Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08)

cactusjack · 08-09-2008, 11:46 PM

Alright, today I wired the Nomad for trailer lights. It took me awhile to find the best place to make the connections to the taillight harness. I traced the taillight harness backwards from the taillight area through the rear fender under the seat, to behind the battery on the LH side. I located a 6-pin connector where the taillight harness plugs into the main wiring harness.

I decided to splice into the taillight harness about 6 inches from this connector. I located the 4 wires (tail, stop, lt, rt) and spliced in one side of the Hoppy 6-pole connector I had bought. I also ran a wire with an inline fuse holder to the (+) battery terminal and another to a good ground. I wrapped the 10" or so of exposed wires with black wire loom to make it look all nice, and ran it out by the coolant recovery jug...

Next, I mounted the Hoppy taillight converter to the hitch and figured out how to route the 6 input wires to the connector I had installed (see previous pic).

Next, I cut the bundle of wires to length and sonnected the other end of the Hoppy 6-pole connector:

I then plugged the trailer connector into the output side of the Hoppy converter and tested everything.

Next phase of the project will be a visit to the DMV on Thursday to get it licensed.

coloradontexas · 08-10-2008, 12:07 AM

wow, you are miles ahead of the game than me. Fixin to start building a trailer. Then i will mess with the eternal headache of wiring the bugger

audiogooroo · 08-10-2008, 12:09 AM

Nice job Scott. Looks real clean.

mrfuni · 08-10-2008, 10:22 AM

Nice job CJ, appreciate the photos. I'll follow your lead..Thanks..Joe

radco · 08-10-2008, 01:48 PM

CJ NICE follow up.. I would say when done you should be added to Gadgets site :)

**coacha** · 08-10-2008, 03:42 PM

Very nice job. Now I think I'm ready to do the deal with mine too.

cactusjack · 08-10-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radco

CJ NICE follow up.. I would say when done you should be added to Gadgets site :)

Gadget already has a how to build your own trailer page. I got a lot of my info from it. Nice thought, though. Thanks!

**trip** · 08-11-2008, 06:43 AM

CJ,
Have you thought about writing a document about this to post on the website?

bobzinger · 08-11-2008, 10:57 AM

Great pictures...worth a 1000 words!

cactusjack · 08-11-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

CJ,
Have you thought about writing a document about this to post on the website?

I am thinking about setting up a website dedicated to towing/trailer building and documenting my experience there.

mrfuni · 08-11-2008, 12:01 PM

CJ..that would be very helpful and a lot of us can learn as I have based on your trial and error. I already printed out your wiring pictures and will use it to instal my hoppy and wiring. Thanks again, saves me a trip to the stealer. Joe

ianicky · 08-11-2008, 01:21 PM

Nice job, very professional

**trip** · 08-12-2008, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip

CJ,
Have you thought about writing a document about this to post on the website?

I am thinking about setting up a website dedicated to towing/trailer building and documenting my experience there.

That would be great CJ....let me know once you get it setup and I'll link to it from KawaNOW.

reloader · 08-15-2008, 04:34 PM

Can you give a part listing including Part # and where purchased. How about a close up photo of the Hoppy converter. Does the converter have a plug in for trailer on unit, or is another connector used?

cactusjack · 08-15-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reloader

Can you give a part listing including Part # and where purchased. How about a close up photo of the Hoppy converter. Does the converter have a plug in for trailer on unit, or is another connector used?

Hmmm, okay - here is a close up of the taillight converter. As you can see, on the motorcycle side, everything is hard-wired to the converter. On the trailer side is the standard 4-pole connector where the trailer wiring connects.

Parts list:
Hoppy power taillight converter #46255 (Amazon.com)
Hoppy 6-pole molded connector #47995 (lowcosttrailersupplies.com)
The 6-pole connector connects the input side of the Hoppy to the taillight wiring harness on the bike.

I need to figure out a better way to attach the Hoppy to the hitch than zip ties :) This was just temporary for mock-up purposes.

08-09-2008, 11:46 PM	#1
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Alright, today I wired the Nomad for trailer lights. It took me awhile to find the best place to make the connections to the taillight harness. I traced the taillight harness backwards from the taillight area through the rear fender under the seat, to behind the battery on the LH side. I located a 6-pin connector where the taillight harness plugs into the main wiring harness. I decided to splice into the taillight harness about 6 inches from this connector. I located the 4 wires (tail, stop, lt, rt) and spliced in one side of the Hoppy 6-pole connector I had bought. I also ran a wire with an inline fuse holder to the (+) battery terminal and another to a good ground. I wrapped the 10" or so of exposed wires with black wire loom to make it look all nice, and ran it out by the coolant recovery jug... Next, I mounted the Hoppy taillight converter to the hitch and figured out how to route the 6 input wires to the connector I had installed (see previous pic). Next, I cut the bundle of wires to length and sonnected the other end of the Hoppy 6-pole connector: I then plugged the trailer connector into the output side of the Hoppy converter and tested everything. Next phase of the project will be a visit to the DMV on Thursday to get it licensed. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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08-10-2008, 12:07 AM	#2
coloradontexas Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 397	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) wow, you are miles ahead of the game than me. Fixin to start building a trailer. Then i will mess with the eternal headache of wiring the bugger
	0

08-10-2008, 12:09 AM	#3
audiogooroo Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,390	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Nice job Scott. Looks real clean. __________________ Audiogooroo - Daryl Porter Colorado Springs, CO VBA #248 VROC #17261 1999 Grn/Grn Nomad
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08-10-2008, 01:48 PM	#5
radco Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dedham Maine Posts: 4,199	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) CJ NICE follow up.. I would say when done you should be added to Gadgets site :) __________________ Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-10-2008, 03:42 PM	#6
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Very nice job. Now I think I'm ready to do the deal with mine too. __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
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08-10-2008, 10:22 AM	#4
mrfuni Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,301	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Nice job CJ, appreciate the photos. I'll follow your lead..Thanks..Joe
	0

08-11-2008, 06:43 AM	#8
trip VBA Founder Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Lindale, Texas Posts: 6,846	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) CJ, Have you thought about writing a document about this to post on the website? __________________ Robert "Trip" Hilliard VBA/KawaNOW - Founder/Past President VBA # 00001 Trip's Website Custer 09, 18 / Maggie Valley 11 / Eureka Springs 09, 17 / Antlers 09, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 Texas Hill Country / Deals Gap / Colorado / Wyoming / Montana / Utah / More trips for Trip
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08-11-2008, 10:57 AM	#9
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Great pictures...worth a 1000 words! __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
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08-11-2008, 12:01 PM	#11
mrfuni Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Naples Florida Posts: 1,301	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) CJ..that would be very helpful and a lot of us can learn as I have based on your trial and error. I already printed out your wiring pictures and will use it to instal my hoppy and wiring. Thanks again, saves me a trip to the stealer. Joe
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08-11-2008, 01:21 PM	#12
ianicky Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Somerset, England Posts: 1,131	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Nice job, very professional
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08-15-2008, 04:34 PM	#14
reloader Jr. Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 36	Homemade trailer progress (08/09/08) Can you give a part listing including Part # and where purchased. How about a close up photo of the Hoppy converter. Does the converter have a plug in for trailer on unit, or is another connector used?
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