New trailer lights-are sidelights needed?

[BK]

I just backed up and broke both trailer lights. The exact lights at W/M are only $35 and includes enough wire with car connections to rewire the trailer, but, are those side lights needed? I would have to splice in those. Has anyone been stopped because they were driving at night and did not have those side lights on? I did 2 trips to the San Juans from LA and no problem but my next big trip to the Keys involves going through the entire country.
Also, the copper wire inside is black after 5 years, the copper color is almost gone. Is this right?

[zuma hans]

Are the sidelights needed? State laws vary.

Do you REALLY need them? Probably not ... no cop is going to cite you for not having them ... probably.

Do you REALLY need them for saftey's sake? Nah, there's a one in a jillion chance that someone won't see that big white boat in the rear view mirror and change lanes into you.

So the answer is ... YES YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED THEM.

Why would you take any chance at all when it's so cheap and easy to wire a new set onto the trailer? It took me 30 minutes on a sunny day.

If you're gpoing to be towing at night, remember that your outboard extends more than 3 feet behind the taillights down on the trailer. And in california at least you can ge a ticket if there is anything protruding more than 3 feet behind the taillights at night that is not lit.

Remember also that the boat obscures the taillights from a high elevation - like a semitruck heighth.

Take a look at the "in your face taillight" modification I posted on the board a month ago. Took some cheap WM taillights and mounted them to the rudder locks. Very simple.

[Moe]

I just bought the kit you refer to on sale for $28. The lights and the harness do not have plugs on them like the factory units and the wires must be spliced. But they don't include any splices, so I'll have to solder them and use some adhesive heat-shrink.

Forward amber lights are required, but don't have to be on the fenders. Most trailer manufacturers put them on the frame up closer to the winch post. This kit did not come with them.

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Moe

[kmclemore]

I use side lights on both the leading edges of the fenders, as well as on the sides of the rear lamps.

I don't know about every state law, but here in Pennsylvania it's required. I also know that it doesn't matter where your trailer is registered - if you want to travel through Pennsylvania with a trailer you still must have the required lighting.

I guess I'd opt to just have them - it's just plain safer, and certainly cheap enough. Also helps you see the very back of the trailer when you're backing in low-light conditions.

Now... another question... does anyone use a light on the rear-most portion of the boat (the mast)?

[Frank C]

Whenever a rear axle exceeds 80" width, California requires side lights attached to the widest points on the trailer, obviously both sides, amber forward and red aft. My dealer tags both ends of the fender accordingly.

The Chevy 1500 pickup axle is less than the trigger width, so they carry no special lighting. However the Quadrasteer axle is 80" wide, so the QS pickups have side markers fore & aft on the rear fenders. The pickup also must have cab-top markers ... the "unlock clicker" from across a parking lot lights mine up like a Christmas tree!

[Moe]

The US DOT smaller trailer requirements are side-facing amber lights and reflectors (can be combined) as far forward as practical and side-facing red lights/reflectors at the rear, often combined with the tail lights.

The US DOT requirement for wider than 80" is FORWARD facing amber lights at the widest part, and REARWARD facing red lights at the widest part. For practical purposes, the wide-set factory taillights probably have this covered, being about as wide as the fenders. Additionally, 80+" are supposed to have the red 3-light bar in the center facing rear.

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Moe

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i've modified a small 2" x 3" "running light" on the rear portion of the outboard motor.
actually, it should probably be a "running & brake" light.

[BK]

Thanks for the complete answer. I saw a small hole on the leading outside edge of the fender and the supplied amber light screw fits so I will put it there. I can't see anyway to wire the amber light but to wrap the wire around the same threads that connect it to the trailer. Seems that would electrically charge the entire trailer. I took it apart but there is no connection inside. This Mac supplied amber light does look waterproof either.

[Moe]

The MacGregor factory amber light is a Wesbar unit. You strip 1/2" of insulation from the wire going to it and insert it into one of the holes (marked) on the back side. It gets its ground throught the trailer frame, so scrape away paint and rust where the star washer and nut contact the fender underneath.

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Moe