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MG MGB Technical - Towing a Trailer

I need to wire my "B" so that I can tow a terdrop trailer. I'm tlod that I'll need a "converter" so that stop/tail/indicators will work from the one light on the trailer. Has anyone wired their B for towing? How difficult is it? Any pics of the harness?
Philip
Philip Morgan

Philip,
I've not done this on a B, but have on other cars without 'impulse' brake lights. The converter is pretty cheap if memory serves - about $10-15. Wiring is very simple and clear following the directions and the appropriate wiring diagram for your car. However, instead of using the permanent crimp on wire connectors as per the instructions, you can substitute multiple bullet connector sleeves at the wiring loom/tail light connections. To make this work you will also need to solder on bullet connectors onto the converter pigtails. This lets you connect the converter box when you need it, otherwise if left hooked up full time I've found the converter boxes only last a year or two before failure.
Tom
Tom Sotomayor

Hi Phil
I wired my 72 GT, its no problem, I bought a kit of parts some time ago, the only problem I had was getting the bumper to fit into the set up, as the main cross braket had an angled strenthener in it and the bumper sat on this putting the bumper at a strange angle, I ground a groove in it, this helped.
Apart from this it was not a problem

Colin
Colin Lanning

Philip: over the years I've installed 30 plus of the units you need with a zero reported failure rate including one each on my past three, three light pick-ups they are easy to install Ric
RIC LLOYD

Hi Phil!

As mentioned, you need Tail Light Converter. I used one to make my turn signals also light up when I stepped on the brakes. See the May/June 2002 MGB Driver, pages 20-24.

I'll attach the diagrams. Figure 1 is the pre-conversion setup. Figure 2 is post-conversion.

I added a relay in the brake wiring after the switch. At the time, there was a lot of discussion about not putting too much of a load on these switches.

The rectangles in the diagram are four-way connectors. I added one just after the relay.

The Tail Light Converter was very easy to install. In the attached photo, you can see there are inputs for the left/right turn signal wires and brakes and outputs for the right and left stop/turn wires.

Assuming you are using a 4-flat wire to connect the trailer, the right stop/turn (green wire) should attach to the green wire of the wiring harness plug. The left stop/turn should connect to the yellow wire of the harness plug.

You will also need to attach the brown wire to the running light circuit. You can tap off of a side light in the trunk. You will also need a white wire for the ground.


Are you going to tow with the roadster or the GT? We sold the red '76 a few years ago (still have the BRG '64). Ed, who brought the car, is doing a complete restoration.

Good to hear from you.

Bill Barge

Bill Barge

I was hoping I could attach two picture...

Here is the wiring diagram. Remember, I did this diagram to combine the turn/brake lights on the car. You would just add a fourth wire to the 4-way for each side's turn signal circuit.

Note that I did not cut any wires when doing this conversion. I soldered the bullet ends on the new wires and used the single bullet connectors and double bullet connectors available through Triple-C.

http://www.triple-c.com/Store_Detail.cfm?ID=109270&InfoID=2441

http://www.triple-c.com/Store_Detail.cfm?ID=109274&InfoID=2441

http://www.triple-c.com/Store_Detail.cfm?ID=109273&InfoID=2441

Bill Barge

This thread was discussed between 29/05/2007 and 05/06/2007

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