If your electrical system is in need of repair, you'll need to fix it up as soon as possible. Without the electrical system, you'll be stuck without lights to see at night, without pressurized water for when you want to take a hot shower, and without an air conditioner to cool down your rig. All three of these things are vital to having a great vacation. If you are short a few wires or simply need a way to organize them, we're here to help. While we can't replace the valuable skills and knowledge of a licensed electrician or a certified RV technician, we can still help you out with some of the simpler repairs. Here at RecPro we know that every motor home, trailer, and recreational vehicle aren't created the same. There is a myriad of combinations in lighting, appliances, and extras that need to be powered in your rig. Not every application requires the same kind of power. That's why you want a supplier that has the best in electrical supplies to fit your exact needs. We carry a wide variety of trailer wiring at RecPro. Heavy-gauge wire that can handle the biggest fifth-wheels, all the way down to wires that supply single-axle car haulers; all are available at recpro.com.
Typical Wiring Problems
While there are many electrical problems that should really be handled by a professional, there are still quite a few that you could handle yourself or have a friend help you with. To assist you in figuring out the problems with your RV's electrical system, we've compiled a list of the most common problems and what they mean.
- One function of the trailer light system doesn't work, like the brake lights or left turn signal
- The harness wires aren't connected, a set of connectors isn't making a strong connection, a fuse blew, the brake wire isn't connected, there's an insufficient ground
- None of the light functions work
- The 12V power wire isn't linked to the car's battery, the harness has a factory tow package and the vehicle doesn't, there's a blown or missing relay fuse, the harness has a poor connection to the ground or there was a harness overload
- The lights worked at first but have stopped over time
- There's a loose or weak ground connection, the harness experienced an overload because of an excessive draw or there's a short in the wiring
- Switching on one turn signal causes both sides of the trailer to turn on
- The brake wire on the harness isn't grounded, or there's an insufficient ground
- Turning on the vehicle's headlights causes the trailer lights to stop functioning
- There's an adequate ground on the truck or trailer side or an overloaded harness because of too many lights
- One or more of the trailer lights remain on, even with the ignition turned off
- Improper connection to a truck wire exists, there's an insufficient ground or the trailer has LED lights powered by the 4-way plug
- The harness functions until you connect the trailer
- There's an insufficient ground or a harness overload when the trailer connects to the vehicle
- The trailer's reverse lights aren't working
- The fifth wire isn't attached to the reverse circuit on the car, or there's an insufficient ground
Avoid rewiring the entire system until you've checked all of the possibilities. If you're not confident in your ability to fix your electrical problems, consult a professional. To check your electrical system thoroughly, check the grounds, inspect the terminals, check the fuses, determine if the issue is with the tow vehicle wiring or trailer wiring, and when in doubt, always mind the ground wires.