Boat Trailer Lights

Before the boat ever leaves the driveway for the first trip of the season, it is important to make sure that the boat trailer is ready for the trip. In addition to checking the wheels and the wench, the boat trailer lights also need to be checked. Here is a quick guide to try and make the process a little easier.

If the lights are checked and found to not be working, the first thing that has to be done is to locate the problem. If one side is working and the other is not, it may just be a blown bulb. If nothing happens, we may be looking at a more serious problem that could end up in the entire unit having to be replaced.

Hook the trailer up to receptacle and then have someone hit the brakes and work the turn signals. If there is a problem on only one side, the fix is probably nothing more than changing out a single bulb. Remove the light from the side that is not responding and then run through the same process. If the lights are still not working properly, then it is time to dig a little deeper.

The wiring harness is a common problem and easy enough to check. By running a new two line wire from the vehicle battery to the bulb, you can once again check to see if there is an issue. If the lights work by doing this, the harness is bad and has to be replaced. A new one can be purchased online or at the local boating store and replaced fairly quickly.

The next place to look is at the fuses. These are again very easy to replace and check. If the lights are still not working, the electrical harness may be the cause of the issue. This process can be a little challenging and may be best left to a professional, if for no other reason than to make sure that the guarantee stays in effect. Hopefully, the repair will be something basic that can quickly be handled and the boat and the trailer will be on their way to the launch point.