trailer light problem - help!!!!!!

[landry]

Maiden voyage yesterday - boat ran great, fishing skills a little rusty - but the trailer is messed up!!!!

I need some advice/help.

The lights only work when I close my swing tongue and contact is made at a certain point. At that point you can see a spark on the swing tongue joint and the lights come on. Open it an inch = off. Close it and put the swing tongue pin in = off.

Finally we jammed a piece of copper between the main trailer/swing tongue surfaces and it got us to Dunnville and back.

 

Any ideas on what's going on????????

 

Thanks everyone.

Landry

Edited April 11, 2011 by landry

[HTHM]

A bad ground, check the white wire on your harness

[Bernie]

For sure a bad ground.

Drill a small hole on either side of the swing point and run a ground wire.

Use grounding washers on each terminal and give it a protective coating to help prevent corrosion.

[Terry]

you have been given great advise

[landry]

you have been given great advise

 

 

I believe I have:)

 

Thanks guys!!!

 

Landry

 

 

[Fisherman]

This has to be an annual(more like monthly) problem. If there's no proper ground, then shinola don't work. Every trailer I have, had or will ever own, has a dedicated white ground wire from the trailer plug to each light fixture. Problem avoided.

[kingofthesteelhead]

Either recut the ground or use some sandpaper to clean up the connection better and make sure there is no rust where it is grounded to.Had that problem last year.

[landry]

Thanks guys!!!!!!

I simply lengthened the ground wire so that it stretched past the swing tongue and fastened it to the main trailer body.

I can see now that I had a problem starting last year as my lights are all now much brighter as well!!!

I appreciate the help.

Landry