Going from a '85 Champion trailer to '07 Shorelander trailer for my new to me 19 Pro-V Lund. Do you or do you not unhook your trailer lights before putting it in the water? No brainer for the old trailer (unhook) but dealer said don't worry about it for the newer trailers. Thoughts?

I used to unhook when I had bulb lights, now that I switched to LED's I don't unhook.

Ray

I never unhook my 06 Shoreland'r.

I unhook them

takes seconds, I see no reason not to. Guys that say they forget to hook them up arent paying attention to what they are doing.

If the lights are LED's, there is no need to unplug them.

I routinely unhook mine although my trailer has wesbar lights, supposed to be waterproof but I still blow fuses. My friend doesn't unhook his and it's regular bulb type and still works go figure. I still prefer to unplug just to be safe

I do too even with LED's. Just because the bulbs are sealed that does not mean the connections are totally waterproof even though they are supposed to be, or you might have a small crack in your insulation someplace that you dont even know about.

thats why I unplug.

Hot glass bulbs and cold water= burned out bulbs. Unhooking takes seconds.

Hot glass bulbs and cold water= burned out bulbs. Unhooking takes seconds.

LED's do not produce heat

I do not unplug with my Rangertrail - all sealed up.

Scott

I unplug mine mostly everytime. Ranger Trail trailer with LED's is not supposed to need unhooking but just a habit I have gotten into.

If you have surge breaks the back up light is used to sense when it is in reverse. I never disconnect it and have never had a problem.

If you have surge breaks the back up light is used to sense when it is in reverse. I never disconnect it and have never had a problem.

thats true but when you are backing down a ramp your surge brakes arent working anyway.

unless you have other issues...

I do not unplug my Triton trailer never had any problems. In fact I see very few guys unplug nowdays. My trailer is 9 years old all orginal lights and wiring. Trust me it sees water year around and most every weekend.

I do not unplug my Triton trailer never had any problems. In fact I see very few guys unplug nowdays. My trailer is 9 years old all orginal lights and wiring. Trust me it sees water year around and most every weekend.

I trust you

but thats not going to stop me from unplugging them.

;)

IN all of the years of using multiple trailers with multiple different bulb systems including my current LED lights, I have never pulled the wiring from the tow vehicle and have never had an issue with burned out bulbs.

I really see no reason to pull the plug from the tow vehicle.

Take care
REW

LEDs do produce heat.

Never unplug, and I don't have the LED lights. Haven't blown a bulb since before 2002, and that's on 2 trailers. If the seal on the assy leaks, you're going to pop a bulb anyway, because the water will get trapped inside the "sealed" assy and slosh around. And there is no reason a fuse will blow because the connections got wet. 12 VDC doesn't conduct across water to blow a fuse.

LEDs do produce heat.

Not enough to break the glass though. No I don't unplug either. Sounds like this one should be on Myth Busters. Have fun with your ticket when you forget to plug them back in or better yet when you drag your wire hareness down the road. :)

From all these posts I guess it is a matter of personal preference, I also leave mine plugged in. I have had regular bulbs and have switched to LED lights, never unplugged any of them and have had no problems.

Put me down as never unplugging my trailer, even in the winter backing into 32 degree water never have had an issue.

Never have unplugged them.... and I can't remember ever replacing a bulb.

Ifyou unplug them , do you stand there until you think they are cool enough not to break? How long is that? The cold water on a hot bulb is the big concern right? I mean , even if you unplug them you are usually in the water in minutes if not seconds. The bulbs stay hot for at least a few minutes. I unplugged my flatbed trailer just to see and my bulbs were too hot to touch for at least 3-4 minutes. Whats the use unless you unplug them before you even start prepping for the launch. Most guys I see, unplug them right before they unhook their strap and chain . Trailers under water 10 seconds later. How does that help?? Just asking.:huh:

Ifyou unplug them , do you stand there until you think they are cool enough not to break? How long is that? The cold water on a hot bulb is the big concern right? I mean , even if you unplug them you are usually in the water in minutes if not seconds. The bulbs stay hot for at least a few minutes. I unplugged my flatbed trailer just to see and my bulbs were too hot to touch for at least 3-4 minutes. Whats the use unless you unplug them before you even start prepping for the launch. Most guys I see, unplug them right before they unhook their strap and chain . Trailers under water 10 seconds later. How does that help?? Just asking.:huh:

has nothing to do with that.

I have always been taught that water and electricity dont mix, so I unplug them. I have never had a problem unpluging them so i will continue to do so.

I am not arguing about your choice , just asking a question. Your saying the hot glass hitting the cold water has nothing to do with burning out a bulb? Every search I did says the hot bulb hitting the cold water has Everything to do with it.:huh:http://books.google.com/books?id=OiBgXxpYt6oC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=trailer+bulbs+burning+out+in+water&source=bl&ots=h9Mh_O7YR_&sig=HVta_PZfFyrnuHzriGSaywRS7YU&hl=en&ei=KKsxSuuzBo3GM8vLkIYK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
Read page 124. Just one example. Many guides online that disagree with your statement about " nothing to do with it" . Personally I dont with my new trailer but did with my 01 EZ-loader.

I am not arguing about your choice , just asking a question. Your saying the hot glass hitting the cold water has nothing to do with burning out a bulb? Every search I did says the hot bulb hitting the cold water has Everything to do with it.:huh:http://books.google.com/books?id=OiBgXxpYt6oC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=trailer+bulbs+burning+out+in+water&source=bl&ots=h9Mh_O7YR_&sig=HVta_PZfFyrnuHzriGSaywRS7YU&hl=en&ei=KKsxSuuzBo3GM8vLkIYK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
Read page 124. Just one example. Many guides online that disagree with your statement about " nothing to do with it" . Personally I dont with my new trailer but did with my 01 EZ-loader.
Smoke,
Your flatbed trailer example forgets 1 important point, on a boat trailer, no matter the style of taillight, the hot bulb should never come in contact with the cold water, unless a lens or housing is cracked. Unfortunately, I've yet to ever see a trailer wire harness made from heavy gauge, tinned wire. Most of them use the smallest, thinnest, crappiest wire I wouldn't use for tyeing garbage bags. So, I agree with PJ, electricity and water don't mix, why take the chance?

Again not arguing the fact about electricity and water. But I searched and read many articles on boat trailer lights and most if not all said the water hitting the hot bulb was the culprit. Now if the lights are sealed then neither would be a problem and they wouldnt burn out. To say water has nothing to do with it was not a correct statement. But , yes the wiring itself could also be a culprit, so I will say both could cause problems.Plus I know how much Perch likes the smilies.:howdy::raisin::muahaha::exactly:

I am not arguing about your choice , just asking a question. Your saying the hot glass hitting the cold water has nothing to do with burning out a bulb? Every search I did says the hot bulb hitting the cold water has Everything to do with it.:huh:http://books.google.com/books?id=OiBgXxpYt6oC&pg=PA134&lpg=PA134&dq=trailer+bulbs+burning+out+in+water&source=bl&ots=h9Mh_O7YR_&sig=HVta_PZfFyrnuHzriGSaywRS7YU&hl=en&ei=KKsxSuuzBo3GM8vLkIYK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5
Read page 124. Just one example. Many guides online that disagree with your statement about " nothing to do with it" . Personally I dont with my new trailer but did with my 01 EZ-loader.

Im not saying it has nothing to do with it.

Im saying MY CHOICE has nothing to do with it...well that what I meant anyway...

My trailer lights have sealed assemblies. You cannot open them up to replace the bulb, you have to replace the whole unit....

My bad. I misunderstood your answer. :sorry:

My bad. I misunderstood your answer. :sorry:

unless I misunderstood your question lol