trailer lights install without brake controller?

[Cuervo]

I want to install a simple 4 prong trailer lights to haul a small boat or utility trailer without brakes. I have a 06 Freightliner sprinter 2500. I bought the quick t connector adapter for an 06 Dodge sprinter but cannot find where to plug it in. I was assuming the Freightliner vs Dodge would be the same. Does anyone know if this should work or do I need to splice in my own wires since my Freightliner does not seem to have the harness? Thanks!

[Aircraft Wrench]

You need to run a power wire and relay for the trailer lights...you can't pull power from the light circuit like cars/trucks in the past. Sik had a write up on this....JC Whitney has a kit for the Sprinter.....I got mine from them....works fine.

Best,

Jimmy

[Cuervo]

I couldn't find the kit for a '06 sprinter on JC Whitney. I have located the factory harness kit at the Dodge dealer for $177. Anyone know if this Dodge one will work on my Freightliner?

[Cuervo]

Ok, not really a sprinter kit I'm thinking. Just a generic Trailer Light Power Converter:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/HIDDEN-HITC...2466_10101.jcw
Is this what you used? Sure it says it fits your sprinter if your vehicle is saved to the website but since it's a a generic part it would say that it fits any vehicle.

[Aqua Puttana]

Cuervo,
To the best of my knowledge there is no "plug-in" trailer kit for the 2006 Sprinter. I'm quite certain even the OEM trailer wiring harness kit requires some splicing.

For a simple small trailer towing light capability I don't think the OEM harness is required, but you can't just wire on to the Sprinter lights because the computer control will see it and not like it. You need to use a module that has it's own 12 volt source and will just draw a small current as a trigger for the trailer lights. All the power for the trailer lights will be drawn from the dedicated module source. That module will also protect your vehicle wiring.

There's some info here:

http://www.etrailer.com/

You need to use one of the more expensive modules here:

http://www.etrailer.com/c-ELEB.htm

The following info is from my Stoopid Things tread:
http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3301
2004 140 WB Std Roof Cargo. I popped the tail light lamp assemblies off to begin wiring a Modulite relay unit for my trailer. Didn't get to install that because of rain, but learned some things. Someone had installed #1156 lamps (12V 21Watt) in each lower tail light unit. DC uses galvanized steel tracers to route the power on the light unit. I traced the traces and found a small jumper to the lowest lamp which makes it common with the tail light on the top stop/tail lamp. Having a 21 watt lamp in that position would make it look like the brakes were on instead of just tail lights. My 2004 manual doesn't give lamp numbers for replacement. The parts guy at the corner tried to sell me 21 Watt lamps again and was very insistent.

Here's what I recommend:
Top Lamp = Brake/Tail = 1157LL 12V 21W/5W)
2nd down = Backup = 1156LL (12V 21W)
3rd Down = Turn = 1156LL (12V 21W)
Bottom Lamp = Tail = 5007LL (12V 5W)

Wiring I found:
Tail/Park: L = Gray/Blk, R = Gray/Red
Stop: L = Red/Blk, R = Blk/Red
Backup: L = Wht/Red, R = Wht/Red
Turn: L = Blk/Wht, R = Blk/Grn

Hope this saves someone some time if they need lamps or wire colors.
*******
Anyway, trailer wiring has been covered in much more detail in other posts. You should do a search if you haven't already. Hope this does some good.

[Aircraft Wrench]

Thats probably what I bought....you tap into each turn, running and brake light at the back end, Water Man has the details....it is really pretty easy.....the power to light the system comes from a "Power" under the pilots seat (with a fuse)

Best,

Jimster