Wiring a trailer

[Recycledteen]

Getting ready to hook up my trailer and am wondering if I need the 5 to 4 wiring adapter to correctly hook up the lights on the trailer. The trailer has separate bulbs for turn and tail lights. Anyone know what I need to do?

 

[lah2420]

Not sure what you have on the towing vehicle. If your bike uses the same bulbs for brake and turn signals and the trailer does too, no adapter needed. If you bike has separate brake and turn lights and the trailer uses the same bulb for brake and turn, you need an adapter box.

 

[Polock48]

Getting ready to hook up my trailer and am wondering if I need the 5 to 4 wiring adapter to correctly hook up the lights on the trailer. The trailer has separate bulbs for turn and tail lights. Anyone know what I need to do?

I used posi-tap wire connectors to wire my trike to the trailer receptacle. My trailer uses a 5 wire round plug. My trailer has separate brake and turn signal lights.

 

[Recycledteen]

Not sure what you have on the towing vehicle. If your bike uses the same bulbs for brake and turn signals and the trailer does too, no adapter needed. If you bike has separate brake and turn lights and the trailer uses the same bulb for brake and turn, you need an adapter box.

Trike uses the same bulb for both on each side but trailer has separate bulbs. Just opposite of why you would use the adapter, I think!

 

[mikestrike]

Getting ready to hook up my trailer and am wondering if I need the 5 to 4 wiring adapter to correctly hook up the lights on the trailer. The trailer has separate bulbs for turn and tail lights. Anyone know what I need to do?

You can go to Rivco Procducts website for wire harness instructions.

https://rivcoproducts.com/install-instructions

 

[trike tech]

How you tie into the bike will depend on what year your Tri is. The wiring/diagnostics systems are different between the 09-13 & 14-up and will play a factor in trailer wiring (in case you weren't aware).

 

[Livin2Ride]

Trike uses the same bulb for both on each side but trailer has separate bulbs. Just opposite of why you would use the adapter, I think!

You need a 4 to 5 wire adapter and I recommend a powered one.

Your trike has a 4 wire system: ground, running lights, stop lights and right turn and left turn. The stop and turn lights use a double element bulb.

From what I can understand you have a 5 wire trailer: ground, running, stop lights, right turn and left turn. The turn lights use different wires and bulbs than the stop lights.

The use of a powered adapter will take the load of the trailer lights off the bike and put it on the adapter. You can find all you need in plug and play kits here - http://electricalconnection.com/. If you have questions their customer assistance was very good when I called them.

 

[Recycledteen]

Thanks all! Sorry for the late reply but have been traveling the last few days! Thanks Richard for the tip on the years, yes I was aware of the change but it is always good to mention!