jd-ford-hd
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I searched this forum more than once for the best method to pull civilian trailers with 12 volt lights. Never came up with ideas other than dead-end links, LED bulbs, 24volt relays and voltage convertors. This is what I did to get 12 volts to my trailers. If this setup has been thought of and posted on here before, I apologize to the individual in advance. I have six trailers that will be pulled with my M818 from the fifth wheel. None of them are military trailers. I dont think anyone should utilize this just because I did, I am just showing a simple and inexpensive alternative that works. I used the original trailer slave cable as a sacrificial cable to supply the current the resistor board. A replacement can be easily plugged in if the need to pull a military trailer exists.
This is the resistor used, available at O'reilly's![001.jpg 001.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63640-f5a3cce215bd600e71bd0cd64eda244b.jpg)
Aluminum plate used for heat dissipation![002.jpg 002.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63641-ab73128d7477fa44fb4b15d443a8ac76.jpg)
Mounted to the rack![003.jpg 003.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63642-13a8d430a3bef56c5f2d534264c6329f.jpg)
Old slave cable visible with new cable attached![005.jpg 005.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63643-9cacde0e1f7832773e7ab35ac3eba74f.jpg)
For 12v pintle trailers a plug is added to rear fender mount![008.jpg 008.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63644-1f9193553fd63233070952df5dddcf36.jpg)
Check voltage with load applied![021.jpg 021.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63645-458ac5a38ab07d20494bf56e02ea15f4.jpg)
14.53 volts is close enough![020.jpg 020.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63646-030f9384adf806e8008c7d673ebe2f28.jpg)
Ammo can upside down to keep rain out keep air flow
Almost looks like part of the truck painted!![022.jpg 022.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63649-3eb65167c8cd99f0cdf4f659db4b0a6d.jpg)
Three circuits plus ground are all that are needed for most trailers. Left turn, Right turn and marker/tail lights. Brake lights and turn signals are the same circuits.
This is the resistor used, available at O'reilly's
![001.jpg 001.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63640-f5a3cce215bd600e71bd0cd64eda244b.jpg)
Aluminum plate used for heat dissipation
![002.jpg 002.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63641-ab73128d7477fa44fb4b15d443a8ac76.jpg)
Mounted to the rack
![003.jpg 003.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63642-13a8d430a3bef56c5f2d534264c6329f.jpg)
Old slave cable visible with new cable attached
![005.jpg 005.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63643-9cacde0e1f7832773e7ab35ac3eba74f.jpg)
For 12v pintle trailers a plug is added to rear fender mount
![008.jpg 008.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63644-1f9193553fd63233070952df5dddcf36.jpg)
Check voltage with load applied
![021.jpg 021.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63645-458ac5a38ab07d20494bf56e02ea15f4.jpg)
14.53 volts is close enough
![020.jpg 020.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63646-030f9384adf806e8008c7d673ebe2f28.jpg)
Ammo can upside down to keep rain out keep air flow
![009.jpg 009.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63647-b528e91a1593fd68bce9bfa8fc8011f6.jpg)
Almost looks like part of the truck painted!
![022.jpg 022.jpg](https://www.steelsoldiers.com/data/attachments/63/63649-3eb65167c8cd99f0cdf4f659db4b0a6d.jpg)
Three circuits plus ground are all that are needed for most trailers. Left turn, Right turn and marker/tail lights. Brake lights and turn signals are the same circuits.
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