Trailer brake lights and how to replace them.

[Pound]

Anyone had to replace the LED brake lights that come on the newer boat mate trailers? It looks like the thing is riveted on. But that doesn't sound logical at all.

I put a call into my dealer's shop but they haven't called me back.

RS

[deckwork]

I believe they are rivets, easy to remove just drill them out, probably something to do with screws shearing.

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[Pound]

Thank for the confirmation.

[kaneboats]

Rivets are easy to drill out. A good choice to replace would be a small stainless bolt with washers and stainless nylock nut. Much easier to remove next time.

[Pound]

I believe the frame is boxed. How would i put a nyloc nut on it? I might have to either re-rivet it, or use a self tapping screw (probably not best idea).

[bjrow]

Ours was a 2014 Mondo with dual axle trailer, the first time we used it the brake leds filled up with water...so much for being sealed.
I replaced them with Peterson lights, but essentially I drilled the heads off the originals, fitted the new ones and secured using rivets again. I used a punch to pop the remaining rivet body of the originals back into the box section. Seemed easy enough.
Since, the new ones have been on for 3+ years and never leaked, the originals had cracks in the back plastic for some reason. We swapped the indicator ones over as well, although not filled with water the newer ones looked better in my opinion.
Cheers BruceR, Melb AUS.

[kaneboats]

I believe the frame is boxed. How would i put a nyloc nut on it? I might have to either re-rivet it, or use a self tapping screw (probably not best idea).

I get you. Nothing wrong with using rivets again-- I just hate them. Problem with a self-tapper is it will have to be hard enough to tap and thus it's probably not going to be stainless.

[Tylerrnemt]

I'm fairly certain Boatmate has a lifetime warranty on their LEDs. Just send them a pic of your faulty light and they will send you a new one free of charge.

-Tyler

[Pound]

Thanks for the tip Tyler.
However, I bought one at Northern Tool that looks like a direct replacement. I gave it a little waterproofing but not sure if it'll hold up (although it's not like the OEM one lasted too long... it actually started dropping LED's last year and they finally all burned out). If this one doesn't last I'll contact boat mate. This time, I didn't really have time for them to send me one bc I needed to get the boat back to storage and don't want a tkt.

[jared24]

Anyone had to replace the LED brake lights that come on the newer boat mate trailers? It looks like the thing is riveted on. But that doesn't sound logical at all.

I put a call into my dealer's shop but they haven't called me back.

RS

What year is your trailer? I thought my left brake light was out on my 2017. Called the dealer with your same question and was told there's no way the LED's were out that soon. They suggested a connection issue and to jam trailer light plug into the connector. Sure enough, that worked....

[Pound]

It's a '16.
I did fiddle w/the connector both at the truck to trailer, and at the plug at the light itself (which you can only get to by drilling the rivets out) and could not get more than 2 led's to light. and even those were sketchy. once i put in the new one, they all lit up like they're supposed to. I too was surprised that they went out that early. could have just been a defect from mfr. all it takes is a little crack in the circuit board and some water.
All in all it was not hard to swap it out, but i do wish they'd use something other than rivets.