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Trailer wiring question
- Thread starter Cruzr Joe
- Start date
billybovine
Active member
You have options. I am assuming the trailer has amber turn signal lights and does not have a built in converter.
1. Rewire the trailer. Abandon the amber turn signal lights. Split the right and left brake lights to 2 separate circuits. Install 4 pin plug to match your Spyder.
2. Build a converter. Buy a plug to match your Spyder, plug to match your trailer and a 2 to 3 converter. Wire them all together. 2 to 3 converters are commonly used for towing a car behind a motorhome. Instruction may say you need diodes. You don't.
1. Rewire the trailer. Abandon the amber turn signal lights. Split the right and left brake lights to 2 separate circuits. Install 4 pin plug to match your Spyder.
2. Build a converter. Buy a plug to match your Spyder, plug to match your trailer and a 2 to 3 converter. Wire them all together. 2 to 3 converters are commonly used for towing a car behind a motorhome. Instruction may say you need diodes. You don't.
billybovine
Active member
Here is an example of a 2 to 3 converter module. There are other brands as well. https://www.curtmfg.com/part/56196
cobraswinger
New member
part number 41-362
I am in the same boat as you are. I am going to be wiring up my brothers bike for the same trailer that you have. He wants to be able to still have the amber signal lights. I spoke directly to a couple guys on this site and they told me the best solution is to go with P/N 41-362 from Big Bike Parts (harness) This is a 5 wire system that will match your trailer. This also goes to the battery so your bike's wiring is protected against a short. This seems to me to be the safest, and easiest solution because it is plug and play... On my bike I bypassed the converter on the plug and play harness and wired my plug directly to the wires before the converter. That works but probably isn't the smartest solution.
I am in the same boat as you are. I am going to be wiring up my brothers bike for the same trailer that you have. He wants to be able to still have the amber signal lights. I spoke directly to a couple guys on this site and they told me the best solution is to go with P/N 41-362 from Big Bike Parts (harness) This is a 5 wire system that will match your trailer. This also goes to the battery so your bike's wiring is protected against a short. This seems to me to be the safest, and easiest solution because it is plug and play... On my bike I bypassed the converter on the plug and play harness and wired my plug directly to the wires before the converter. That works but probably isn't the smartest solution.
Personally, I would not give up the amber turn signals on the trailer.
I have not wired a Spyder for towing (nor do I intend to), but it seems that the factory wiring includes an adapter to dumb down the amber turn signals to fit the standard 4-pin trailer. If it were my trailer, I would tap the factory wiring harness ahead of the adapter and change the plug to fit the trailer.
The other option is billybovine's option #1, which is to completely re-wire the trailer. You currently have a single wire that goes to the two brake lights. That will have to be changed to two separate wires. You can move the wires that power the amber turn signals and have them power the two red lights that will now be brake/turn.
I have a small trailer that I pull with my Goldwing. My motto has always been "if it's worth doing, it's worth over-doing". I wired the trailer with amber turn signals, but kept separate wires to the brake lights, too. All wires go to a standard 7-pin RV plug at the front of the trailer. I then have three separate adapter cords available to plug into a tow vehicle. One is a 7-pin RV plug for my van, one is a 6-pin round for the Wing and the third is a flat-4 for "normal" cars. All wiring adaptations are made in the cord that plugs into the tow vehicle so the trailer itself doesn't care, as long as the plug matches.
.
I have not wired a Spyder for towing (nor do I intend to), but it seems that the factory wiring includes an adapter to dumb down the amber turn signals to fit the standard 4-pin trailer. If it were my trailer, I would tap the factory wiring harness ahead of the adapter and change the plug to fit the trailer.
The other option is billybovine's option #1, which is to completely re-wire the trailer. You currently have a single wire that goes to the two brake lights. That will have to be changed to two separate wires. You can move the wires that power the amber turn signals and have them power the two red lights that will now be brake/turn.
I have a small trailer that I pull with my Goldwing. My motto has always been "if it's worth doing, it's worth over-doing". I wired the trailer with amber turn signals, but kept separate wires to the brake lights, too. All wires go to a standard 7-pin RV plug at the front of the trailer. I then have three separate adapter cords available to plug into a tow vehicle. One is a 7-pin RV plug for my van, one is a 6-pin round for the Wing and the third is a flat-4 for "normal" cars. All wiring adaptations are made in the cord that plugs into the tow vehicle so the trailer itself doesn't care, as long as the plug matches.
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Mazo EMS2
Active member
Cuz that's where the money is!!! I had the exact same scenario with a trailer...I sold it....not because of the wiring debacle, but just because I didn't like it. (I won it in a raffle)
trikermutha
New member
The escapade trailers are really nice trailers. What year is it? What color is the trailer?
The 5th wire is for the interior light. If memory serves me correctly. If I can find any of my documents I will post.
The 5th wire is for the interior light. If memory serves me correctly. If I can find any of my documents I will post.
trikermutha
New member
Here you go. The Black wire is the interior light wire. But you may not have the black wire??
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/19...CAPADE WIRING SCHEMATIC.png?ver=1588599787310
Here is the manual
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/19.../TRAILER Manual 4-22-19.pdf?ver=1588599787309
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/19...CAPADE WIRING SCHEMATIC.png?ver=1588599787310
Here is the manual
https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/19.../TRAILER Manual 4-22-19.pdf?ver=1588599787309
Mazo EMS2
Active member
1994? Geez, there's probably real gold in that gold paint...LOL :roflblack:
trikermutha
New member
I have a 1995 doesn't look so pretty anymore a bit weathered. But always liked the way it pulled behind my bikes.
billybovine
Active member
No. The extra wire is for trailers with surge brakes and a disable circuit when in reverse. The trailer wiring is still a 4 wire system.
I have not seen trailers with "surge" brakes, but I have seen them with "electric" brakes.
It would be VERY important to know what those five wires are for.
If the trailer has amber turn signals, they would be:
1. tail/marker
2. brake (both red lights)
3. left turn (amber)
4. right turn (amber)
5. ground
If your trailer has only red lights on the rear and has electric brakes:
1. tail/marker
2. left turn/brake
3. right turn/brake
4. electric brakes
5. ground
If your trailer has only red lights and no electric brakes, but has an accessory circuit (lights, charger, etc.):
1. tail/marker
2. left turn/brake
3. right turn/brake
4. accessory circuit
5. ground
And that's not even getting close to a discussion about what colors the wires should be.
.
It would be VERY important to know what those five wires are for.
If the trailer has amber turn signals, they would be:
1. tail/marker
2. brake (both red lights)
3. left turn (amber)
4. right turn (amber)
5. ground
If your trailer has only red lights on the rear and has electric brakes:
1. tail/marker
2. left turn/brake
3. right turn/brake
4. electric brakes
5. ground
If your trailer has only red lights and no electric brakes, but has an accessory circuit (lights, charger, etc.):
1. tail/marker
2. left turn/brake
3. right turn/brake
4. accessory circuit
5. ground
And that's not even getting close to a discussion about what colors the wires should be.
.
trikermutha
New member
Post #9 has what colors go to which light.
PMK
Active member
Joe, I believe you could easily fabricate an intermediate adapter cable for short money between the Spyder and trailer.
Obtaining the matched pair of 4 pin square connector is easy, a similar setup for the trailers connector should also be available.
Build the setup where power matches power for running lights, ground matches ground. Do not power the trailers amber turn signals. The RT trailer uses the brake light and turn signal combined, so wiring the Spyders 4 pin to the trailer brake lights should work. This short length adapter would easily connect between Spyder and trailer, adapter might be 12” or less when fabricated.
In a simpler method, did you research ETrailer.com to see if one already exists.
Obtaining the matched pair of 4 pin square connector is easy, a similar setup for the trailers connector should also be available.
Build the setup where power matches power for running lights, ground matches ground. Do not power the trailers amber turn signals. The RT trailer uses the brake light and turn signal combined, so wiring the Spyders 4 pin to the trailer brake lights should work. This short length adapter would easily connect between Spyder and trailer, adapter might be 12” or less when fabricated.
In a simpler method, did you research ETrailer.com to see if one already exists.
Cruzr Joe
New member
ChicagoSpyder
New member
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