Ever wire a trailer?

I am needing to wire my drift boat trailer. I hooked up the new harness to the old one and began pulling it through. The person that did it before me (couldn't have been Baker cuz there are alot of 6 inch pieces of wores hanging about) did not use waterproof butt connectors. So........things rusted over time and wires broke. Now I can't get the new harness down through the tubes and am lost! Anyone face this before and know some tricks? I am at a stand still, and the fish are running! Thanks....

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LW

[Hammer Bob]

If speed is necessary rig a temporary harness on the outside of the trailer. To get your wires down the channel try using a electricians snake and use either tie wire or nylon string to pull the new harness. Good Luck trailer wiring although simple can be a real pain!!

I called my electrician buddy about the fish tape, wire snake, deal, he said it would work but he couldn't get me one. They are apparently expensive. The harness I bought came with instructions and they said to hook it up on the outside. So that is what I am going to do until I can come up with some way of getting the wires down the tubes. Any one else have a suggestion?

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LW

[Mrdorkfish]

electricians....hey my bro is one of those and the trick he showed me ....well for running his cable out to his Satelite Dish under ground... was to connect fishing line.....we all know what that is don't we? to a plastic sandwich bag, put it in the hole we want it pulled through and put a vaccum on the other end and suck it through....then connect it to the harness and pull away ! If you use strong enough line you shouldn't have any trouble. Good luck !


Mr. D

[Gone Fishin]

It just so happens I've had the $#!@*&^% pleasure of wiring many trailers!

Of course, the best thing to do is to use electrical tape to connect the new wires to the old, and pull the new ones through as you pull out the old.

But, have had success making my own "fish tape". Just get a sturdy, piece of wire that you can run through the hole, if you don't have any, most hardware stores carry some.

Run the wire through, tape the new wire on the end, pull through!

It's worked for me! Good Luck!

But it has two turns to make, that makes it a pain! I like the vacuum idea, but it may be to far down the pipe to work. Nonetheless, I am going to try that tomorrow! Darn, I love this board! Thanks a million guys!

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LW

[Salmonator]

I have had to drill holes near "intersections" of tube to run wire. Run the wire out of the hole at the first angle, then into a hole drilled at the begining of the next tube and so on. Holes are drilled on the inboard part of the tubes (can't be seen from outside of trailer) and the only exposed wire is the two or three inches going from hole to hole. There might be a corrosion factor, but most driftboat trailers generally aren't backed into the water anyways. Sal

[cts258]

how much of a turn? and does it have any obstructions??
in a case like yours I would use about 10gauge or lower# solid core electronics wire (you can get a spool at any radio shack) it is stiff enough to feed it but also flexiable to make turns. after you get it through you can bend it to make a hook and tape it so you dont lose the wires as you are feeding your wires in

[Gizmo Man]

Hey LW. Try this. take boat off trailer. get a step ladder and raise tounge as high as you can and place it on the highest step. Place some blocks behind wheel to keep from rolling away from you.

Take a piece of hollow pencil lead or a one ounce round cannon ball weight and crimp or tie it to some 20# test line. Cut a piece of line long enough to go the distance you want then add about 3 feet. Drop the line down the tounge and try to bounce it through the turns and hopefully, gravity will help you reach the other end. Tie you wire end to the end of the fishing line and pull through. Use electrical tape around the end of the wire and string and try to make it pointy so it doesn't hang up and the two pieces separate.

I have done this several times and it works. Your two turns may make it difficult, but use one of the suggestions that require you to drill a small hole at each turn.and drop the lead from these points and tie the line together and pull through.

Hope this helps. when you get it fixed give me a call so we can fish.

Giz...

[This message has been edited by Gizmo Man (edited 10-03-2000).]

[smilesforu]

If you can't get the weight to fall down the hole try using a magnet on a bolt/heavy nail to pull it into the right slot before removing magnet for the drop.
Good Luck

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[smilesforu]

If you can't get the weight to fall down the hole try using a magnet on a bolt/heavy nail to pull it into the right slot before removing magnet for the drop.
Good Luck

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

I love this board too LW. Great responses. Thanks guys. - Now if we can get this kind of response for trailer wiring, how much response can we get for the Q of "how do we get off-the bite lockjawed fish to bite?". - RT -

[Moleman]

If all else fails ....do like I do and take it to a U-Haul place and like magic it works kust fine. Might cost $60.

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"TMM"

60 bucks aint bad! The vaccuum/sandwhich bag deal didn't fly. Not enough vaccuum to pull it through. Going to try the weight and fishing line idea. I will get this thing and than we are off, hopefully Saturday.

OH yeah, got the IFISH stickers on there at least!



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LW

[Oakie Drifter]

I second the motion to go to UHAUL. They have always done all my wiring for me. Saved me many grey hairs for it too!!!