Trailer hitch brake light

[Mavster Mechanic]

I guess they don't teach what diodes are in school anymore.

$0.79 each.

But you need two.

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[Cherokee]

FWIW, there's no "tap" in either taillight for a brake-only signal. You'll have to make that connection up in your 3rd brake light harness.
HRG

Or link tap a tail light wire, splice into it without cutting. The clip on splicers.
Pack of six, Napa, for about $8
No hooking up/soldering diodes.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Or link tap a tail light wire, splice into it without cutting. The clip on splicers.
Pack of six, Napa, for about $8
No hooking up/soldering diodes.

My point was that there's no wire in the tail light area that provides a (brake light only) signal, not how to tap the wire.

HRG

 

[OleFordGuy]

The problem is that the Maverick will sense anything connected to the trailer port (4 or 7) and assume you have a trailer and will disable the rear collision alert you get when you're in reverse. I have no information regarding how those led light bars under the tailgate avoid that scenario if they use the trailer hitch port. Maybe they're spliced directly to the brake/turn signal wires.
Appreciate your input.

it's my understanding it does not use the trailer hitch port at all so nothing gets disabled. but one wire does need to be ran to the battery, the others are plug and play into the factory tail light sockets.

 

[wax87]

In my desire to make my Maverick less prone to being rear-ended, I decided to install one of those trailer hitch brake lights that connects to the trailer light port. At the same time, I forgot about how the Maverick will disable the side traffic alert feature which is non-negotiable keeper. I'm guessing my alternative would be to find a unit that I can splice into the brake wiring directly, rather than using the built-in port. I'm thinking I could just remove the pin connector, find which wires are for the brake/rear lamp, and run them directly. No doubt will need to split and extend in order to reach the rear light pods, but that's a simple task. I have no issues tapping into existing wiring having done so multiple times on various vehicles, but would welcome any feedback from any member who's done similar with a hitch light.

I guess this is a co-pilot 360 issue?

 

[wax87]

I guess they don't teach what diodes are in school anymore.

$0.79 each.

But you need two.

where is radio shack when you need them?

 

[Cherokee]

My point was that there's no wire in the tail light area that provides a (brake light only) signal, not how to tap the wire.

HRG

I saw a tail light cable going to the tail lights, easy to tap.
Right ?

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I guess they don't teach what diodes are in school anymore.

$0.79 each.

But you need two.

It's probably been 45 years since I built that circuit. Now where's my soldering iron?????

HRG

 

[Dave O]

I have not found any plug and play solution for adding a hitch mounted brake light or a underside tailgate light bar that includes brake light, turn signals and reverse light for my 2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid - some say they exist but no after market supplier that I’ve contacted has an answer

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

I have not found any plug and play solution for adding a hitch mounted brake light or a underside tailgate light bar that includes brake light, turn signals and reverse light for my 2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid - some say they exist but no after market supplier that I’ve contacted has an answer

Is Curt saying their #56477 would work, but not have the reverse lights? It would be pretty easy to add the reverse light wire, if the harness would plug into your taillights (2025, w/LED's). If so, this would give you the 5th pin for a under-tailgate light bar.

HRG

 

[Itsdavebr0]

I have a hitch brake light. It plugs into a harness that connects to the driver side taillight harness. It flashes a few times when the brake is pressed.

No BLIS errors.

 

[Itsdavebr0]

I have not found any plug and play solution for adding a hitch mounted brake light or a underside tailgate light bar that includes brake light, turn signals and reverse light for my 2025 Maverick Lariat AWD Hybrid - some say they exist but no after market supplier that I’ve contacted has an answer

This is what I have. Install was pretty simple and it works as you described.

https://amzn.to/3Nq0WiJ

 

[CNJFF]

My first thought was to series two relays (triggers from left and right respectively) creating an AND gate but that would (should?) still flash if one is doing turn signal.

I have a hitch brake light. It plugs into a harness that connects to the driver side taillight harness. It flashes a few times when the brake is pressed.

No BLIS errors.

Does it flash when using the left turn signal?

 

[Dad]

I guess this is a co-pilot 360 issue?

The 2022 Maverick does not have front cams, so it's the side mirror warnings and rear camera cross traffic alerts that are affected when the Maverick's trailer light system is activated. As it should be, otherwise it would be alerting you all the time towing a trailer.
I've decided to abandon the idea of adding a trailer hitch brake light. If I use the trailer 4 pin connect, I disable rear cross traffic alert, and if I tap directly into the brake/turn signal, then the hitch light would flash no matter which way I wanted to turn. I've seen units on Amazon that are larger and have the ability to indicated directional turning, but the reviews aren't very good. I have an 3x strobe led in the cab brake light, so I can live with that.
Thanks for your interest.

 

[Dad]

I ended up installing the Curt wiring harness to put brake lights on my bike rack. It's a bit expensive, but seemed the easiest way to keep the side traffic alert. It does seem to be about $40 cheaper on Amazon right now though.

Thanks. I'm guessing that it disabled the rear cross traffic alert?

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