It's an unfortunate truth that most RV owners don't give much thought to their trailer wiring until something goes wrong. In most instances, this will delay the start to their vacation or leave them scrambling to find parts for a makeshift repair out on the road. To avoid the trouble and delay, doing a complete check on your campers trailer wiring while parked at home is far less hassle and a lot less expensive. Start at the Beginning To do a proper check on your trailers wiring, you should begin by plugging the trailer into the tow vehicle and turning on the lights. This will allow you to check the pigtail connector and wiring to be sure it is in proper working order. Inspect the blade socket on the tow vehicle and make sure no dirt or corrosion has fouled the connection. Give any exposed wiring a real good once-over. Check for cracked or worn insulation, worn conduit protector or missing wire bracket screws. If you find anything amiss, take note and order a replacement right away. Since this is where the electrical system begins for your trailer wiring, it only makes sense to be sure this connection is up-to-snuff before doing the rest of your inspection. Follow the Wiring Harness Follow the wiring back along the trailer frame. Pay special attention to the places that are attached to the frame and where the wiring enters the frame itself. These spots are particularly prone to rubbing due to wind and the vibrations caused by driving. Look for any spots that have excessive wear or holes worn in the insulation. There is nothing worse than trying to do a makeshift repair along a busy road or in a gas station parking lot. Out on the road it's unlikely you'll find the exact part you need to do the job right. In an emergency, you'll end up having to make do with whatever the nearest service station has available, and you'll have to pay whatever they want to charge. Ordering the right parts from a reputable online trailer and RV supplier makes the repair less expensive, easier and gives you peace-of-mind. Inspect your Trailer Lights No matter if it's a RV, boat, motorcycle, quad or snowmobile trailer, they all are susceptible to tail light failure at one point or another. However, boat and jet ski trailers are especially vulnerable because of the amount of moisture they are exposed to when launching or retrieving your toys. Ensuring your trailer lights are working properly every time you hookup should become a habit to avoid a ticket, or worse, an accident. Check for damage to the lens assembly from road debris. Additionally, check that there is no water in the light housing. A tail light full of water will cause the system to short out and the lights to fail. This makes the trailer nearly invisible to drivers approaching from behind. Furthermore, shorted trailer wiring could cause damage to the electrical system on the tow vehicle should the fuse not operate correctly. All-in-all, it takes very little time to inspect and repair the wiring on your trailer before you head out. It can not only make your trip more enjoyable, it will likely make it a much safer experience. If you have any questions about your trailer wiring or other RV repairs and upgrades, contact us. We'll be happy to help you sort out any issues and help you get the right parts to make proper repairs
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