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Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 10:09 am
by Williamsdad
I'm sure this will draw its fair share of humerous responses, but perhaps some help will also be mixed in.

Anyone have any simple ideas for keeping trailer lights out of the water? It's just a small, jonboat trailer, but it's very frustrating and difficult to keep the lights functioning.

Trying to figure out a simple, cheap, permanent solution, and keep po po off of me and Luc, not to mention safety. I'm trying to figure a way to possibly put them on the boat, while its on the trailer, and then take them off when we launch.

Looking forward to all comments. Thanks.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 10:23 am
by wevans
http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-for ... video.html
There are several ideas on the site :thumbup: I have had the same lights on my trailer for over 3 years now "submersible LED lights" and had no problems with them being dunked almost every weekend :thumbup: :thumbup: :beer:

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 10:24 am
by FishWithChris
create the rising bump posts (the pvc posts) and run the break lights higher up, and just put reflector lights at the bottom.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 10:40 am
by Williamsdad
Thanks guys. That video is great, it's pretty much exactly what i was thinking. The guy has much more boat to work with, and that looks like a pretty elaborate rail system, but it will give me someting to show some of my "handy" helpers.

Thanks much.

And I've heard about the LEDs as well, just not ready to go that way.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 10:59 am
by SHOWBOAT
since putting $40 skid plates on my trailer bunks very little of my trailer has to go in the water. I would think with a jon boat you may not have to get the lights wet at all launching, especially if they were raised a bit.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 12:33 pm
by coolchange
If all else fails, unplug the trailer lights before putting in water. This has worked with my jon boat and never had anymore problems. Just remember to plug back in when boat is out of water.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 2:18 pm
by onefishtwofish
I switched to LED on my duck boat and will never have any other. I just plug them in and go. When you get to the point of doing any rewiring, just go on and get the whole LED with harness and be done with it. I have had to replace the plug a few times due mostly to my stupidity, but the lights are even ME reisistant. My lights get dunked 3-4 days per week all duck season long and into my third or fourth year with them.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 3:46 pm
by sundown
I put led's on my trailer and had no more light problems.. Think they cost about 40 bucks and probably took 30 minutes to install...I soldered the leads and used shrink wrap for insulation.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 6th, 2011, 4:55 pm
by JTR
LED

It's the only way to go! :smt023

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 7th, 2011, 7:28 am
by tin can
It would be a simple process to raise the lights above the boat with PVC. I've done it on several trailers. They would be permanently mounted. You wouldn't have to do the off and on thing. And, as others have said, LED is the way to go. A complete kit is around $50. For less than $100 you could raise the lights and have new lights and wiring.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 7th, 2011, 7:45 am
by FUTCHCAIRO
WHAT TIN CAN SAID. I HAVE SIDE ROLLERS TO GUIDE THE BOAT ON THE BUNKERS, I JUST MOUNTED THE LIGHT ON THE TOP OF THE SIDE ROLLER POST, THE TAG IS ALSO MOUNTED THERE UP AND DOWN INSTEAD OF HOROZONTAL. I HAVE HAD THIS TRAILER FOR 25 YEARS AND SO FAR ONLY HAD TO REPLACE A COUPLE OF BULBS.
PA
SEMPER FI

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 7th, 2011, 2:57 pm
by Vitz
If you raise them on your guide posts or PCV, make sure and go LED. The vibration the light receives up on top of the post will break the filament on an incandescent bulb.

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 7th, 2011, 3:15 pm
by captkeyser
Raise um and LED um and you will be just fine. Just like everyone else said. :thumbup:

Re: Trailer lights

Posted: June 9th, 2011, 12:11 pm
by Williamsdad
Thanks everyone, lots of help.

Currently having a more pressing issue addressed at Tallahassee Welding. The front seat pedestal broke loose on trip # 200 (and that's not counting trips before we got her).

Guess all Luc's big fish pressure finally got to it. Hopefully get her back for the weekend, then I'll get back to worrying about the lights.