Trailer Wiring

[Jeff9194]

I have a 2005 Astro on which Iam installing a trailer plug on, I also have a 98 astro which I have been using for towing I have tried wiring the new van same as the 98 but the trailer lights are not working. I hooked the 98 back up to the trailer and everthingworks fine. Any ideas, does the 2005 require a wireing converter?

[parts_guy]

This should help..

Trailer Wiring Harness
If you have the optional trailering package, your vehicle will have an eight-wire harness, including the center high-mounted stoplamp battery feed wire. The harness is stored on the passenger's side of the vehicle near the rear wheel well. This harness has a 30 amp battery feed wire and no connector, and should be wired by a qualified electrical technician. After choosing an aftermarket trailer mating connector pair, have the technician attach one connector to the eight-wire trailer harness and the other connector to the wiring harness on the trailer.

Be sure the wiring harness on the trailer is taped or strapped to the trailer's frame rail and leave it loose enough so the wiring doesn't bend or break, but not so loose that it drags on the ground. The eight-wire harness must be routed out of your vehicle between the rear door and the floor, with enough of the harness left on both sides so that the trailer or the body won't pull it.

If you do not have the optional trailering package, your vehicle will still have a trailering harness. The harness is located near the passenger's side rear wheel well. It consists of six wires that may be used by after-market trailer hitch installers.

The technician can use the following color code chart when connecting the wiring harness to your trailer.

• Brown: Rear lamps

• Yellow: Left stoplamp and turn signal

• Dark Green: Right stoplamp and turn signal

• White (Heavy Gage): Ground

• Light Green: Back-up lamps

• White (Light Gage): Center High-Mounted Stoplamp

• Blue: Auxiliary circuit (eight-wire harness only)

• Orange: Fused auxiliary (eight-wire harness only) Store the harness in its original place. Wrap the harness together and tie it neatly so it won't be damaged

[tazb]

I'm sorry, but I can't seem to figure out how to post a new question in this forum. Here's my question: I've wired my boat trailer lights to my 2005 Astro van but I can't get my right brake light and turn signal (dark green wire) to work. Bulb seems fine. All lights on van work. Any help?

[drew300]

first, I'd change the lamp with a known good one, say from the other side of the trailer. (and inspect the socket)
I would suspect a fault on the trailer. A short would have killed the van lights, so I'd suspect an open circuit. I'd run a + and a ground right to the trailer (spare battery or cigarette lighter?) and see if that wire works the lights. If not, the fault is on the trailer, maybe a corroded ground at the lamp, or a rotted socket, or even a broken wire. If it works, you've got a fault in the van wiring to your plug.

[chuy22]

I Just installed a trailer hitch onb my 2000 chevy astro. But can find a way to route the wires from the back to the bottom of the van. Also My van still has the factory shocks with 170k miles on them. Would it be best to replace them. I am planing on towing a pop up trailer that weighs around 2000lbs. I am planing on using monroe sensa track gas shocks. I also can't find the flasher to replace with the hd one. Were can I find it. Thanks for any help.

[drew300]

I found the trailer wires in the jack area.
I found them high up above the jack, in the wire loom. The colors matched the 4 wire trailer connector I used.
I put Monroe Sensi-Trac on my '97. they ride better than my friends' (then new) astro. I tow about 3500 lbs (boat/trailer). They work / ride fine.

[Blue Bowtie]

Most times, your trailer towing success will be greatly affected by proper loading and the resultant tongue weight. A properly balanced trailer will not affect ride height or suspension damping any more than a load of groceries.

[drew300]

I've read that 10% of the trailer weight should be on the tongue. I've read in Europe it's closer to 5%. With my 3500lb trailer, I have a hard time picking up the tongue, so I guess it's about 150 lbs+.
An under weight tongue can cause serious handleing problems.

[chuy22]

were can I find the flasher unit so that I can replace it with the hd one that came with my light kit. Is it easy to route the wires to the outside of the van?

[drew300]

My factory flasher still works fine, and I store the trailer wire by the jack when not in use, and feed it under one of the doors when in use, close to center. I believe the flasher is in the interior fuse panel, near the brake pedal.