To go or not to go?

[PLJ]

They replaced the wiring harness on the TV. I know have power coming from the TV. On arriving home I hooked up to the trailer. Still nothing on the lights or brake controller. With the trailer opened up and powered from the house I have lights. When switched to battery power I still have lights on the trailer.

So I'm guessing I have an issue now with the tow plug on the trailer and the wiring. It's obviously too late to get this fixed now in time for my trip tomorrow at noon, so my question is would you travel with a trailer without lights (turnsignals) and brakes? The campsite is an hour south of us. It's all freeway driving. I have kind of mixed feelings, I want to go. Wife and kids are excited about the trip but I also want to be safe and also be fair to other drivers on the road.

If anyone has any ideas about what I can try or work on to identify my problem I'd love some thoughts. I am an electrical novice, so even the obvious is welcomed  

[wavery]

They replaced the wiring harness on the TV. I know have power coming from the TV. On arriving home I hooked up to the trailer. Still nothing on the lights or brake controller. With the trailer opened up and powered from the house I have lights. When switched to battery power I still have lights on the trailer.

So I'm guessing I have an issue now with the tow plug on the trailer and the wiring. It's obviously too late to get this fixed now in time for my trip tomorrow at noon, so my question is would you travel with a trailer without lights (turnsignals) and brakes? The campsite is an hour south of us. It's all freeway driving. I have kind of mixed feelings, I want to go. Wife and kids are excited about the trip but I also want to be safe and also be fair to other drivers on the road.

If anyone has any ideas about what I can try or work on to identify my problem I'd love some thoughts. I am an electrical novice, so even the obvious is welcomed  

You could probably squeak by without T/S lights if you were really careful (I am not recommending it). However, no brake lights is a recipe for disaster IMHO.

[tlhdoc]

Go to an auto parts store or Wal-Mart and get a set of auxiliary lights that you can connect to your tow vehicle.  I have never used them and I am not sure what is required, but for one trip my RV dealer was going to set me up that way if they didn't have time to check out the wiring on my PU.  Good luck and I hope you get the lights working so you can make the trip.

[PLJ]

I replaced the plug on the trailer during Friday morning. It was cold and the rain was pouring down, but backed up the mini van close to the hitch and sat on the back of the van with the lift gate as my roof. The repair worked and the trailer had lights and brakes.

So we went on the trip. You could certainly tell it was the first setup of the season. I was rushing with the setup because of the rain and got the bed-ends up and the canvas in place keeping the inside pretty well dry, when I realized I hadn't emptied the front storage bin  :yikes:  So I had to push in the bed end, empty out and reload.

I had copied someone elses mod from here and switched out the thermostat with a digital one. It worked a treat. The camper was toasty warm all weekend.

Even with it being cold and wet, we had a great weekend. Did some fishing with the wife and kids. My 5 year old boy is is really starting to let that line fly when he casts    We also did some bike riding through the muddy trails.

Kids said it was the perfect weekend to go camping as they felt like they were on an episode of survivor  :p

I also did my first attempt at Dutch oven cooking. The meal (wagon master stew) turned out beautiful. Although it took a lot longer to cook than the recipe listed. It was hard to get them coals hot. I'll post a thread on that issue.

[Kelly]

Glad you got everything fixed and were able to go camping.   Where did you go?

We're heading out this weekend for the first time of the season with 4 other families.  I'm really looking forward to this ~ seems like forever since we were out.  (October, but still...)
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[wavery]

I replaced the plug on the trailer during Friday morning. It was cold and the rain was pouring down, but backed up the mini van close to the hitch and sat on the back of the van with the lift gate as my roof. The repair worked and the trailer had lights and brakes.

So we went on the trip. You could certainly tell it was the first setup of the season. I was rushing with the setup because of the rain and got the bed-ends up and the canvas in place keeping the inside pretty well dry, when I realized I hadn't emptied the front storage bin  :yikes:  So I had to push in the bed end, empty out and reload.

I had copied someone elses mod from here and switched out the thermostat with a digital one. It worked a treat. The camper was toasty warm all weekend.

Even with it being cold and wet, we had a great weekend. Did some fishing with the wife and kids. My 5 year old boy is is really starting to let that line fly when he casts    We also did some bike riding through the muddy trails.

Kids said it was the perfect weekend to go camping as they felt like they were on an episode of survivor  :p

I also did my first attempt at Dutch oven cooking. The meal (wagon master stew) turned out beautiful. Although it took a lot longer to cook than the recipe listed. It was hard to get them coals hot. I'll post a thread on that issue.

Good job with that repair :! . No sense in Micky Mousing something like that . I had visions of someone driving right into the back of your trailer :yikes: .

The nice part about doing that yourself is that you build your confidence and knowledge about your systems .

[tlhdoc]

I am glad you got the lights working and had a good trip.  Too many times people don't go when the weather isn't perfect and miss out on some good times.  So where do you go next?

[PLJ]

Kelley, we went to Big Island. Its just south east of the I90 & I35 interchange at Albert Lea. Not a bad park. I'll post a review. I hear you about it being so long since last camping.  

With the weather Wavery I wouldn't have travelled. Visibility was reduced, so driving without lights wouldn't have been an option. Your definately right about confidence building taking on these repairs  :p

Thdoc if we only had a tent then the trip would have been off. It would have to be some pretty severe weather to put us off in a pup. In wet weather it just means you play a lot more games of war  or old maid with the kids    Next trip is the start of June going up North to Tettegouche state park. I'm a director of a Church youth group (simillar to scouts), so we have the first camp trip with them. I will help take them on a 50 mile bike ride for an award they can earn. It should be a vey rewarding weekend. We also have a family and friends group camp coming up in June at Fort Ridgely.