Wire according to one of these: http://www.dieselhub.com/towing/trailer-wiring.html
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost