Any body out there?? NEED HELP GETTING IT HOME!!!

[Anna]

As I'm typing this my husband is on Whidbey Island trying to get our new (new to us that is) Airstream home. As you can see we are new to all of this trailer stuff and are having a hard time getting her home. We are communicating via cel phone. He can't get the trailer break lights to work or the electric hitch. Help?
Thanks,
Anna

[overlander64]

Greetings Anna!

The electric hitch may pose a greater problem than the lights. If the trailer battery isn't present or isn't fully charged, the hitch jack likely won't work. The alternative is to hand crank it - - there should be an access hole on the top surface - - may have a flexible plastic plug or a metal cover held by several small set screws. Within this area is a manual hub - - it is turned with a specialized wrench that should be with the trailer - - if not, a socket can tyhpically be found that will fit the top of the screw device - - it will require a long wratchet handle extension and MANY turns to raise or lower the hitch post.

The brake lights may have any number of problems. The blubs may be burned out, a ground may need cleaninng, or the terminals in the connector umbilical cord may need to be cleaned. It is also possible that the trailer end of the umbilical cord may need to be rewired to match the tow vehicle. When I towed my '78 Argosy home in August, it required rewiring the trailer end connector to match the tow vehicle - - utilized a 12-volt garden tractor battery for power and alligator clips on 24" wires to test each of the wires on the Argosy prior to attaching to the appropriate terminals to match the tow vehicle. It is time consuming but not difficult. The other problem, and I would hope that this is not it, would be a broken connection in the wiring junction box that is under the coach usually found near the front curbside corner (identified by a cover rivited into place to conceal the access) - - once this is removed, the wire connections can be cleaned and resecured. I strongly suspect that the problem is likely with the matching of the trailer connector to the tow vehicle connector - - or corrosion that is present on one end or the other or both.

Good Luck with your project!

Kevin

[Anna]

Kevin,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
I just got off the phone with my husband and they had already got rid of the electric hitch and the break lights work (it was corrosion). Now, he can't get the the break controler light in his truck to work so I need to call the place that installed it and figure it all out.
If you have any more tips on how to get it home safe and sound please let me know!
THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
-Anna