trailer ??

[GTO]

I have a little 10ft row boat that I like to trailer to ponds and lakes and troll the waters. Do I need lights on the trailer? There are lights on there now but they don't work and I'm always rushing to get home befor dark. But I thought I heard somewhere that for something that small, you don't need lights

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by GTO

I have a little 10ft row boat that I like to trailer to ponds and lakes and troll the waters. Do I need lights on the trailer? There are lights on there now but they don't work and I'm always rushing to get home befor dark. But I thought I heard somewhere that for something that small, you don't need lights

Oh no, you def. need lights. Brake lights are pretty important.

[VitaBene]

As was noted, you need lights. The bulbs are likely broken due to being warm when they hit the water or you have a bad ground. I like the new LED lights as they are much better when submerged.

On non led lights, virtually every trailer will use 1157 bulbs.

[Lakepilot]

You may want to consider buying magnetic mount lights. If you remove then when you put the trailer in the water they'll last.

[SIKSUKR]

I've had my PWC trailer for 8+ years and have never lost a bulb. I launch it every time I use it which has been a few hundred times. I make sure I unplug my wiring harness before the lights get submerged.
If you change the bulbs and it still does not work, check the wiring connections, especially the ground. Make sure the ground has good clean contact with the metal surfaces on each end.

[SAMIAM]

I don't believe you need lights on a small trailer as long as the lights on the tow vehicle are all visable. I have a 16' utility trailer that has never had lights and I've driven it around town for many years.

[GTO]

It is definately the plug....got chewed off by chipmunks

[Skip]

Lots of different regulations on trailers, especially with trailers in excess of 3000 lbs.

At a minimum, during daytime use any trailer must have working brake lights installed on the trailer itself.

If the trailer is being towed after dark it must also have a working tail light and a white light illuminating the registration plate.


266:38 Stop Lamps. – It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, moped or motor-driven cycle, full trailer, trailer, or semi-trailer in this state unless it is equipped with one or more stop lamps in working order at all times; provided, however, that stop lamps shall not be required on a farm tractor, and further provided that whenever a vehicle is manufactured with multiple stop lamps or stop lamps with multiple bulbs or filaments, each of the lamps, bulbs, or filaments shall be in working order.

[chipj29]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I've had my PWC trailer for 8+ years and have never lost a bulb. I launch it every time I use it which has been a few hundred times. I make sure I unplug my wiring harness before the lights get submerged.
If you change the bulbs and it still does not work, check the wiring connections, especially the ground. Make sure the ground has good clean contact with the metal surfaces on each end.

I have lost a few bulbs on my PWC trailer, but I do unplug my lights before every launch. I tend to lose my bulbs because I always break a lens by lifting my trailer to high when I wash the PWC. To me, they are disposable.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

I don't believe you need lights on a small trailer as long as the lights on the tow vehicle are all visable. I have a 16' utility trailer that has never had lights and I've driven it around town for many years.

I believe you are right because I have seen town trucks towing wood chippers, air compressors, etc, etc, no only with no lights but no registration plates either. I have seen numerous people towing small log splitters in this same fashion.

Dan

[RumGuy]

What would it hurt to have them regardless? In this litigeous world, it is better safe than sorry. Put the lights on a bar, and tie or strap them to the rear of the boat itself, running the wires up and over the boat. Before launching ,remove the bar, coil the wires and stow it all (safe and dry).

[dpg]

Originally Posted by RumGuy

What would it hurt to have them regardless? In this litigeous world, it is better safe than sorry. Put the lights on a bar, and tie or strap them to the rear of the boat itself, running the wires up and over the boat. Before launching ,remove the bar, coil the wires and stow it all (safe and dry).

Better yet in this litigeous world follow the law. Not required means not required...Or vise-versa...
"overkill" never hurts from a safety stand point but should not be required in any legal matter as long as the law is followed.

[VitaBene]

Regardless of trailer size, brake lights are required and running lights are required at dusk.

If you are towing a trailer, it is supposed to be registered and have lights. The PD may give you a break and not pull you over if you have a small trailer but why give them an excuse to pull you over period.

[LIforrelaxin]

Ok, now please no one take this personal, but why do questions like this always seem to come up. A car has to have tail lights, brake lights and turn signals. Now when you add a trailer you are extending the rear end of the vehicle. As these lights denote the end of your vehicle doesn't it make sense that they need to extend to the end of the entire combination of tow vehicle and trailer.

Now personally I don't look only immediately in front of me when I am driving I generally look as far in front of me as I can... and often notice the lights on the cars two or three a head of me before the one right in front of me.... It just how I drive. However the idea here folks is that someone is supposed to be able to look directly at what is in front of them.... Hence the back of every vehicle, is supposed to be equipped with brake, tail and turn signals.....

The only exception to this is if none are present and the driver is using hand signals out the drivers side window. However personally I am not sure I would trust people enough anymore for that to work. Besides which that is only legitimate to do during the daylight hours. (hence this is how the Municipal, log splitters etc. mentioned above are able to get around the rules.... but technically the drivers should be using hand signals)

[GTO]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Ok, now please no one take this personal, but why do questions like this always seem to come up. A car has to have tail lights, brake lights and turn signals. Now when you add a trailer you are extending the rear end of the vehicle. As these lights denote the end of your vehicle doesn't it make sense that they need to extend to the end of the entire combination of tow vehicle and trailer.

Now personally I don't look only immediately in front of me when I am driving I generally look as far in front of me as I can... and often notice the lights on the cars two or three a head of me before the one right in front of me.... It just how I drive. However the idea here folks is that someone is supposed to be able to look directly at what is in front of them.... Hence the back of every vehicle, is supposed to be equipped with brake, tail and turn signals.....

The only exception to this is if none are present and the driver is using hand signals out the drivers side window. However personally I am not sure I would trust people enough anymore for that to work. Besides which that is only legitimate to do during the daylight hours. (hence this is how the Municipal, log splitters etc. mentioned above are able to get around the rules.... but technically the drivers should be using hand signals)

I asked the question because I had heard that if the trailer is small enough and the driver behind you can see the tail lights of your truck, then you didn't need lights on the trailer.....so that is why these questions always seem to come up. Inquiriing minds want to know.

[Lucky1]

Well I remember trailing a boat once a short distance to a marina when the brake lights were not working and watching carefully to see that the person behind me saw that I was slowing down to turn etc. I just did not want to have someone crash into me and perhaps injure me, my trailor and boat, or my car? Makes sense to me. I think that seat belts and air bags and even things like brake lights on trailors are supposed to help to keep us alive?

[John A. Birdsall]

just five years ago I was taking a empty boat trailer home. The wiring harness was all messed up, the trailer needed painting, and new lights. I got pulled over and told to get the trailer off the highway. No lights no go. and this was in the middle of the day. I ended up picking it up and putting it in the bed of the truck and over the roof, (damaged the roof as well) Yup it was registered.

[chipj29]

Even if not required by law (although I believe it is), wouldn't it be a good idea to re-wire the lights anyway? It is a very easy project on an open trailer, and not that expensive-you can do it for under $50 bucks.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by chipj29

Even if not required by law (although I believe it is), wouldn't it be a good idea to re-wire the lights anyway? It is a very easy project on an open trailer, and not that expensive-you can do it for under $50 bucks.

Sometimes the thread can get long and some information buried within.

So....

....just to reiterate, stop lamps are required by law on any and all trailers, all trailers must be registered and if the trailer is on the road after dark the trailer must have a tail light and the registration plate has to be illuminated. I believe the only exception is for tractors/agricultural trailers that then must display the triangle.

In post #8 above you can read the pertinent RSA regarding the stop lamp requirement. There is also a separate RSA dictating appropriate trailer lighting for night time operation.

[Misty Blue]

I have four trailers and often ending up hauing other peoples boats either for work or Coast Guard. Do the lights work? It's a crap shoot. So I built a light bar. It is a six foot piece of two inch PVC pipe with lights mounted on it and enough wire to reach my truck from anything that I may have to tow. It ties down to the boat or trailer.

I have only one set of lights to maintain, it can be removed prior to launching and I do not have to worry about someone elses lights being hooked up to my truck.

My ONE plate is attached to it for short trips. Sorry Skip and Nighhawk. Me bad.

Misty Blue.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Skip

Sometimes the thread can get long and some information buried within.

So....

....just to reiterate, stop lamps are required by law on any and all trailers, all trailers must be registered and if the trailer is on the road after dark the trailer must have a tail light and the registration plate has to be illuminated. I believe the only exception is for tractors/agricultural trailers that then must display the triangle.

In post #8 above you can read the pertinent RSA regarding the stop lamp requirement. There is also a separate RSA dictating appropriate trailer lighting for night time operation.

Not to beat a dead horse but if in fact that's the case why do I constantly see local town and state trucks towing small air compressors or wood chippers with no lights and no registration plates????

Just curious;

Dan

[RLW]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Not to beat a dead horse but if in fact that's the case why do I constantly see local town and state trucks towing small air compressors or wood chippers with no lights and no registration plates????

Just curious;

Dan

don't you know, it's because they are privileged and the town cops won't stop them in their own town.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Skip

Sometimes the thread can get long and some information buried within.

So....

....just to reiterate, stop lamps are required by law on any and all trailers, all trailers must be registered and if the trailer is on the road after dark the trailer must have a tail light and the registration plate has to be illuminated. I believe the only exception is for tractors/agricultural trailers that then must display the triangle.

In post #8 above you can read the pertinent RSA regarding the stop lamp requirement. There is also a separate RSA dictating appropriate trailer lighting for night time operation.

And don't we all wish to stay alive?

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Skip

Sometimes the thread can get long and some information buried within.

My original post was a pretty simple question, yes or no. Just so everybody can sleep tonight, I will be getting a new light kit this weekend and putting it on the trailer. The streets in the lakes region are now safe again

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by Skip

Sometimes the thread can get long and some information buried within.

So....

....just to reiterate, stop lamps are required by law on any and all trailers, all trailers must be registered and if the trailer is on the road after dark the trailer must have a tail light and the registration plate has to be illuminated. I believe the only exception is for tractors/agricultural trailers that then must display the triangle.

In post #8 above you can read the pertinent RSA regarding the stop lamp requirement. There is also a separate RSA dictating appropriate trailer lighting for night time operation.

Your answer was pretty straight forward and concise as usual Skip. I don't understand why this kept going after you posted the LAW on the subject.

BT