Exterior Running Lights

rmowat · 07-09-2015, 11:47 AM

I have noticed that some trailers at our park are able to turn on their running lights - while parked?

Is there a special way to do this, or do some trailers just happen to have a switch that allows them to turn them on? I need to connect my 7-Way to my vehicle to turn on my trailer lights?

Would like to turn them on without having to plug into my vehicle....

mike837go · 07-09-2015, 12:19 PM

There was an identical thread last week.

Get a pin-out of the 7pin connector and short the battery lead to the running lights pin. They are adjacent. IIRC they are at the top.

Scoutr2 · 07-09-2015, 12:22 PM

Here's a drawing that shows the two pins that need to be connected. I just use a
spade-type 5 amp automotive style fuse.

Connect the Tail/Lic/Running Light connector (upper left) to the Battery Charge connector (upper right)

Edd505 · 07-09-2015, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmowat

Would like to turn them on without having to plug into my vehicle....

Why would you and them on?

nhfire152 · 07-09-2015, 08:19 PM

A small piece of wire in the shape of a "U" works perfectly to connect the two together.

Scoutr2 · 07-09-2015, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edd505

Why would you and them on?

It creates a nice soft, warm glow at night. Provides enough light to see by, but doesn't attract bugs.

Edd505 · 07-09-2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scoutr2

It creates a nice soft, warm glow at night. Provides enough light to see by, but doesn't attract bugs.

I'll miss the blue haze of my bug zapper but I'll have to park it and give this a try.

Jagiven · 07-09-2015, 10:19 PM

Also try a heavy duty flasher unit. We use a flasher during a Halloween camp out. The flasher also works good in emergencies to be very noticeable.

tkhollywood · 07-10-2015, 07:10 AM

Thank you for sharing, I always wondered how to do it.

ctbailey · 07-10-2015, 12:44 PM

I find it mildy entertaining, but also mildy annoying. Nothing like a nice wooded campground, and then turning the corner to see red and amber lights coming through the trees. Its one of those things that sort make me roll my eyes. LOL

Personal preference, I suppose.

Jagiven · 07-10-2015, 02:09 PM

We camp a lot at state parks, rarely at private CG. At SP it is very rare to see the running lights on I think I can only recall seeing them maybe two times in the past five years. Besides me doing it at a Halloween celebration campout hosted by the SP. Private CGs I see it all the time, maybe 50 percent of the time.

A friend of mine has a seasonal. While staying there one trip, he showed me this “cool gismo” that he plugs his 7 pin into that turns on all the marker lights. I replied that it was really cool, but I too have done it, but for pennies, by using a spare fuse. Left it at that. Next night, I brought over my flasher unit. Plugged it in, and walked in to the TT. Sat and talked until well after dark, went out, and he saw the lights flashing and thought he had an electrical problem.

mike837go · 07-10-2015, 02:16 PM

Its also a good thing to know when the fuse blows in your tow and you want to finish your trip after dark. 2 strands from some #14 wire will short the connectors and still allow the 7 pin plug to seat in the connector.

Scoutr2 · 07-10-2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbailey

I find it mildy entertaining, but also mildy annoying. Nothing like a nice wooded campground, and then turning the corner to see red and amber lights coming through the trees. Its one of those things that sort make me roll my eyes. LOL

Personal preference, I suppose.

Far less intrusive than a lot of folks awning lights, IMO. It's the perfect amount of light for having a campfire, yet still being able to see enough to move around without tripping over something.

sully585 · 07-10-2015, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbailey

I find it mildy entertaining, but also mildy annoying. Nothing like a nice wooded campground, and then turning the corner to see red and amber lights coming through the trees. Its one of those things that sort make me roll my eyes. LOL

Personal preference, I suppose.

i much prefer the soft warm glow of my running lights to the bug-attracting glare of my LED awning light. i could get a suntan under that thing at night.

certified106 · 07-10-2015, 04:27 PM

I much prefer no lights and just the flicker of my campfire

RoyBraddy · 07-10-2015, 05:18 PM

Here is a pictorial...

I saw one dude had wired his connects to a switch just inside the front door. Was labeled "running lights"...

A good way to run down your battery haha...

I have only seen one that was flashing...

In case of an emergency it sure would be neat to tell the Resque Squad people to look for the trailer with flashing lights...

Roy Ken

Revschuette · 07-11-2015, 08:32 PM

Maybe a dumb question, but can you do this while plugged into shore power? Maybe preferred so battery doesn't run down? I have seen this a handful of times and never knew how this I'd done.

Scoutr2 · 07-11-2015, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revschuette

Maybe a dumb question, but can you do this while plugged into shore power? Maybe preferred so battery doesn't run down? I have seen this a handful of times and never knew how this I'd done.

That's the only way I do it. With no shore power, it would drain your battery quickly.

Revschuette · 07-21-2015, 08:51 PM

Leaving on a trip tomorrow......tried a piece of wire to get the lights to work.....works great. I think I will like using the marker lights instead of the bright LED lights under the awning.

North of 49° · 07-21-2015, 09:19 PM

We've found this trick useful for when we're at a campground we're not familiar with, and after a day's activities we're returning to the trailer after dark. It's much easier to find our site when we know which one it is! Of course, as soon as we get back, the lights go out.

I see nothing wrong with it, just as long as people don't go overboard....

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