If your vehicle doesn't already have one, you'll need to install an adapter that allows your trailer lights to operate from the same controls as your vehicle's tail lights. Once installed, the adapter simply plugs into a fixture on the trailer so that the trailer lights operate in unison with the vehicle's brake lights and turn indicators. Kits are available with all the parts you'll need to tap into your vehicle's electrical system. Our example vehicle is a 1999 Ford Taurus with a class-2 hitch already installed. When purchasing a light kit for your trailer, make certain that the kit is compatible with both your trailer and your vehicle.
Some kits are vehicle-specific.
Also follow the instructions that come with your light kit, as there may be slight differences among brands and styles. This may require that you detach and pull back the plastic fascia along the rear wall of the trunk. The wire cluster includes a number of wires that individually control tail lights, rear flashers, etc. To install, you will be splicing each wire on the converter to the corresponding wire in the wire cluster. First, thread the converter's wires up through an opening in the floor of the trunk, leaving the converter hanging beneath the vehicle.