Trailer Lights Question

I think I have a ground issue but I'm not for sure hoping someone knows. My trailer lights flicker when the trailer bounces,doesn't do it when loaded. What is causing this?

 

The trailer is likely to bounce more when empty, so it sounds like there may be a connection or maybe a bulb loose enough to break continuity when the trailer creates enough jostling.

 

On trailers, it's seems to always be a ground.

 

X 1 million

 

Rust on the ball? Maybe not getting good contact... take some steel wool to it first before digging around

 

If it's grounding through the ball you already have an issue.

A multi tester to check voltage and continuity through the lighting is the way but if it's intermittent it may take a few tries.

 

+ another

 

what kind of trailer we talking about? On my boat trailer, I use a self tapping stainless steel screw for my primary ground and use LED lights that have a dedicated ground wire (also connected with a self tapping stainless screw). The lights that ground through their post/attachment bolt are lousy and frequently with a tiny bit of rust will lose ground. I've run my trailer like this for nearly 10 years now in and out of saltwater every week for 4 months during the summer without a single issue. Shit, now i've jinxed myself.

 

It's a Karavan snowmobile trailer that I use for my four wheelers. On my Dodge it was fine but with my tundra I'm having the issue,once the trailer comes off the ball they go out and once back down they come back on.