brake light wiring for hitch? Thomas short 1993

[jennynic]

Hi everyone. I own a 1993 Thomas short bus conversion. I did my short bus
conversion a couple years ago and everything has been awesome. LOVE IT. I
decided to have a towing hitch installed on the back but the fella installing it
can't find the wiring for the brake/blinker/tail lights.

I suggested that they are in the compartment above the back door and
travel down from each corner to the lights above the bumper, but he can't
find them.

I remember a wiring bundle that came thru chassis above the windows
behind the drivers side and connected to a fuse panel above the drivers seat.
Does anyone have any idea where the back brake lights can be accessed to
wire the hitch?

Or any work around ideas?

Thank you!
Jennifer

[Danjo]

That’s right, they come to the lights from the bundle that runs above the windows on the drivers side, at least on my 07, but I can’t imagine they have changed too much. Why not pick them up at the tail lights?

[jennynic]

He said he would have to run the wires out from under the brake light compartment so they would be hanging out of each light on the outside of the bus. He says he can't access behind it. ???? Not ideal...and would make the seal around the lights leak. Plus it would look crappy.

Is there a way to pull out the light compartment to get behind it?

[Danjo]

What do you have on the inside? I just removed a little sheet metal to get there and drilled a hole straight down so it came out above the bumper underneath

[jennynic]

Here is my finished bus.

[Danjo]

That’s a great color

[jennynic]

He has it at his shop so I can't get a look at it right now. But that's what I thought....just drill a hole out from the light compartment and out behind the bumper. Seems reasonable. I think he is used to straight forward installations. Unlike us MacGyver bus conversion types. Lol

But....I'll suggest that to him.
Thank you!!!

[jennynic]

Thank you!

[Danjo]

On the inside you’ll probably find a bit of sheet metal attached with screws that starts right about light level. Just take that off and there you are.

I can’t remember entirely how I got on here but it wasn’t hard.

[Danjo]

OK, so what I’m interested in is how they combine the tail/brake and turn lights. I went down this path but I couldn’t figure it out using a 4 wire flat connector so I gave up at the time.

Please let us know how it goes

[jennynic]

Hhmmm, I don't remember seeing that on the inside of the bus. Its pretty much a one piece panel that starts about window level and goes down to the floor. I may have to take the whole thing off. I can only do that on one side though, as the bed is built into the other side and not removable.

Once I get back down to his shop, I'll take some pics and then maybe repost my question.

Thank you again.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

pull the light brake/turn/tail light/reverse light and figure out the best location to drill a whole from underneath to line up with one of you existing light wholes.
use a coat hanger with a little hook in the end to fish up or down between the two holes.
pull a string strong enough to pull the wires back down.
your hole through the floor needs to be big enough to handle at minimum a big enough wire loom for either a 4 pin/wire or a 9 pin/ wire connector.
might have to use the coat hanger to get a wire from each light hole to the central area where you want everything to go down.
time consuming especially on garage time but very doable.
i am lucky right now my back wall is opened up and i have a chance to fix the jackleg wiring the previous owner or the one before him did.
delete delete replace connector?
why install a 9 pin connector and only run 4 wires to it and leave the extra 4 feet hanging out underneath?
sorry but it can be done

[jennynic]

Thank you for the idea. I sent your suggestion over to the mechanic installing it and we'll see what he can come up with.

I know there has to be a way....when you work on conversions you learn that. He isn't used to working on anything but standard cars and trucks.

[peteg59]

Originally Posted by jennynic

He isn't used to working on anything but standard cars and trucks.

Might want to find a more "experienced" mechanic, unless you're willing to be his "guinea pig" for the job at hand???

It really shouldn't be too difficult to accomplish, but it will be more labor intensive, ($$), than the materials involved.

The main rear lights wiring harness runs on the left, (driver), side, (on my 90 Thomas and likely yours as well), and will be difficult to access without removing the inside sheet metal wall covering behind the rear tail lights. Hopefully your bed can be moved temporarily to gain access, otherwise one could potentially spend considerable time "fishing" for the correct wiring to splice onto.

Good luck, and let us know how you resolve the issue...

[Danjo]

This really isn’t hard and as Jolly Roger says, it’s easily fished. I don’t recall the rear cap containing any insulation and Thomas always leaves excess wire for service so it should only take an hour or so to make all the connections

[jennynic]

Yes, I thought he was more versatile in his abilities. Live and learn....

Maybe down the road I'll remove the bed and do it that way myself. Thank you for your help.

[jennynic]

Danjo,

I hope so. I may end up doing the wiring myself. At least the hitch is installed.