Wiring towed vehicle

Hello. I am planning on flat-towing my vehicle in a few days, if I can get all the electrical sorted and confirm the coach side is good to go (another posting coming for that).

I have installed a 6-wire connector on the front of my vehicle (2001 Lexus LX470), and I am about to wire up the lights. One thought came to mind, I could wire into the lights electrical harness in/near the dash instead of the rear of the vehicle. This would save me a bit of work running wires all the way to the back. However, the driving lights and turn signals would get illuminated at the front. Is this OK? IMO, seems like a better idea to have the front markers and signals working in addition to the back. Just wondering if I am making a big mistake on doing this.

Thanks. -Andrew

I don't see any value or problem illuminating the lights on the front of the toad. However mine were wired in the back such that the front markers are not illuminated.
However I would suggest you use diodes to isolate the harness wires. This is the way most (All?) professional installers do it and is a good idea.

That Lexus is not light, are you planning to install an auxilary braking system? Usual dillemma, you don't need it, until you do. Just like insurance.

So, some things I have come to understand a little better might have some effect on what I do. FWIW, my coach has two trailer electrical hook-ups, one 7-wire and one 6-wire. Luckily Featherlite provides the schematics for all of this, with the exception of the hitch relay board not being marked exactly the same, the schematics are a life saver.

So, given I have two trailer hook-ups, I looked at the schematic to figure out why there would be two of them. At first, I assumed it was because I have two different trailer brake controllers (yes, two). I have a "regular" electric-brake controller, and I have an air brake controller (which I am 99% positive is the Demco Air Force One, but I have not physically confirmed the parts under the coach -I only see the air line on the bumper). I actually ordered a full Air Force One solution right before I bought this coach because I wanted to go that approach. I did not realize this coach had a supplemental brake controller that uses air until I picked it up.

Anyway, the schematics for the hitch relay board show the two trailer hook-ups, and one is designed at "Europe" (7-wire) and one is "North America" (6-wire). At first I had no idea why there was a difference, but looking at the schematic some more, the North America connector has the left-turn combined with brake light and the right-turn combined with brake light. This assumes you want the turn signal and brake signal combined in one [left and one right] light. In addition, there is a wire for "stop", but I think this is for the electric brake signal and not the lights. In contrast, the Europe connector has turn signals separate from brake signal.

Now, on to my vehicle: I do have separate turn signals (amber) and brake lights (red) on the rear. If I use the 6 North America connector, I will have to not wire the amber turn signals (as they would light up as you brake), and I would have to use the left and right brake lights for both turn signal and brake lighting -this leave the actual turn signals not used at all. I suppose I am OK with this, but I wonder if there's any requirement to use the amber turn signals if your towed vehicle has them.

Now, why would I not use the Europe connector? I would love to, but I have discovered some problems with the hitch relay board which will probably prevent me from doing so, unless I can repair or replace it. However, I wanted to start a separate thread about that issue.