Trailer Wiring (Military)

[WillTN]

I bought a military cargo trailer that has the normal 24 volt system on it. Do any of you guys know if changing out the 24 volt bulbs to 12 volt bulbs in the lights will make them work with a 12 volt vehicle?
(I've been told that's it, but I don't know anything about going between the two.)

I'm thinking about keeping the tail lights since they are waterproof and splicing unto the wiring harness (it uses the 12 pin nato deal) to work with a standard four pin connector since all I need is tail lights, brake, and turn (if changing the bulbs does work). If not I'm thinking about just removing the lights and wiring and using a new harness with new lights... Can anyone recommend a wiring kit with decent lights?

 

[leeawalden]

sweet, lets see pictures of the trailer! I have always just wired up all our trailers with a kit from a marine store, or autozone...

 

[ArmyRover]

Checked with my 63B(army light wheeled vehicle mechanic) should work by just switching the bulbs.

I've got him checking to see if he has a wiring diagram for it.

 

[hafaday]

yes to a 12v bulb.
also it would depend on the light set up on the trailer, meaning
2 bulb with separate black out drive.
4 bulb w/ black out drive in the same housing.

but either way the parking (or running) lamp is separate from the break/turn lamp. post a pic. of the rear end and i'll get ya wiring schematic

 

[apg]

Swap the 24v bulbs out for 12v...no other changes to the trailer wiring need to be made.

Now if this is the typical NATO wiring, there will be a terminal block underneath somewhere. Wire in, wire out. And the wires going out are usually conveniently labeled.

Now the easiest way is to get a seven-pin trailer harness. Remove the 12 pin NATO harness and route the new one to the junction block. Cut off the appropriate 'cannon plug' electrical connectors from the old and crimp/shrink them to the new. It's just plug 'n' play from there on....

Cheers