XK Glow 5th wheel tail wiring - Updated with instructions!

[Mjasi3]

Just wanted to follow up and make a summary post of my install. I’m a newbie to auto wiring, but I was able to install this. I’d much rather have the wiring internally, as here in Chicago the hitch area gets full of slop in the winter, and I don’t feel t-taps (which also slice the wire) are weather resistant enough.

So I followed @PEGB process, and looked things up as I went. I wired to the trailer harness.

As recommended I used these posi-taps (very secure - and only split between the strands)): https://a.co/d/1VXm6kU

Wired to the drivers side cargo trailer harness/box:
Glows red to factory brown
Glows yellow to factory yellow
Glows green to factory green

But…
I grabbed the reverse (green/brown) from the taillight plug (for glows white wire),

… grounded the black (for glows ground wire) to right above the trailer box.

… And wired the blue (glows cancel error wire) to the factory 12v white wire in the passenger cargo area. I tried a couple of times to use the orange wire as @PEGB did in theirs, but couldn’t get it to work - it was still giving me errors.

(I have a ‘24, @PEGB’s is a ‘23. Maybe ford made a change to how the power works for the orange wire?)

After that, I got all the lights working. Idle, brake, left, right, reverse. No errors.

I was able to route the wires (with a few splices) in the factory sheathing in the tailgate hinge, then in the lip of the door seal.

I did (not surprisingly) break a few white panel snap clips (tabs broke off), and an orange one stuck in the metal and not in the panel.

I found (recommended elsewhere) these replacements on Amazon that worked perfectly.

WHITE CLIPS: OAUTOO 25PCS Door Trim Panel... https://a.co/d/0AxRyrO

ORANGE CLIPS: Rexka 15pcs Quarter Liftgate Trim... https://a.co/d/1wsMJRP

With the addition of this light I was able to remove the stock taillight to get a better view out the back.

Hope this helps anyone else trying to install this light.

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[Robertdoubting]

I probably used some combination of this:
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/-official-2021-bronco-equipment-installation-guide-pdf.25649/
And
The towing module install guide. That’s here somewhere but most of what you need is in my pictures.
Yellow->yellow
Green->green
Red->maroon or whatever that is.
Blue->orange

Their white wire went to the drivers side taillight reverse wire I think. It’s on page 24 of the Install guide above. Green/brown probably. I’m going from memory. I meant to do a write up, but I didn’t want to help them sell any more.

And those are Posi-Taps. I bought an assortment of them from Amazon. Can’t remember which size I used for this install. Looks like these are it:

Posi-Tap taps 20-22 ga. Mini.... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B381X9NB?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I went with this setup since it seems like the cleanest way to go. I have it all hooked up - the reverse light works and the light turns on with the headlights. But, the turn signals and brake light don't seem to work.

Let me know if you have any ideas on what this might be. Otherwise, my plan is to spend tomorrow chasing and testing wires.

 

[Mjasi3]

Did you test the glow through the harness before installing? Did it work then? What tclips did you use?

 

[Robertdoubting]

Did you test the glow through the harness before installing? Did it work then? What tclips did you use?

I didn’t test it first because I don’t have a trailer hitch … and I’m am both lazy and an optimist .

That said, it was the t-clips. The ones that come with the light are garbage. Not only are they really difficult to install, they also don’t work very well.

I decided to change up my approach and go with something more closely resembling the instructions and use similar t-clips to the ones you used. Now I have a Brake light, Reverse light, and Turn signals - but no running light.

Here is what I did:
Behind the passenger-side tail light:

• Green to Green/Orange
• Red to Blue/Brown
• White to Green /Brown

Behind the Driver-side taillight:

• Yellow to Orange/White

And lastly , on the driver side:

• Blue to Orange
• Black to the ground point

The link with wiring info that @PEBG provided was super helpful.

Thanks for this post, it inspired me to tackle this project - I’ve never done automotive wiring before.

Also, I got rid of the OEM third tail light.

 

[bobbyhaynes442]

This is really cool! I think this is what I will do with my Bronco next!

 

[PEGB]

I didn’t test it first because I don’t have a trailer hitch … and I’m am both lazy and an optimist .

That said, it was the t-clips. The ones that come with the light are garbage. Not only are they really difficult to install, they also don’t work very well.

I decided to change up my approach and go with something more closely resembling the instructions and use similar t-clips to the ones you used. Now I have a Brake light, Reverse light, and Turn signals - but no running light.

Here is what I did:
Behind the passenger-side tail light:

• Green to Green/Orange
• Red to Blue/Brown
• White to Green /Brown

Behind the Driver-side taillight:

• Yellow to Orange/White

And lastly , on the driver side:

• Blue to Orange
• Black to the ground point

The link with wiring info that @PEBG provided was super helpful.

Thanks for this post, it inspired me to tackle this project - I’ve never done automotive wiring before.

Also, I got rid of the OEM third tail light.

Yes. That’s why I was pushed to use the method I did. If you follow their directions you end up losing full functionality because they were lazy. I suspect they are simply a re-seller of some Chinese manufacturer with zero technical capability of their own. Their product was intended (designed) for jeeps. They just slapped a Bronco sticker on it and ta da! More consumers!

 

[Fier23]

Yes. That’s why I was pushed to use the method I did. If you follow their directions you end up losing full functionality because they were lazy. I suspect they are simply a re-seller of some Chinese manufacturer with zero technical capability of their own. Their product was intended (designed) for jeeps. They just slapped a Bronco sticker on it and ta da! More consumers!

Agreed! I went with the tow plug route and get error messages and the run light doesn’t work. I’m going to rewire the light your way. Way easier than the route I went too!

 

[nessie]

Wanted to add an update to this in case anyone was googling for instructions like I was. Sorry in advance for no pictures, but I will try to explain as best as I can.


I (my handy boyfriend) installed this originally like Mjasi3, but could not figure out why only the running and reverse lights worked. Turns out this method doesn’t work without the tow package since there isn’t a tow module. I originally didn't want the running light because in the listing photos, it looked too bright, but after installation, I really liked it. This caused an issue since, without the tow module, you cannot have full functionality of the light (learned my lesson to read the fine print before purchasing).

I was looking at buying the tow module, but the singular one I found on eBay was sold 10 minutes later, and junkyards tend not to have a lot of Broncos. This would work if you could find it. We ended up buying this on Amazon: 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness kit Connector Plug 56468 Compatible with Ford Bronco 2021 2022 2023 4-Pin Flat Trailer Connector Plug (with LED Taillights)

We connected it to the taillights, and was a pretty direct install after that. He tapped the trailer harness into the trunk power socket instead of running a wire to the battery, trimmed the trailer harness output cables to length and used butt connectors to connect the trailer harness to the light.

One happy mistake we made was running the trailer harness right taillight cable to the left taillight. In doing this, there was only one cable running under the length of the trunk trim. We used the provided double-sided foam to attach the harness to the angled steel hidden by the trunk trim on the passenger side.

Now I have full functionality of the 5th wheel tire light without the tow package.

 

[Rydfree]

Hi, been wanting to put this on, but I'm not too crazy about splicing into the tow harness. Seem like the "t" connectors wouldn't hold, and being off road every so often, they would wiggle loose? Thoughts?

T-taps are actually pretty good when used correctly. They come in Yellow, Blue, Red & Brown according to the wire gauge to be used on. Too large of a tap on a small wire and it can spin a little causing intermediate connection until it cuts the wire. Too small a connector and it cuts the strands of the wire immediately just to get it snapped together. This photo is questionable as the grey and green wire probably needs a Brown T-Tap and the Blue on white wire is most likely too small . Also , always wire tie the two harnesses together after you connect to secure them from moving around.

 

[spiderman1027]

How do I connect this without a trailer hitch? I am not able to find any wiring diagrams for the colored wires I need to tap into for stop, running, turn signals and reverse. My local dealer service department is useless, lol
Does anyone have any info on the wiring volts for these? I have a 2024 Bronco Outerbanks Sasquatch with no trailer kit. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Mjasi3]

How do I connect this without a trailer hitch? I am not able to find any wiring diagrams for the colored wires I need to tap into for stop, running, turn signals and reverse. My local dealer service department is useless, lol
Does anyone have any info on the wiring volts for these? I have a 2024 Bronco Outerbanks Sasquatch with no trailer kit. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Dm @nessie as it looks like he did it without the tow package. Sorry I can’t help as I have the tow p.

 

[vstarbb]

I added a new thread on how to use Molex MX150 6 pin connectors to make your own wiring harness to go between factory connectors to avoid splicing into factory wiring. This way it can be easily removed. Important note if you want all functions to work. The only problem is 1-way diodes need to be used to combine brake and turn signal wires on each taillight into 1 wire since XKGlow is made to use trailer wire that combines brake and turn into 1 wire for each side.

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