Information on Camper Running Lights for a '67 Camper
- Style worth saving.whitewall image by Dank Van Rank from Fotolia.com
Vintage camper wiring varied extensively in design, quality, and building standards. Even wire gauge, and color codes were different from brand to brand.
The most common connector between the car and trailer was the four-way type. Many brands had wiring connections simply twisted together and only wrapped with electrical tape. - Color coding wires makes for easier repairs.telephone cable 2 image by Vonora from Fotolia.com
Unless you have an original factory wiring diagram, you'll have to color code one of your own.
To check where the wires go, you will need an alligator clip jumper wire and an ohmmeter.
Disconnect the trailer to car connector and ground one of the wires. Connect the ohmmeter between the wire and ground of each light. If the needle goes to zero, that wire feeds that light.
Use colored pencils to draw a custom wiring diagram for your particular camper. - Manufacturers did not follow a standardized wire color code in 1967. Here is a list of commonly used color codes:
Red--Left Turn
Brown--Right Turn
Green--Tail and Clearance
Black--Dome Light
If equipped with brakes:
White--Brake Ground
Blue---Brake Power
The hitch ball was used as the ground connector. - The most important wire in a 12-volt system, and the most neglected, is the ground connection. If this circuit is bad, all kinds of strange problems occur.
For example, if one of the brake lights has a bad ground, it will try and ground itself through the opposite light. Consequently, one light will be bright, and the other will be very dim. Many lights will not work with a poor ground. Light sockets that use only one wire and rely on the mounting screw for the ground are notorious for failing this way.
The aluminum siding on campers is applied like shingles and does not make for a very reliable ground connection. Check all the ground wires for corrosion where they connect to the frame or light sockets. - To make your vintage camper's lights reliable, you will have to repair or replace faulty components and bring the electrical system up to modern standards.
Even if you don't need the extra wires, replace the old four-way plug with a new RV-style, seven-way plug. This is the most popular connector; it will give you compatibility with most tow vehicles, and the option to add wires should you need them later.
If you are re-skinning the camper, replace all of the wiring that's in the walls with new 14-gauge wire with the modern color code.
Installing good ground conductors is essential for a trouble free system. Use the new connector to install a 10-gauge white wire for the ground.
Install a junction block to connect all the ground wires together. Ground the frame of the camper and run a separate wire to each aluminum panel that has lights installed in it.
Change the camper lights from one-wire type to two-wire ones, or at least connect them with a common ground wire. The camper's aluminum skin is not a reliable ground conductor.
You can use the 10-gauge white wire to ground the electric brakes as well as the camper lights.
If you install a battery in your camper, you can run a 10-gauge black wire in the seven-way connector to charge it while on the road.
Use the standard color code for all the wiring in your camper. It will make it easier to diagnose any future problems. - Wire your camper with this standard color code:
White---Ground wire.
Blue---Power to trailer brakes.
Brown---Tail and running lights.
Black---12-volt battery power.
Yellow---Left turn and brake lights.
Green---Right turn and brake light.
Purple---Back-up lights or auxiliary.
Vintage campers can take you back to the memories of yesteryears. With a little care and electrical improvement they can safely light up your way to making tomorrow's memories.
