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: Rigging boat lights off a 5th wheel WalterH 08-27-2008, 10:19 PM I want to pull a boat behind my 5th wheel and was wondering if I can just tap off the existing tail lights on the 5th wheel and wire this into a plug for my boat? I thought I read somewhere that it may be too much of a load on the vehicle electrics? How is everyone hooking them up? TIA Dacotah Eye 08-28-2008, 10:22 AM The lights on my boat trailer are hooked up to the tail lights on my fifth wheel and I have no problem with this hookup overloading my tow vehicle. This is the second fifth wheel that has been wired this way for me. Pokey Fisherman 08-28-2008, 06:22 PM If you had a trailer tow package installed at the factory, it usually has fuses for the trailer so if you do over load the truck, you wouldn't loose all your lights. WalterH 08-28-2008, 10:18 PM Thanks guys,just wanted to make sure . Now as far as running the wires,do you guys just have them running on the exterior of the trailer? Just looking at mine and it looks like I would have to tap into the wires from behind the lenses as the wiring runs in the trailer somewhere Mel K 08-29-2008, 11:34 AM I wired mine by making connections at the end of cable that plugs into pickup. Needed backup light connection that did not have on my 5th. I used burial romex and run it along the frame of the 5. Have trailer tow package on pickup and no problems with fuses so far. Mel mrwalleye5 09-01-2008, 05:08 PM One 5th wheel I had I wired it right from the front of the trailer off of the main wire harness that connects to the truck. Ran the wires through plastic conduit. I was licky enough that the frame of the 5th wheel had holes lined up running right to the back of the trailer. Made a nice neat job. W5 WalterH 09-02-2008, 10:58 PM Thanks guys,I think I will also run the entire length,my truck has the 2 plugs at the back one would be for the 5th wheel and also has the flat plug for the boat trailer,have you guys ran with both the plugs plugged in with no electrical issues? Or are you tapping into the 5th wheel plug only? Thanks Mel K 09-03-2008, 10:54 AM I made my connection at the camper end of the plug that plugs into the pickup like Mrwalleye stated. The place where the boat connects to the pickup is at the middle of my bumper and would need a lot of extra cable to allow for making turns. In 6 years of pulling this I have had no electrical problems. Mel | |