When I purchased my new trailer, it was equipped with incandescent light bulbs. In the first year that I owned my trailer, I had to replace the bulbs numerous times. Every time I was using the trailer, I would have to replace the bulb.
Of course, I was using high-quality bulbs. But the Sylvania bulbs which last for decades in vehicles that are used daily appear to last just for a couple of hours driving in trailers. What makes a trailer light board used in a vehicle last for so long as the same lamp in the trailer?
It is apparent that there are two main reasons the light bulbs in trailers go out frequently The main reason is heat and vibration.
The suspensions of passenger cars are tuned and shock absorbers that improve the comfort of the drivers, as well as the cars too benefit from an easier ride. The majority of utility trailers, in contrast they have only basic suspension systems and consequently move around quite a bit. All that bounce and vibrating affects incandescent lighting that operates by heating a delicate filament of metal to temperatures that are white hot.
Just a year ago, after I purchased the trailer, I needed to take it to an inspection station to have it checked. The appointment was scheduled to be early in the morning and I connected the trailer to the vehicle the night prior to. Then , I tried the lights and I was able to confirm that there was a problem with one tail lights was not working.
I fiddled in the darkness of the night trying to find a bulb, and then changing it a second time so that the trailer could be inspected the next day. Then I bought an entire set of lighting for my trailer with LEDs. I’ve not had to change them since. The only thing I didn’t alter during my trailer-rewiring project was the LED lights. They’re still in good shape.
In the past (but prior to the rewiring work) I also purchased the set of Type 168 LED bulbs for the marker lights. They replace the original incandescent bulbs and had also been replaced several times. The trailer’s lighting now is 100% LED, and I’ve not needed to replace the lamp since.
What makes LED Lighting for Trailers Superior
If your boat or utility trailer is lit by incandescent bulbs It’s hard to come up with a convincing reason not to change them out with LED lights for your trailer. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that LED lights offer.
LED Lighting is Far brighter. LED lights are three to 4 times more bright than incandescent bulbs and around two times as bright the halogen bulbs. Other drivers will be aware the trailer you’re pulling even in fog, rain or snow.
Longer life span and no Bulb Replacements. In contrast to incandescent lights LED trailer lights don’t contain filaments that go out of. The typical lifetime of an LED is around 100,000 hours.
Rapider Response Time. LED lamps illuminate instantly which means you don’t have that tiny delay between the time you brake and when the brake lights turn on.
Much Lower Power Draw. In general LED trailer lights consume around 10 to 20 percent of the energy that incandescent lamps need. Apart from that, this can prolong the lifespan of your wiring by stopping it from ever getting hot. This allows using a lower-gauge wiring harness than the incandescent light will require.
Like I mentioned before I’m unable to come up with a compelling reason to avoid using LED lights for your trailer, particularly given their low cost. If you’re looking for an idea to do to keep your mind busy and upgrade your trailer’s incandescent lights to LED could be a smart method to go about it. It will pay off over time.