Need help wiring truck to small trailer

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by bowtieboy77, Jun 8, 2017.

  1. bowtieboy77

    bowtieboy77 Light Load Member

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    Aug 16, 2013
    Southern, Ontario
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    Ran into a interesting issue today. The municipality I work for owns a 2016 International 1 ton truck. It got hooked to a trailer that our other 1 tons hook to and it had no brake lights. Upon closer inspection I found that the IH 1 ton trailer plug is wired like a heavy truck using 3 wire system ( signal is sepperate from brake light wire). Our other GMC topkick 1 tons have the trailer plug wired like light duty automotive wiring (2 wire signal light and brake light share same wire).

    Rewiring the trailer is not a option as the other 1tons will still need to hook to it. I realize the 3 wire and 2 wire designs are done in the signal stat my question is how would I go about converting the IH truck over to 2 wire. Do I need to reroute wiring in signal stat, or do I need another style of signal stat, or is this achieved through the body control module? I did a quick google search and did find that "curt" makes a 3 wire to 2 wire convertor. Basically I wire ground, both signals, tail light, and stop light wire to one side and the output is ground, tail, left signal, and right signal. I ordered it and will have it tomorrow morning and will post if it is what I needed.

    Has anyone else ran into this problem and how did you or do you correct it with out the convertor?
     
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  3. ClineER

    ClineER Light Load Member

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    Apr 27, 2016
    N.E. Oklahoma
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    I have wired it Into the rear lights on the truck and seems to work fine. Just not use the factory trailer harness on truck.
     
  4. Pedigreed Bulldog

    Pedigreed Bulldog Road Train Member

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    May 7, 2011
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    Yup. Tail lights on the tractor are usually stop/turn on the same wire. Tap into those wires to run to a plug to use with that trailer. Problem solved. Other consideration is trailer brakes. Is the trailer air? Or does the truck have a brake controller for electric brakes?
     
  5. bowtieboy77

    bowtieboy77 Light Load Member

    274
    82
    Aug 16, 2013
    Southern, Ontario
    0
    I was able to wire in a 3 wire to 2 wire convertor and fit it inside of the junction box. I also have been told thay IH dealers will have literature on this basically there is a couple wires that get connected differantly at the body controller. I will call dealer monday. Thanks for the suggestions.
     
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