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Brake and light wiring

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shortmagnum
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 848 Wisconsin
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2005-05-19          111265


The wiring job that Uhaul did on my F150 lasted less than a year. I stupidly thought that letting the "experts" do it would give me the best job. Now that nothing works anymore I see they just used the little blue plastic clips that cut through the insulation on both wires. As you can imagine this does nothing to keep the salt brine out of the connector in the winter. And salt turns the stranded copper wire into green powder in a short time. Not only does it make the connection useless it also weakens or destroys your truck's wiring where the connection is made.

I will have to redo all of it myself. Are there any bits of advice out there for making these connections so that water is sealed out? I'm starting to see the benefit of buying a truck with complete factory trailer wiring built in.
Dave




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Brake and light wiring

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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2005-05-19          111266


Dave, you already answered your own inquiry.

Go to the dealer and order the rear wiring harness, almosty all flavours of trucks have a seperate piece at the back that goes across the rear. They have the nice water-proof sealed connectors and everything. Some are even available with the trailer connection as well.

If not, plan 'B' is in order. Cut the wire back past the affected area, solder it well, add in a short section if need be, and then coat it in that 'liquid tape' stuff.

Best of luck. ....


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Brake and light wiring

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AV8R
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 882 North Central Wisconsin
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2005-05-19          111269


There is a company called Hoppy (I think) which manufactures wiring kits for the major brands of trucks. They are similar in construction to the factory kits in that they splice in at the existing plugs at the rear of the truck, not into the wires themselves.

I put one of their kits in my Dodge when I got it (10 years ago) and it is still functioning perfectly. I wish I could say the same for the quickly crumbling wiring in the trailer itself!

The liquid tape product that Murf recommends is an excellent way to re-weather proof the damaged wires you have, after you repair them. ....


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Brake and light wiring

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shortmagnum
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 848 Wisconsin
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2005-05-19          111273


Murf and AV, thanks for the replies. I'll look into both of those ideas.

My trailer is fine even though it's 5 years old. But I've been able to let it sit through the salt seasons every year. At the time I was more worried about the steel corrosion than the wiring. I've seen what they look like when the have to be used year around by contractors and such.
Dave ....


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