Nicholas Fluhart

There were a couple of things I wanted to add to my trailer since I restored it. The first is a set of utility/work lights at the front. When loading and securing equipment after dark, it’s nice to have lights. With this in mind, I recently installed a set of 12v halogens on the top cross bar at the front. Rather than install them directly on top of the bar where they could easily be damaged, I welded a couple of mounts on to the back side of the bar which allowed the lights to set back a few inches from the bar. This provides some clearance between the lights and the load area of the bed. I then wired the lights to the auxiliary power wire in the trailer light plug via a toggle switch mounted in a good spot on the tongue. When plugged into any 7-pin trailer light receptacle, which is the type I previously installed on my truck, the lights have power and can be turned on and off with the toggle switch.

The second upgrade I added was LED reverse lights. I wired them directly into the 7-pin trailer light plug, so when plugged up to the truck, the reverse lights on the trailer are powered by the same circuit as the reverse lights on the truck. I chose LED’s because of the low amp draw. In the photo below you can see I mounted them at the back of the fenders in a place where they can illuminate well behind and to the sides. It’s also a spot where they are less likely to be damaged.

So far the lighting upgrades on my truck and trailer have worked perfectly.

The next upgrade to my trailer will be the installation of a Mile Marker 8,000 lb winch, and I will also be building a set of heavy-duty ramps that will slide under the bed of the trailer for transport. I’ll hopefully be posting those soon…