Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring (Read 875 times) previous topic - next topic

99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Hi all... I have a simple question (I hope) about the wiring scheme for pulling a toad that has amber turn signal lights. Our U270 has amber colored segments on the tail lights, so I assume (I can't check for sure right now because everything is disconnected for welding until I finish my basement rebuild project). Out coach has a six pin mail plug at the hitch, including the pin in the center. I think this is the way the coach came from the factory...
I am looking for some guidance for wiring my 92' Toyota PU. I figure I need to use a diode on each of the positive connections and possibly one on the ground. Is it a simple as "T'ing" each of the lights in question with a diode and running a cable up to the front of the truck terminating in a plug to match the tow bar cable? We are going to pull my "ugly truckling" because Tys had a Falcon All Terrain tow bar from a previous Class C coach she had and I used my new found welding skills to fabricate a simple base plate to mate up with the removable part from her old Sunfire base plate. There some advantages to ladder frame construction... :D One of these days a jeep may be visible in our back up camera, but for starters my ugly truckling is a cheaper alternative to toadize than Tys's Honda.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #1 –
Several ways to go.  I added a completely separate wiring system to my truck.  It came with plug, wires, and light sockets to be added to the rear lights with an added bulbs.  I did not like the idea of cutting and adding diodes to the truck's system.  Have heard stories of problems when the shop monkey adds anything to the OEM harness.  Guess too many years of hearing about aftermarket alarms and dead car systems.

Know there is a wireless system for the towed cars.  You can also do the added magnetic lights on the towed car and string wires back to the coach.  On the magnetic lights, have seen them stored in the trunk or hatch back and then pulled out and positioned on the back of the towed vehicle as needed.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #2 –
Thanks for the suggestions Dave... I was thinking I would go to the "Pick-Your-Own bone yard and getting coresponding male and female connectors for each of the lights and making my own direct fit plug in harness for wiring the diodes to the coach wiring. That way, no splices in the factory wiring. Besides, I am the only shop monkey likely to be involved ;D

Quote from: Dave and Dolly Cobb –
Several ways to go.  I added a completely separate wiring system to my truck.  It came with plug, wires, and light sockets to be added to the rear lights with an added bulbs.  I did not like the idea of cutting and adding diodes to the truck's system.  Have heard stories of problems when the shop monkey adds anything to the OEM harness.  Guess too many years of hearing about aftermarket alarms and dead car systems.

Know there is a wireless system for the towed cars.  You can also do the added magnetic lights on the towed car and string wires back to the coach.  On the magnetic lights, have seen them stored in the trunk or hatch back and then pulled out and positioned on the back of the towed vehicle as needed.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #3 –
Don, if your coach doesn't have one you will need a converter for your toad lights (it should be back around the trailer plug it is a square box) . Your FT has seperate bulbs for the T/sig and tail/brake lights, they can be had at any auto parts store. Once you install that you can then run a 4 wire system on your toad. With that said if your toad has the same set up (seperate bulbs for turn and brake) you can forego the converter and use 6 wires to get it done.
I did the diode thing on one jeep, the current one I did the seperate bulb deal on the new jeep no problems one way or the other.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #4 –
Your '99 should already have a HD converter.  Trace the toad plug wiring back to a black box mounted on the rear frame rail.
Regards,
Brett

'99 42' Foretravel Xtreme
'14 Brown Motorsports Stacker
'05 Chevy SSR
'02 BMW R1150R

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #5 –
One of the greatest new products for setting up tow car rear lights is Tow Daddy. Tow Daddy - The Best Designed RV Products on the Planet .

We used Tow Daddy to wire our 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee which did not require any wire cutting. If Tow Daddy does not have a custom set for a car, they have a universal set that will work with any car model.

The tow wiring job is plug-&-play and in some cases, can be completed in less than an hour and this includes motorhome tow plug. But most cases take a little longer to install.

There is also a clever built-in circuit that in some cars, can turn on an indicator light inside the motorhome when tow-car brake pedal is being pressed.

For our Tow Daddy installation, I removed Jeep rear lights, unplugged the Jeep wiring to the light.

Then plugged Tow Daddy into Jeep wiring and into the light and reinstalled the rear lights.

Then ran a Tow Daddy wire to the front of the Jeep, which I then connected to my Jeep front tow cable socket.

In the rear of the Jeep is the Tow Daddy control unit which is smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

There are three cables from the control unit. One to each rear tail light and one to the front of the Jeep.

The control unit has a circuit board with diodes and a relay.

Never had we had a simpler wiring setup and it will be very quick to later remove it and use it on another tow car.

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Barry & Cindy –
One of the greatest new products for setting up tow car rear lights is Tow Daddy. Tow Daddy - The Best Designed RV Products on the Planet .

We used Tow Daddy to wire our 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee which did not require any wire cutting. If Tow Daddy does not have a custom set for a car, they have a universal set that will work with any car model.


I'll second that recommendation.  I used Tow Daddy on our new (to us) 07 Honda CR-V.
Bob & Nadine Hall
98 U320
07 Honda CR-V

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #7 –
Thanks for the tip Brett! Our coach does indeed have a "black box" wired to the plug. I don't see a reference to it in the manual though... what is its purpose? I don't know what an HD converter is, unless it is hooked up to my TV! I am a complete newbie when it comes to using the coach, but rapidly becoming an expert in its basement construction :-\ Here are a couple of pictures of the black box which is right next to the hitch... funny, I didn't notice it before!
Don
Quote from: amos.harrison –
Your '99 should already have a HD converter.  Trace the toad plug wiring back to a black box mounted on the rear frame rail.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #8 –
Don the converter changes your separate T/S and brake light circuit, back to a single T/S/brake bulb. The plug and play systems are nice as you don't have to cut into the factory wiring. It may take a little looking to find one for a 92 model vehicle though.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #9 –
Hmm... as it happens, the toad has separate T/S lamps so it would seem that the converter on the coach end is unnecessary? Shouldn't it just be wired directly (with the necessary diodes) on a one to one basis? I found an inexpensive kit that is meant for my truck to tow a basic trailer that has all the wiring and plugs as well as a converter for the trailer lights. My plan is to remove the converter from this kit and roll-my-own plug and play wire harness to mate up with the coach, but I guess I would have to bypass the coaches converter to use it fully unless I just disconnected the toads TS lights from the equation...
I guess very few questions have really simple answers in the world motorhomes ???
Quote from: bbeane –
Don the converter changes your separate T/S and brake light circuit, back to a single T/S/brake bulb. The plug and play systems are nice as you don't have to cut into the factory wiring. It may take a little looking to find one for a 92 model vehicle though.
The selected media item is not currently available.
Don & Tys
1999 U270 3602 WTFE #5402
Xtreme Stage 1 w/Headlight, Step Conversion, etc.
2009 Honda Fit Sport with Navi
Freedom is NOT "just another word for nothing left to lose"... with apologies to Kris Kristofferson

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #10 –
The easiest way is to install seperate sockets into the taillights of the toad and then you do not have to deal with diodes.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #11 –
I had a shop install sockets on our 2010 Jeep liberty. The problem was that they installed the sockets in the reflector portion of the tail light. You could see the lights at night but they were not visible during the day. Dah, there is a difference between a lens and a reflector.  I have since had the diode setup installed and everything works just fine. I asked why diodes as we didn't use them in the "old days". Was told in today's computerized cars the direct wiring can raise cain with the towed vehicle.
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #12 –
Don, you are correct regarding bypassing the Foretravel wiring converter. If you have yellow turn signal on the truck I don't believe you can plug right into the pre-installed 6 point plug on your Foretravel. However, to simplify my life I used that plug and when my Subaru is plugged in the turn signals are the red brake lights, not the yellow turns signal lights.

Also, I used simple diodes from Radio Shack. I just got the highest rated diode Radio Shack had in stock and  put them inline between the car electric system and where I splice into the coach wires. I used simple but connectors to place the diodes.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback
 

Re: 99' Unicoach Turn Signals/Toad wiring

Reply #13 –
Here is another answer to the signal lights on the toad. This is what my Bluebird friend in Kingsport, TN, did for his new Lincoln Hybrid:

"both lights mounted inside rear window.  Mounted with velcro - need to use a sticky tape that will handle high temperatures from sunlight exposure.
LED light strips are Optronics STL69RRXB  which were purchased from Trailer hitch, hitches and bike rack (800)298-8924 for $19.95 each.  They are 15" long x 1 5/8 wide x 5/8 thick and are waterproof  They have four wires and are for STOP/TURN/TAIL light service, with 11 super diodes in each light strip.  They are available in several different sizes from 6 1/2" long to 17" long, and in various shapes such as oval, round, rectangular, and thin strips as shown here.  I used AWG 20 wire fed under interior carpet to trunk and up through hat deck at rear.

I have a photo, but have been unable to insert it from lack of knowing how.