Tekonsha Tail Light Converters

Tekonsha Tail Light Converters: Precision Wiring for Safe Towing

When it comes to connecting a tow vehicle's lighting system to a trailer, the details matter — and few brands understand those details better than Tekonsha. With a history rooted in towing safety that stretches back to 1964, Tekonsha has grown from a manufacturer of RV steps and mirrors into a recognized leader in trailer electrical components. Their tail light converters represent a focused application of that deep expertise: purpose-built hardware engineered to make trailer lighting connections safe, clean, and reliable every time.

Why a Tail Light Converter Is Essential

Most trailers operate on a two-wire system where the brake lights and turn signals share a single wire. When the towing vehicle uses separate wires for brake lights and turn signals — a three-wire system common on modern domestic and import vehicles — a tail light converter is required to bridge the gap. Without one, trailer lighting can be erratic, non-functional, or even dangerous on the road. Tekonsha has engineered its converter lineup specifically to solve this compatibility challenge cleanly and permanently.

What Sets Tekonsha Tail Light Converters Apart

Tekonsha's tail light converters are built around a fully solid-state design with potted encapsulation, protecting the electronics from moisture, vibration, and corrosion in real-world towing environments. Key technical features across the lineup include:

• 3-to-2 Wire System Conversion: Adapts import and domestic vehicles with separate turn and stop lights to standard trailer taillight wiring, ensuring proper signal output at the trailer connector.
• LED & Incandescent Compatibility: Works with either LED or incandescent bulbs on both the vehicle and trailer sides, making these converters future-proof as more vehicles and trailers adopt LED lighting.
• Direct Battery Power Sensing: Draws power directly from the vehicle battery and uses less than 5 milliamperes of the vehicle circuit for sensing — minimizing any load on the tow vehicle's electrical system.
• Integrated Circuit Protection: The premium model (part 119178) features a re-settable short circuit and overload protection system to safeguard both the converter and the tow vehicle from wiring mishaps and shorts.
• Feedback Prevention: Designed specifically not to send feedback through the vehicle circuits, protecting sensitive modern electronics in the tow vehicle.
• High Amp Ratings: Rated for heavy-duty use with robust amperage capacity on both turn/stop and taillight circuits, handling real-world trailer loads with confidence.

Tekonsha also offers a 2-wire-to-3-wire converter (part 118158) for the reverse scenario — connecting a motorhome or RV's two-wire output to power the taillights and turn signals on a separately wired towed vehicle. This versatility makes Tekonsha a go-to solution across a wide range of towing configurations.

Rigorously Tested for the Road

Tekonsha's approach to quality is systematic. All taillight converters undergo rigorous testing to ensure the trailering experience is safe, secure, and trouble-free — a standard the brand has upheld across its entire electrical wiring lineup for decades. Whether you're hauling a boat, a utility trailer, or flat-towing a vehicle behind a motorhome, Tekonsha tail light converters deliver the electrical reliability your setup demands.