Many defects in trailer lighting systems can be linked to mechanical factors. Preventing those mechanical factors from affecting your lighting system can therefore go a long way towards keeping the lights of your trailer working properly. This article discusses some things you can do to keep these mechanical issues at bay.

Use Cable Ties

It is advisable to connect the wire harness to the tongue of the trailer hitch using cable ties. Those cable ties will prevent the wires from flexing excessively as your trailer is towed. Excessive flexing can cause the wires to break due to the strain exerted upon them.

Manage Wire Length

It is also important to manage the length of the wiring. Very short wires are likely to break because they will have no room to adjust or flex as the trailer moves. However, wires that are too long can also cause problems. For example, the excess wiring can be caught in a trailer component. Such a wire is likely to break if you don't stop the trailer and release that caught section. 

Ensure Proper Assembly Connections

It is important for the wire assemblies to make a good connection with the frame of the trailer. For example, the ground wire should have a good connection if it is to perform as expected. You should therefore remove all the paint and any corrosion from the point where the ground wire will be connected. It is also a good idea to remove all the paint and the corrosion on the points where the bolts of the light assembly pass through the mounting bracket. This will reduce any resistance that may exist as current flows through the lighting system.

Use Dialectic Grease

Always apply dialectic grease to the bulb just before you place it into its socket in the light assembly. That grease will serve two key purposes. First, it will reduce the likelihood of moisture reaching the socket where the bulb is connected. Secondly, it will be easier for you to remove the bulb once it is time to replace it. Such easy removal can prevent any damage that would have occurred if the bulb had become attached onto the socket due to corrosion.

Mechanical factors aren't the only cause of defects on trailer lighting systems. Frequent inspection and maintenance of the lighting system can detect and fix any other issues that may develop. For instance, the use of incandescent bulbs can increase the frequency of bulbs blowing out due to the limited service life of such bulbs. Frequent inspection and maintenance can sort those problems before you are fined for a defective lighting system.