# Connecting wires for trailer lights **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 6:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112 "2010-09-14T06:59:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f17d59/32.png) [@Rusty](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rusty)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 6:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/1 "2010-09-14T06:59:08Z")
I know this is not car-related but I still need your help. I have a 4 x 8 mesh open trailer. My left light was smashed in and I replaced the light but not sure if the right way to connect the wires is to use wire nuts or just twist the wires together and use electrical tape? I am connecting the new trailer light to the wiring currently on the trailer. Can you suggest good and safe way to connect the lights? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 8:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/2 "2010-09-14T08:38:49Z")
I think the best way would to be solder and shrink tube. Wire nuts and/or electrical tape will eventually let moisture and road crap in. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 9:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/3 "2010-09-14T09:20:32Z")
I agree with PvtPublic, solder and shrink tubing. ---
**Author:** ![aanders999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@aanders999](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aanders999)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/4 "2010-09-14T18:48:40Z")
Solder and shrink tube is the best but on the other hand I have connected my same trailer lights with wire nuts and have had no problems and its been 9 years! One of these days I’ll get around to doing it right… ---
**Author:** ![Rusty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f17d59/32.png) [@Rusty](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rusty)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/5 "2010-09-15T05:10:11Z")
Now i am having grounding issues…the new light i installed is now causing the car’s lights to dim very low until i unplug the trailer wiring. I disconnected the new light’s wires and the other lights work great. I think its something related to the original mounting holes…Im thinking I may have to drill 2 new mounting holes and see if that will solve the grounding issue…unless someone else has better advice? ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 10:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/6 "2010-09-15T10:02:51Z")
Instead of relying on the mounting bolts for ground, install a real ground wire in addition to the mounts. Re-check all the trailer wiring for bad grounds and connections, there may be more and the extra from the new light may be just the last straw so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/connecting-wires-for-trailer-lights/55112/7 "2010-09-15T16:30:12Z")
Make sure you don’t have the stop and tail light wires crossed to the new light.