Big Tex follow up

[Propjob]

Well:
After rewiring most of this beast when I got it and Emailing my problems to the sales dept....with no response, I've ended up with another SNAFU that I had to repair from BIG TEX. After sitting most of the first winter in my yard, it became necessary for me to use my new trailer. Well some of the lights did not work. After troubleshooting ( my profession) I found the mess at the main harness splice that I care to exhibit. Poor splice job on all conductors, wires hanging out of splices, insulation that looks like it was stripped with a machete and a poor tape job. If this product went out the door at my employer, it would be a life safety issue and not tolerated. We all love our tractors and our equipment, but look at these pic's and ask you Big Tex Dealer if they have changed the quality of their product.

 

[Propjob]

Well extra Pics from the file> Here are the ones.

JIM

 

[Scooby074]

Butt connectors , And by the looks of it they're not even the right size. No excuse for that on a name brand trailer, but i understand most of them do it for the sake of "production". No heat shrink or wire loom either.

And people wonder why they have trailer lighting problems?

As you likely know, there is nothing like soldered and heat shrunk connection. Id expect no less. Also, I'd run a ground from all lights back to the tow vehicle. I have no luck relying on chassis grounds.

Thats some pretty lousy wiring, if i do say so myself.

 

[wkpoor]

Bid Tex is a big name too. Think they would have paid more attention to that detail. I need to take some pics of the wiring of my BetterBuilt. I was pretty impressed. Not at all like the typical trailer wiring I've seen. 1 yr and no problems with it at all.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I will not buy a trailer for my business or sell a trailer without a junction box and properly connected wires. That is very poor job done by Big Tex.

Chris

 

[Soundguy]

Mine had wire loom and tape.. but still had the butt connectors. i rewire dthe trailer after fighting a few bad connections at the brakes a couple years ago..

soundguy

Butt connectors , And by the looks of it they're not even the right size. No excuse for that on a name brand trailer, but i understand most of them do it for the sake of "production". No heat shrink or wire loom either.

And people wonder why they have trailer lighting problems?

As you likely know, there is nothing like soldered and heat shrunk connection. Id expect no less. Also, I'd run a ground from all lights back to the tow vehicle. I have no luck relying on chassis grounds.

Thats some pretty lousy wiring, if i do say so myself.

 

[mjncad]

That is some real crappy wiring, and I'm wondering if the dealer did the hack job prior to delivery instead of it coming from the factory.

 

[WantedWolf]

Mine had a top quality custom wiring system, but the manufacture didnt think so, and didnt protect with grommets thru the torch cut steel it passes thru. I cut little pieces of pvc and taped it in place of conduit.
I was told so many things are "industry standard" I dont like that for an answer.

 

[Soundguy]

Mine had no grommets either.. I split some fuel hose to protect my wires going thru the angle iron frame.

soundguy

 

[RWolf]

I was having sever problems with my horse trailer and when I redid the wiring I ran everything through conduit with water tight couplings etc.

 

[Builder]

I see this crap everywhere.

My dump body was installed with wiring that basically got me out of their parking lot then began to fail. I rewired most of it one weekend and was really disappointed with what I saw.

I find it hard to believe these trailer companies can't wire trailers with heat shrink connectors. Very few should even be used in the first place.

 

[redneckford]

What did the warranty paperwork say about the wiring!!!!----i know any Penn Stater would have read it-----serious how is this sorry wiring addressed in the trailer warranty paper work---any thing----???? someone could have MAJOR LIABILITY PROBLEMS with the wiring in the pictures---if someone runs over the trailer because of light problems---

I see this crap everywhere.

My dump body was installed with wiring that basically got me out of their parking lot then began to fail. I rewired most of it one weekend and was really disappointed with what I saw.

I find it hard to believe these trailer companies can't wire trailers with heat shrink connectors. Very few should even be used in the first place.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I see this crap everywhere.

My dump body was installed with wiring that basically got me out of their parking lot then began to fail. I rewired most of it one weekend and was really disappointed with what I saw.

I find it hard to believe these trailer companies can't wire trailers with heat shrink connectors. Very few should even be used in the first place.

Do not know if you are following this thread but he is having the same issues with a 2004 3500 Dodge and a aftermarket bed. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/140756-trailer-wiring.html

His real issue is with the trailer plug but you know if there is problems there it is also in the rest of the truck/beds lights and just may not have shown up yet.

Chris

 

[Builder]

What did the warranty paperwork say about the wiring!!!!----i know any Penn Stater would have read it-----serious how is this sorry wiring addressed in the trailer warranty paper work---any thing----???? someone could have MAJOR LIABILITY PROBLEMS with the wiring in the pictures---if someone runs over the trailer because of light problems---

And we all know any Louisiana Stater would probably need a cheat sheet to read it.

"But seriously", that's the way cheap trailers get wired.

 

[Soundguy]

Even better.. I had a brake controller installed in a truck that was not setup for towing.. so instead of doing all the wireing, i had the trasiler company put the harness in. was fine for a couple years.. but then I would get intermittant fault codes on the controller saying brakes were open/ couldn't see the magnets.. etc..

after much rewireing, i finally found that the 1' long wire harness fromt he back of the controller to thge dash of the truck had a single butt connector in it.. the one in the trailer brake power line.. and only one side of the butt connector was crimped!

soundguy

 

[coobie]

Well:
After rewiring most of this beast when I got it and Emailing my problems to the sales dept....with no response, I've ended up with another SNAFU that I had to repair from BIG TEX. After sitting most of the first winter in my yard, it became necessary for me to use my new trailer. Well some of the lights did not work. After troubleshooting ( my profession) I found the mess at the main harness splice that I care to exhibit. Poor splice job on all conductors, wires hanging out of splices, insulation that looks like it was stripped with a machete and a poor tape job. If this product went out the door at my employer, it would be a life safety issue and not tolerated. We all love our tractors and our equipment, but look at these pic's and ask you Big Tex Dealer if they have changed the quality of their product.

Great post and pics.Thanks for the heads up on Big Tex trailers.You would think these companies would learn the power of the internet.coobie

 

[wushaw]

I have a 16' BigTex 70PI purchased in 2002, All I have done to it is replace two r/h tail light assy ( one my fault, one friend ) and changed the 6 pin plug to a 7 pin RV. It will need new tires shortly.
Them wire splices are p*$$ poor and there is no excuse for it, one thing before one pulls one off the lot is to inspect it and and have things fixed before you take ownership of it.

 

[bigdad]

My occupation of testing RR crossing signals and wayside train signals: Absolutely NO BUTT SPLICES. Not reliable...... and you folks want those crossing signals to work when the train is approaching.

 

[rutwad]

Not what I would expect from Big Tex at all. Especially for the $$$$ of the BT brand trailers.

 

[BOBBYROGERS]

i would have been up set my self with that you would think that they would use a sealed wiring system it is the most efficant way to wire a trailer and last the longest but in the market they are in they have to compete with 500 otheir builders and it looks like they choose the cheep way to keep their price down during the build they must not think that they can justify a good wiring system in their trailer cost myself i think that it would help them sell it would be a good sales point