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Posted: 10/8/2015 5:34:32 PM EDT
Hopefully this will save someone some agony.....

You have to have the trailer hooked up to the ball BEFORE trying to diagnose trailer light issues. (before deciding your lights aren't working)


Besides whatever grounds you have happening on the truck and trailer, the ball/coupler is ANOTHER ground, and your lights MAY act fucky without the two being connected.

I know this is basic.


If you can explain this better please do, I'm retarded.
Link Posted: 10/8/2015 7:22:44 PM EDT
[#1]
Flat 4 connector, white= ground.  If your truck and trailer are wired correctly, being hitched or not hitched makes no difference. Never ever ever count on the ball hitch to be your ground.........  Ever.
Link Posted: 10/8/2015 7:30:38 PM EDT
[#2]
Although the ball connection to the trailer IS indeed another ground, it is not necessary to have the trailer on the ball for your lights to work properly. If your lights work, or work better/brighter, with the trailer on the ball then you have a bad  ground. The problem could be a trailer ground or a vehicle ground. I've seen the connectors themselves cause the problem on my own truck.






Link Posted: 10/9/2015 1:33:23 AM EDT
[#3]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
If your lights work, or work better/brighter, with the trailer on the ball then you have a bad  ground.






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Link Posted: 10/9/2015 4:35:04 AM EDT
[#4]
I run a separate ground from the trailer harness to the trailer.
Link Posted: 10/11/2015 7:01:13 AM EDT
[#5]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Flat 4 connector, white= ground.  If your truck and trailer are wired correctly, being hitched or not hitched makes no difference. Never ever ever count on the ball hitch to be your ground.........  Ever.
View Quote


Listen to this guy!!!
Link Posted: 10/11/2015 8:38:23 AM EDT
[#6]
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:


Listen to this guy!!!
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Discussion ForumsJump to Quoted PostQuote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
Flat 4 connector, white= ground.  If your truck and trailer are wired correctly, being hitched or not hitched makes no difference. Never ever ever count on the ball hitch to be your ground.........  Ever.


Listen to this guy!!!




Listen to these guys . use a star washer and bare metal to get a good connection .
Link Posted: 10/11/2015 6:20:46 PM EDT
[#7]
OP has a bad ground.
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