Without detail, the simple question is: If you can see around the boat (smaller boat) to the truck's tail lights, is it true that only the brake lights have to work on the trailer itself?

I recently heard that no lights were required if it was a small boat, but brake lights would be a smart idea. This is for NC only. I've searched the DMV site and stuff like that and can't find anything at all. Thanks in advance.

8/3/2006 8:01:33 PM

Even if you are towing a small boat where they are not required, a pair of removable magnetic mount trailer lights is advisable. they are like $35 at Agri Supply or Northern Tool... and believe it or not people look more at the boat than your truck lights when they are driving, so it might keep you from getting rear ended if you had them, because people don't pay attention.

[Edited on August 3, 2006 at 8:13 PM. Reason : .]

8/3/2006 8:12:43 PM

My roomate was towing his jet ski in the dark one night (no lights at all) and got rear ended, it totaled the jet ski.


Wanna know what he got for it??????




A big insurance check from the guy that hit him's insurance.

8/3/2006 8:28:30 PM

yeah its pretty damn simple to just hook up the trailer lights properly. do it right.

8/3/2006 8:28:59 PM

Oh yeah, there's definitely gonna be brake lights, at least. There's trouble with signals and running lights though. I was just wondering the law behind it all.

^^^Thanks for the suggestion, that may be a last resort, but I think the brakes won't be the problem from here; it's signals and running lights.

^^I've heard of that happening, and the person towing the boat/jet ski (in your friend's case) got the ticket for improper equipment or something like that. This was with a horse trailer though, so of course they need perfect working lights...

^Umm, well, how about you come deal with the shit we are. We've been working on it all fucking day long and we're not stupid about this kind of stuff. There's no "Just hook it up" in this case.

[Edited on August 3, 2006 at 9:05 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2006 9:05:01 PM

Quote :

" North Carolina: Boating Law Administrator: 919-733-3391 Maximum Speed Limit: 55 Maximum Dimensions for trailer:48'L x 8'6"W x 13'6"H Maximum Length with Trailer:60' Minimum Weight requiring Separate Trailer Brakes:4,000 Trailer Equipment Requirements: Safety Chains:Y Brakelights:Y Taillights:Y Clearance Lights:Y License Light:Y Turn Signals:Y Reflectors:Y Flares:N/A Breakaway Brakes:N/A Tiedowns:N/A Two Trailers:N Insurance:N Wide Trailer Permit Phone Number: 688-574-6583 "

http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/seast_laws.asp#nc

8/3/2006 9:14:44 PM

So that means that regardless of the size of a boat, they have to have turn signals and running lights. damn. oh well, more work.

Thanks for that.

8/3/2006 9:17:00 PM

Outlaws tow w/out lights all the time. I wouldn't then again, our trailer doesn't even have plates on it.

8/3/2006 9:18:38 PM

I think this would be a more appropriate question for Garage

The internet is serious business.

8/3/2006 9:19:33 PM

^

^^Outlaws also have to leave their stuff sitting if they don't get it fixed! Your boat is much bigger than the one we got.

8/3/2006 9:21:30 PM

Quote :

"Maximum Speed Limit: 55"

LOL

8/3/2006 9:35:56 PM

Quote :

"Thanks for the suggestion, that may be a last resort, but I think the brakes won't be the problem from here; it's signals and running lights."

Did you even read my post (ya big dummy)?

8/3/2006 10:14:54 PM

Quote :

"yeah its pretty damn simple to just hook up the trailer lights properly. do it right."

hit the nail on the head . . . nothing complicated about it

8/4/2006 12:21:33 AM

^And you get the same response he did. Why don't you come on over and "just hook them up". We know what we're doing, and there's no "just hook em up" to it.

^^Yeah, what did I miss? Do they work as turn signals too or something??

8/4/2006 9:59:03 AM

what exactly is the problem that you are having?

installing the lights on the trailer, or installing the harness on the vehicle?

8/4/2006 10:24:40 AM

Well, there was a shredded wire found on the trailer so it was thought that that was the only problem. It was not. The lights on the vehicle are not color coordinated or ordered. The running lights and 1 turn signal won't work and we've tried every wire on the vehicle. It's an older trailer so finding info is practically impossible. It's just a bitch to work with and he keeps running into problems.

8/4/2006 10:39:30 AM

A brand new kit isnt that expensive

8/4/2006 12:12:32 PM

It is a brand new kit. Not all vehicles come ready to tow.

[Edited on August 4, 2006 at 2:57 PM. Reason : ]

8/4/2006 2:57:14 PM

what kind of harness is it?

a standard flat 4 wire harness?


the trailer should be super simple, so I'm gonna assume that the problem lies with hooking the male end of the harness to the car. The wires should be color coded, where are you hooking into the vehicles wiring at?

Do all the lights work on the vehicle properly without the trailer hooked up?


for the trailer:
green wire goes to the right light
yellow wire to the left light
brown to both lights
and white should be grounded to the frame of the trailer

8/4/2006 8:22:46 PM

as long as it's during the day you should be fine. i pull my ski around with no tags or lights all the time and haven't had any problems.

8/4/2006 8:39:14 PM

Yeah, all truck lights work fine, they're just not coordinated. The trailer has been more simple since the shredded wire was found. Now the problem is with the truck wiring. Not that the truck has a problem, but that is where the issues are coming from. They're not coordinated, meaning the green wire does not mean the same thing on both sides.
Thanks for that though, I'll pass that along!

[Edited on August 4, 2006 at 9:55 PM. Reason : ]

8/4/2006 9:54:45 PM

hey bethaleigh...so i was walking to class one of the days of the other week and i was like i wonder which of these cars belongs to bethaleigh...well i get a quick look, and i bet i might have figured it out using nothing but my intuition...i'm gonna pm you my guess now and i want to see if its right

8/4/2006 9:57:20 PM

ok, lets see!


NOPE! No Jimmy here!

[Edited on August 4, 2006 at 9:59 PM. Reason : ]

8/4/2006 9:57:57 PM

i was wrong, i guessed green gmc jimmy

[Edited on August 4, 2006 at 10:00 PM. Reason : with a dale jr bumper sticker]

8/4/2006 10:00:17 PM

For the record: NO DALR JR. FOR ME!!!!

haha, good intuition, I believe that car would fit part of my personality; but 'sports car' does too. I REALLLY Want an XTerra so bad I can't stand it; but I'll keep this one as long as possible!

8/4/2006 10:03:25 PM

without knowing the kind of vehicle . . . i can't really say anything about the wiring.

you could ask in the garage for a wiring diagram for the vehicle. someone, i don't remember who, has access to wiring diagrams for like every vehicle.

or you could just take off the tail-light and see what which wire does what.

8/4/2006 10:07:43 PM

[Edited on August 4, 2006 at 10:09 PM. Reason : fdds]

8/4/2006 10:08:37 PM

It's an older vehicle so I THINK (not positive) that the same light works everything, just does different things through command. Thanks for that suggestion, I'll go to the garage now. I hope they don't hate women!

8/4/2006 10:09:18 PM

^^That was the most difficult post of all time

8/4/2006 10:09:45 PM

^I saw that!

Goodness! I'm telling ya, at least brake lights are a necessity, and running lights if towing at night!

8/4/2006 10:14:22 PM

so did you figure out the problem?

8/6/2006 12:00:04 AM

Yep, sure did. Thanks for your help, though. I appreciate it!

8/6/2006 7:52:32 AM

what was the problem?

8/6/2006 8:20:23 AM

just rewired my boat trailer today, cost bout 50 bux for 2 side runnin lights and the 2 brake/turn signals(waterproof) in the rear with wire. really simple job just a little time consuming.

[Edited on August 6, 2006 at 7:34 PM. Reason : this is after i towed it home after buyin it thursday nite with no trailer lights]

8/6/2006 7:33:31 PM

^^I haven't talked to my Dad today to find out exactly what it was. But something was wrong as far as wiring in the truck and I believe he just did a test and retest method until he got it right! I'm guessing whoever had the truck before did some wiring around and didn't keep things simple and color coded like it's supposed to be.

8/6/2006 7:36:24 PM