bus/trailer wiring

[josaorr]

I want to wire my '77 bus to pull a very lightweight trailer. The trailer has the flat bar with four wires. I have NO idea how I'm supposed to make sense of the mess of wires I find on the side of the bus near the battery. Where should I tap into the bus wiring? At the actual wires coming off the rear of the lights themselves? Or is there a coupler somewhere that would be better?
I'm NOT one who does this kind of stuff easily.

Thanks

[josaorr]

After reading my post I thought that it could have sounded a little more friendly. I'm really eager to go camping with my family and there really needs to be more room, so any info would be most appreciated.

Thanks again

[busdaddy]

You'll have to get friendly with Google and search up "tail light converter", sounds like your trailer has combination brake and signal lights, your bus has separate ones, it's either add separate signals to the trailer and a new plug or add a converter in the back of the bus for the trailer plug, any FLAPS sells them.
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[josaorr]

Thanks busdaddy.
Thanks for the help. I still am puzzled as to where I get the wires that connect to the converter. Do they come directly from the taillight housings or from farther forward from another wiring connector?

[busdaddy]

The next connector is at the fuse box up front so yes, you'll have to tap into the tail light terminals with piggyback spade connectors.
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[Casey Ryan]

I found a tail light converter at a flaps.

I used wire taps and spliced into the wires that are in the engine compartment then liquid taped them to prevent corrosion.

My trailer has all led lights so the load isn't tremendous. If you have incandescent you may need to consider an alternate solution as you're adding more lights than the original fuse was intended to carry load for.

That's what worked for me.

Casey
_________________
'78 Riviera Camper

Blog: www.facebook.com/VWBusBlog

[ToolBox]

http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tow-Ready/119190KIT.html

[EZ Gruv]

When I bought my bus, it had a trailer hookup spliced into the wire bundle that runs along the top of the engine compartment, just above the engine lid. They just found the right wires, assuming with a proper diagram, removed the plastic coating a bit, wrapped the appropriate wire from the trailer wire to the OG wire and covered it in electrical tape.
_________________
Eric
1977 Deluxe Westfalia - 2.0L FI Type IV, Completely Original
Photographer for HotVWs, VolksWorld, AirMighty, VW Camper & Commercial, Hayburner, and more.
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[kkirwin]

[ToolBox]

This one is a bit more budget friendly.

I prefer one that is powered so the load is off the vehicle lighting circuits.

[JPSummers]

Doing this to our '78 Camper now.
For those tuning in later than when this thread was alive. The Amazon kit is no longer available.
However, Gowesty has one. Kinda pricey, though on par with other kits, but you at least know it'll fit.
https://gowesty.com/products/trailer-wiring-kit?variant=41426700894373
_________________
78 Westfalia Campmobile Deluxe
As long as I have my Bus, I have a home.

[SGKent]

you can put lights on your trailer that follow the way it is set up, instead of using an adapter. That is how I did my trailers with my 1971. American and European are different, but there is nothing that will keep you from changing the trailer wiring to match unless you plan on renting trailers, which I would highly suggest not doing. The reason is that the trailer rental yards do not watch their trailers as closely as they should, and it is not uncommon to rent a trailer with a short in it that will blow any conversion unit.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[NASkeet]

British & European, 12N standard 7-pole, electrical towing socket

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=339501

Hella 7-pin towing socket (bulkhead mounting)?

12N 7pin Trailer & Caravan Lighting Wiring Diagram

https://westerntowing.co.uk/trailer-caravan-12n-wiring-diagram/

Trailer Plug & Socket Wiring Diagrams, for 7, 8 & 13 pin configurations

https://gttowing.co.uk/trailer-plug-socket-wiring-diagrams/

Lighting regulations for trailers, are dependent upon which country, state or province of the World in which one's vehicle and or trailer are registered, where one intends to travel and the years of manufacture / first-registration of the towing-vehicle and/or trailer.

It will also depend upon such things as the weight (unladen and/or fully laden), length & width of the trailer.

This will give you an indication of what is required in the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland:

https://www.ntta.co.uk/law/trailers/lights

https://trailermedic.co.uk/trailer-lighting-rules/

https://www.trailertek.com/trailer-lighting-regulations

https://www.uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/trailer-lighting-rules-regulations-and-requirements/

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/contents

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individ...get-a-pass


https://www.uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/trailer-lighting-rules-regulations-and-requirements/

Ensuring your trailer has the appropriate lighting is a legal requirement (The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989). This simple guide will help you to be within the current laws for use on the UK public highway.

All trailers must have fitted:

Two red sidelights.

Two red stoplights.

Two red reflective triangles.

An illuminated number plate.

Amber indicators (designed to flash between 60-120 times per minute).

Some form of letting the driver know trailer indicators are working correctly such as a buzzer or light.

All trailers built after September 30th 1990 also require:

White front reflectors.

If the trailer is more than 1.3m wide they also require:

At least one red fog lamp.

Larger trailers (1.6m and over) require additional features:

White front reflectors.

White front markers/lights.

Trailers Manufactured from October 2012 fitted with brakes require additional features:

Reverse light

Longer trailers (6m and over, excluding drawbar, but not boat trailers) require additional features:

Red/White side markers.

Arranging lights and reflectors:

Indicators should be a minimum of 350mm and a maximum of 1500mm from the ground.

Indicators should be a maximum of 400mm from the side of the trailer.

Indicators should be a minimum of 400mm apart.

Reflective rear triangles should be positioned, a minimum of 250mm and a maximum of 900mm from the ground, a minimum separation of 600mm and no more than 400mm from the sides.

A single fog lamp should be mounted on the rear of the trailer, anywhere between the centre point and offside edge.

Two fog lamps must be separated and positioned at opposite sides of the rear of the trailer.

Fog lamps should be a minimum of 250mm and a maximum of 1000mm from the ground.

Fog lamps should be a minimum of 400mm apart.

There should be at least of 100mm of separation between the fog lights and the tail lights/indicators.
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Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

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Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

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