Trailer Electrics

[Andy]

Anybody know of a waterproof socket for the back of my car, that the trailer electrics plug into. I go through them at a stupid rate, mainly cause they get dunked when I launch the boat. The car is very low and the backend gets hit by ferry wash at the camber, portsmouth. Once wet it corrodes and fails very quickly.

Hence the need for a waterproof one!! Any ideas...

[Rogue Wave]

Dunno put could you not buy a plug and fit it into the socket and then fill the inside of the plug up with sealant, it would keep a lot of the moisture out.

Or you could use a rope or an extension bar

[Alex Brown]

WD40 worked fine for me with the socket on my last van - not sure whether its exactly the right application for the job, but I had a few occasions when the socket would be dunked, and then for the following few days the bleeper would come on when indicating even though there wasn't a trailer board attached.

After a complete clean out, sprayed a fair amount of the magical stuff into the socket and it worked perfectly for the rest of the season.

Before I started using WD40, the terminals went all green and things started not working......

-Alex

[Dirk Diggler]

You could remove the socket from the back of the vehicle, and fit an "inline" socket that lives in the boot when it's not being used!

[Richard B]

I've just broken the sprung plastic cover off mine, so I decided to weatherproof it....

1x rubber glove and some sticky tape. Job done!

[gtflash]

hi andy

i had the same problem. i decided i couldnt keep replacing them or fit a mod as its needed for towing other things too. Mine tends to leak through the rear and no amount of wd40 stoped them roting away. In electonics you can get this stuff called potting compound, (get it at maplins)it is a bit like areldite and completely seals anything you fill up with it (permenant). I had plenty of cable (just in case) so filled the back up with it, then its just a case of waterproofing the front, i think towsure sell a waterproof sleave a bi like a condom!!

[Rogue Wave]

Thanks GTF the potting compound is a good idea

[Aging Youth]

Hi guy's

As an alterenative, you could always use a front tow bar hitch.

This will make launching easyier as the tow hitch is fitted to the front of the vehicle keeping the exhuast and electrics well out of the way of any water or waves.

Plus by driving the boat trailer into the water, you have better control of your trailer when launching and when retrieving the trailer you have a lower gear by using reverse.

cheers

[Andy]

Aging Youth, dont take this the wrong way, I appreciate the advice, BUT a front towbar would hardly look in keeping with my Audi!!

However the potting compound sounds like a great solution .... maplin here I come. I will let the forum know of progress.

Thanks

[Ribald]

If it's the potting compound that I used to use on pyro cabling ends it goes off rock hard and you will not be able to remove the wiring ever.
Would it not be easier to stuff the inside (back) of the socket with grease and then grease the pins on the plug? I have found this method to be quite effective.