Trailer lights {12 volts)

[Kenneth Cole]

Hi
I have added a regular trailer hitch to my Humvee . I have it wired right now for 24 v but want to change it to 12v . Not sure what would be the best way.
Need ideas.

Ken

 

[98G]

Put LEDs on the trailers and leave it 24v. The LEDs will work 12 and 24. That's the easiest and best solution.

 

[papakb]

This is the quickest and simplest way to do a trailer lamp conversion and is the best way to eliminate creating problems. Look for LEDs that operate from 10-30 volts. It just adds that much more flexibility.

 

[Coug]

The second best way, or if you tow a variety of trailers, especially borrowed ones that you can't just go swapping out bulbs in willy nilly, is use the XM381 converter box.

XM381 - 24 Volt Military Truck to 12 Volt Civillian Trailer Lighting Converters & Adapters

xm381.com

install is pretty easy. Only downside is the trailer lights will only work when your headlights are on (has to do with how the converter box gets/uses power)
or build one yourself; it's really just a 24-12V converter, several relays, wiring, trailer plug, and a box.


EDIT: and just be warned, if the "trailer hitch" you just installed is one of the pinball type (flat piece of steel that bolts where the pintle is and a 2" receiver welded to the bottom and not much else) then you won't be towing very much weight. Those things bend pretty easily if you tow more than a few hundred pounds or use more than a 2" drop for the hitch itself; too much leverage on it.
If you got a real hitch like the one from Federal or BlackDog, then you're good to go, and maybe consider a trailer brake controller if you're towing more than 3k lbs (or whatever the legal amount is in your state to require brakes)

 

[MarkM]

Yes, if you have 12v trailer brakes you need the above mentioned converter. If the trailer does not have brakes I just use 10v-24v led bulbs. There are 12 pin military to 4 pin flat or 7 pin round adaptors out there. You can go with the top pic of military 12 pin to 7 pin then use a common 7 pin to 4 pin flat adapter so you can hook up to most trailers. I am not a fan of changing the 12 pin on the truck to something else permanently. Just my two cents.

Mark

 

[TOBASH]

MarkM’s items look awesome! Still, some of us are DIY so I will post the following…

Several years ago on this HMMWV forum, someone posted diagrams and instructions on how to make a cheap military to civilian 24-12 Volt plug in converter. Elsewhere on the trailer forums, someone posted and had a video or link to a M1101 trailer conversion and plug conversion to civilian showing how to swap wires and make a dual military and civilian plug option.

Both were simple affordable projects each under $40.

If I remember I’ll look later for the links.[EDIT- looked five minutes later for the military-civilian plug link]

Search was my friend today. Searched “trailer plug conversion” limited to this forum… read the entire thread for the parts needed and post 16 for the diagrams. Really affordable!!! Post was from 2018. Wow time flies!

12 volt to trailer wiring

Is there a gadget that gets 12 volt out to a trailer light pigtail? Also, I have the dual voltage generator. I have no idea if this will help with that or not.

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[TOBASH]

More trailer light info from St So

Military to civilian wiring simple solution

I recently acquired two M1102 trailers and found various links on how to make a 4 pin flat connector with a NATO 12 pin female plug. I found a much simpler solution and thought it would be worth sharing. I bought a 4 pin male connector from the auto parts store for $5 and a molex .093" pin kit...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[TOBASH]

Still looking for the video BUT this has all the wiring information to convert the trailer and the truck. From the StSo trailer section…

Civy truck to MIL trailer wiring info

All, This is some helpful info on building a trailer wiring "connector bender" for towing a MIL trailer equipped with the standard military harness/plug with a civilian type vehicle equiped with a 4,6, or 7 wire towing harness. This "connector bender" allows you to keep the stock wiring in your...

www.steelsoldiers.com