Running Lights/Backup Lights 85 Sovereign

[GRAYMAN]

I have enjoyed this forum! Thanks for all the great info!
I'm having trouble getting my running lights and back-up
lights to function on my 1985 25 foot Sovereign. My tow vehicle
checks out OK, I've got turn signals and brake lights on the trailer side. The
electric brakes work, and the fuses in the Sovereign are fine!

Any ideas as to what i should look for? Could it be a bad bulb
socket/bulb that is causing the 20 amp fuse in the tow vehicle
to blow? My tow vehicle is a 1999 Ford F-150 LTX.

I'm also a NO GO with the tag light!

I would appreciate any help/advice

[Astrodokk]

Does the fuse blow at a standstill or only when you start to move? I'm not familiar with trailers, but my MH did the same thing anytime it bounced on the road. Found a short in the wiring, so that when it bounced around, the exposed wire grounded itself and blew the 20 amp fuse. So, maybe there's a loose wire somewhere. Sorry if no help.

[GRAYMAN]

Thanks Astrodokk for the reply.
It appears that the 20 amp fuse
blows as soon as the 7 pin plug is connected
to the tow vehicle.

Would the running lights and back-up lights
be wired in series?

Thanks in advance.

[74Argosy24MH]

They should be in parallel, running and back up will be separate circuits. If they were in series when one went out all would go out.

John

[overlander64]

Greetings GRAYMAN!

Any ideas as to what i should look for?

If this trailer is new to you, I would be very suspicious that the trailer end of the umbilical cord has the wiring for ground/charge/backup/running lights in different positions than on your tow vehicle. This is not uncommon in my experience with the more Vintage Airstream - - I know that I encountered similar difficulties with both my '64 Airstream and '78 Argosy. You can find the original connector wiring informaiton at:

1985-1988 Airstream Bargman Connetor Wiring Details

The connector illustrated may not be similar to the one now on the coach, but the wiring color codes will likely still be functionall correct - - they were when I compared my coaches to similar pages for the early Airstreams and late '70s Airstreams for my Argosy.

Good luck with your electrical problem!

Kevin

[morgan]

check to see if you have 7 or 9 pin plug

[darin]

I am bringing my truck to camper world in a couple of days to have the female adapter installed. I am a bit scared because the kid I was talking to was, a little dumbfounded by the look of the cable ends I showed him. Is there a diagram for the connectors on a 1969 Sovereign I could print and bring to them. Or even better are the 7 pin female plugs available so they don't have to jimmy-rig a patched generic plug to my cables. Please help quick my appointment is at 8:00 am this Thursday.

[thenewkid64]

Check this thread.