Best Trailer Light Kit in 2024

Heading on holiday only to realize your trailer lights are faulty or malfunctioning? Searching for the most cost-effective trailer lighting kits that won't cost you an arm and a leg?

You have come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will cover the key aspects of the selection, buying, and installation of your brand new trailer light kit.

You Must Know the Law and Safety Rules

It is important to adhere to all the stringent legal precautions set out by the US Transport Department while towing your vehicle, as road safety is key.

It is important that the lighting kit you choose meets the US government’s trailer lighting requirements as well as complies with certain guidelines set up by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There are several factors to consider before you purchase a trailer light kit, such as durability, shape, light capabilities, and trailer size.

Safety first

Not completing your checks and balances could result in serious safety issues on the road or even death. You need to regularly schedule the proper maintenance of your trailer light wiring system. Don't forget to always test that your trailer lights are working properly before you even get into the car.

Conduct a thorough inspection of the tow vehicle and trailer lighting system by walking around its perimeter. Always compare prices with other retailers and manufacturers to ensure that you get the best value for money. Motorists often neglect to keep their trailer light wiring system in good working order.

All trailer light kits need to include the following:

  • Taillights
  • Clearance lights
  • Amber clearance lights
  • Trailer wire harness
  • Wire caps and connectors
  • License tail brackets
  • Trailer light connectors
  • LED Lights

Trailer Light Kit Criteria

If your trailer is over 80-inches wide and less than 30 feet long, you need trailer lights with the following specifications:

  • Two stop lights
  • Two tail lights
  • Two turn signals
  • License plate light
  • Rear side marker lights
  • Rear side reflectors
  • Front side marker lights
  • Front side marker reflectors

Guide To The Top 10 Best Trailer Light Kits For 2024

__1. Partsam 12V Submersible Square Led Trailer Lights

This trailer light kit comes highly rated and is both a reliable and cost-effective purchase for any trailer owner.

Partsam is world-renowned for its large selection of LED lights for trucks, pickups, RVs, trailers, snowmobiles, motorhomes, and campers.

These rear right smoked red square trailer tail lights come with either 15 or 19 diodes and have a solid light pattern that makes them highly visible and aesthetically pleasing.

The trailer lights are waterproof, making them ideal for RV owners who want to double tow either a boat or other heavy-duty vehicle.

This boat trailer light set caters to 80-foot-width boats, RVs, jet skis, and utility trailers. They are incredibly bright, waterproof, and durable. The diodes are all LED bulbs and not incandescent lights like other trailer light kits on the market.

CZC Auto offers consumers a two-piece rectangular light set at a very affordable rate. These lights are waterproof and use Sonic Welding Whole Sealing Technology to ensure the durability of the product. They are U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant and offers a high level of visibility at night.

  • Model: 12V Low Profile Rectangular lights
  • Item Weight: ‎‎1.81 pounds
  • Package dimensions: 8.86 x 6.81 x 3.19 inches
  • Package includes: ‎Stop Light, License Plate Illumination, Waterproof, Running Light, Turn Signal Indicator Light

__4. Nilight - TL-34 2PCS Steel Trailer Light Boxes Housing Kit

This product is used as a complete trailer tail light guard box. It comes standard with stop-turn tail lighting modes that can be welded on or fastened to the rear, side, bottom, or top structure of your trailer. It is extremely durable, as it is constructed from heavy-duty steel and can withstand adverse weather conditions.

It also comes with color-coded wires, which makes installation a walk in the park. This kit can be installed on trucks, trailers, tractors, semi-trailers, horse trailers, travel trailers, dump trucks, and special vehicles.

This red surface mount light from Amazon is a duel stop/turn/tail light fitted with a black base. Its top-quality design means that it comes with automotive corrosion-resistant bulb sockets, a 16-gauge supply and ground wiring.

It also has a snap-on replaceable lens and bulbs. Additionally, it's encased in all-weather molded plastic which protects it from corrosion.

The Nilight trailer light bar has good quality LED lights which give off a high-intensity light without any glare. Its safety features are excellent. The light bar comes encased in an ABS cover and anti-corrosion black base bracket.

This product is geared towards trailers that are 80 inches or wider for increased visibility on the road. Consumers can mount the clearance light bar on the top of their truck or between the tail lights. This trailer light bar is also DOT FMVSS-108 rated and reflective lens design compliant.

This model guarantees 100,000 hours of lighting time. It's designed with a strong magnetic base to keep lights in place while in transit. It is DOT compliant and can be used to tow vehicles that are up to 80 inches wide.

This is an excellent lighting kit for trailers, trucks, recreational vehicles, campers, and boats. The kit contains two LED tail lights, two amber side markers, wiring harness hardware, and a license plate bracket. These extremely bright LED diodes have proven to have a longer shelf life than normal incandescent bulbs.

This lighting kit comes with boat trailer brake lights, tail, and turn signal lights, two amber clearance lights, and a wiring harness. Its lenses are 4.5-inches X 5-inches and include a corrosion-resistant license plate light and bracket. The package also contains a 25-feet split y-style harness and 4-feet 4-pole color-coded copper wires. The product is both DOT compliant and waterproof.

This lighting trailer kit includes two red LED submersible trailer lights encased in a polycarbonate casing. The product is DOT compliant, waterproof, and able to handle major temperature fluctuations while in transit - it's a great choice for those needing boat trailer replacement lights.

  • Brand: Prolineppi
  • Item Weight: ‎‎‎‎‎1.78 pounds
  • Product dimensions: ‎‎8 x 3 x 1 inches
  • Voltage: ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎12 Volts

Trailer Light Safety Features

You need to make certain that your trailer light kit meets all the regulations set out by the US performance regulatory body. They tell you what color your lights should be, how to test them, data about their performance, and the various types of labels they require. When buying your trailer light kit, always ensure the following information is on the cover:

  • DOT – This indicates that the U.S. Department of Transportation has given it the seal of approval
  • SAE – This indicates that the product complies with the Society of Automotive Engineers
  • Manufacturer ID number
  • Year model of the product
  • Codes for functions

Side note: Don’t forget to follow the federal lighting location regulations when attaching your trailer lights.

Trailer Lighting Kit Buyer's Guide

Wondering how a trailer light works? Let's break it down step-by-step.

Remember, all trailers have a plug that is connected to the tow vehicle’s lighting circuitry, with a corresponding connector on the trailer, a wiring harness, and stop, tail, turn and side marker lights around it.

Trailers less than 80 inches wide

In this instance, your trailer will need tail lights, stop lights, turn signals, side marker lights, and side and rear reflectors on each side. Legal requirements state you will also require a license plate light. Trailers wider than that might need more side marker lights and side reflectors.

Trailers more than 80 inches wide

Trailers that exceed 80 inches need more lighting to illuminate them at night. You will need three red identification lights situated on the rear of the trailer. You will also need clearance lights, which should be placed near the trailer's fenders.

LED lights versus traditional incandescent lights

LED trailer lights are the preferred option due to their increased longevity. LED lights provide 100,000 hours of light, compared to incandescent lights, which only last for 3000 hours.

LED lights are encased in a polycarbonate lens, decreasing their ability to rust or corrode. They are immune to thermal shock, as they release minimal amounts of heat, and they switch on instantly. They also tend not to protrude from your trailer, making them less likely to be damaged during an accident.

Steps On How To Install Your Trailer Lighting Kit

First, you will need: four wire trailer light harness, lights, wire cutters, wire strippers, split loop poly casing, electrical tape, soldering iron, adhesive filled shrink tube, drill, center drill and drill bits, center punch, hammer, paint marker, retaining loops and cable ties.

Step 1:

Draw a diagram of your new wiring on a piece of paper. Use that as a map during your rewiring process. Pull out all the old wiring before you get started. You can unbolt them from the trailer's frame. Now, pull the wiring out through the front of the trailer commonly referred to as the tongue.

Step 2:

Place the wiring throughout the frame of the trailer. Remember that the yellow and brown wires should connect to the driver's side and green and brown goes to the passenger's side. Now, ensure that you have an equal amount of wiring on either side of the trailer. The white wire remains close to the trailer's fender. Leave enough wiring over so you can plug it into your SUV or motorhome.

Step 3:

Now, expose the wiring of the white ground wire by stripping it. Take out the existing bolt and wrap the exposed copper wiring around it and put it back in place. Make use of a ring terminal and attach the wire to the bolt. Safely put away all excess wiring before moving on.

Strip the end of the white ground wire. Then, remove the ground bolt or existing coupler bolt previously used for the old ground wire. Wrap the exposed copper wiring around the bolt and put it back.

Step 4:

Use your bolts to mount new trailer marker lights. Bolt the lights onto the trailer. Now splice in the marker light wires to trailer wiring. Correctly connect all the wiring.

Step 5:

Fasten the wiring to the trailer from front to back. You need to ensure that the wiring is securely attached to the trailer.

Step 6:

Now it's time to install the tail light, which must correspond with both the driver and passenger's sides. Once you've positioned the light properly, clip the wire, then insert it into the correct connection points. You must ensure that the yellow and brown wires connect to the driver's side and green and brown links to the passenger's side. Now attach the tail lights onto the trailer frame.

Step 7:

The last step is to test that your new trailer lights work. Connect the trailer to your car to ascertain whether the lighting functions work in tandem. Make use of an electrical tester to troubleshoot any issues with your new wiring harness. Triple check that the brake lights, running lights, right turn signal, and left turn signal are working properly before you take to the road.

Our Best Buys

MMAXXHAUL 70094 12V Trailer Light Kit

This model gives consumers a bang for their buck. The product retails for a low price and boasts excellent features. The square submersible trailer light kit is waterproof, DOT-compliant, and is great for those on a budget.

Nilight 9 LED Trailer Light Bar

For less than $10, this model available from Amazon. It can be used as an identification light for trucks or boats. It can be mounted on top or between the tail lights giving a wider range and making it more visible to other motor vehicles.

Even though it emits a bright light, there is no glare. It also comes with a two-year warranty ensuring excellent after-sales service. The product weighs ‎5.3 ounces and contains one trailer light bar and hardware pack.

Prolineppi's 12V LED Submersible Low Profile Rectangular Trailer Lights Kit

This is another great buy, although it does cost a little more. It is a good option to purchase if you are hauling a boat over a long distance. It is also waterproof and covered in Polycarbonate housing. It weighs 1.78 pounds and can withstand major heat fluctuations while in transit.

FAQs

How much does it cost to rewire a trailer?

It can set you back anything between $50 to $200. These factors are based on labor costs and the design specifications of your trailer.

What is the color code for trailer wiring?

Green connects to the right turn signal and brake. Yellow is for the left turn signal and brake light. Brown controls the tail lights. White is the ground wire, found near the tongue of the trailer.

Do boat trailer lights have to be waterproof?

Yes. If you are planning on taking your boat to the sea, your trailer lights need to be waterproof. Try to buy your trailer lights from a boat trailer dealership to avoid any hassle.

List the top trailer light manufacturers?

There are many good quality manufacturers around. Your decision will depend on your brand loyalty and reputation. The top manufacturers of trailing lighting kits in America are Partsam, CZC Auto, Maxx Haul, Blazer Products, HQAP, Stratus Industries, Orr & Orr, Inc, Felling Trailers, Inc, Auburn Armature, Inc, and Nilight. These are highly reputable companies that sell good quality products.

Can you tow a small trailer without lights?

No, you should never tow a small trailer without lights. Every trailer should have DOT-approved brake, tail, turn, and reflector lights.

How do I fix my trailer lights not working?

Test your trailer wiring using an electrical tester. Usually, trailer wiring issues occur if the wiring is not grounded properly. Check that you have done that correctly. Next, make sure that your vehicle wiring plug is in working order.

What are the lights on the back of a trailer called?

These lights are called identification lights. They signal to other motorists that the vehicle is wider than 80 inches.

Do LED lights need resistors?

No. They don't require load resistors. If you are using LED lights and not incandescent lights, then resistors are not needed.

What are the functions of the three wires on the LED light?

A LED light acts like a multi-functional light. The three wires are white, black, and red and they all perform different functions. The black and red are the positives and the white wire functions as a ground.

You can use a 9v battery to test the polarity of your LED light. Press the wire you think is the negative side onto the negative side of the battery. Hold one of the other wires against the positive side. This should do the trick.

Final Thoughts

Buying the best trailer lighting kit will require you to conduct good research and plan wisely. You must follow the trailer installation guidelines. Make doubly sure that you work within the framework set out by the United States Transport Department.

Always test your lights before setting out with your trailer. If you're unsure about installing them, don't hesitate to reach for professional help.

Links

https://www.zwcable.com/news/Keep.Your.Trailer.in.Tiptop.Shape.Start.with.the.Trailer.Light.html

https://bestreviews.com/automotive/lights/best-trailer-lighting-kits

https://www.huskytrailers.com/informationcenter/resources/trailer-light-requirements

https://www.autoblog.com/article/trailer-light-kit/

https://www.boatsafe.com/best-boat-trailer-lights/

https://www.rvandplaya.com/trailer-lights-facts/

https://www.thomasnet.com/products/trailer-lights-44241156-1.html

https://www.westmarine.com/west-advisor/Your-Trailers-Light-System.html

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