I know this will sound really dumb but i just got a trailer for my boat which is a 12ft vhull and the trailer has lights on the back of trailer and i was wondering if there waterproof bebause theres no way of backing the trailer into the water without getting the lights wet. Please somone clarify.

Either relocate the lights so they dont get in the water or unplug them before you back it in. Unplugging them is by far the easiest thing to do, unlplug them pirst thing when you stop at the ramp and plug them back in last thing before you leave and you will be fine.

matt

what about the wire? is that ok to get in the water?

Yes it's ok to get them wet, but unplug them to prevent any shorts. Also, a hot bulb going into water will break, so make sure the housing is sealed

wait dpd, its ok to get the light wet or the wires wet?

You can get both of them wet and they should be fine, just try to unplug them as soon as you can when you get there so they can cool, and let them drain as long as you can before you leave. I have been dooing this since we got our boat in '93(our lights are not water proof and have only had to replace a handful of bulbs, say 5 or 6.

matt

I been dealing with boats and trailers since the early 1970's, DPD and Redchevy are right, just unplug the light when you get to the boat ramp and remember to plug them back in before you leave. You will be just fine.

Unless they are the new LED lights and it won't make any difference.

+1 on the led.
Johnny

I had a little 12ft boat on a little trailer and I never unplugged the lights and never blew a bulb and never replaced a bulb in the 6 years I drug it around from Arlington to Cedar Creek, even at night, the bulbs never got hot enough to bust. Just made sure I had a good ground and plugged in good at the plug on the truck. I guess your mileage will vary.

I suspect it's a good idea to upplug lights before backing into the water but, I've never bothered and only had to replace one bulb in YEARS of boating. That one could have been caused by something other than water. Maybe I've just been lucky or always had sealed lights, I don't know.

I know mine weren't sealed. You could see the bulb underneath the lens. Northern Tool specials.

Some unplug and some dont I never do and have never had any problems.

You can look at the light and see if you can put it in water or not I put LED's on all my trailer's you will spend a little $$ but you will never pay for light a gen as long as you have the trailer unless your me and smash them all the time.

I unplug. As for smashing them, I've only done it once in 30+ years. But others have done it to MY lights 4-5 times. I caught one in the act, only once. Tried to stop him, but he didnt hear me. He was a nice guy about my age and knew he didnt know how to back his brother's trailer, yet he tried. He opened his wallet and asked how much? I joked with him and said $400 ! Thought he was going to pass out right there. Then I said the set costs $40, so $20 would be fine. He gladly paid it and we laughed about it. I wasnt upset.... because he didnt have an attitude about it. It happens...although I cant ever remember hitting anyone else's trailer myself. Only my garage door.