I tow a variety of trailers, and invariably one will have an unexpected electrical problem. Replacing the fuses for the trailer relays is starting to get expensive. Has anybody ever heard of a way to either replace the fuses with a small breaker, or extend the feeds out and mount a standard 12VDC breaker?

 

You can get a cheap multitester and test for a ground fault before you hook up to the trailer........ I don't know anything about breakers in trucks, but they're like $50 a piece at John Deere!

 

If you go with the ATC/ATO circuit breakers, use the manual reset versions, rather then the auto reset thermo type for what you are asking about.
The auto reset can cycle so many times during a fix, that they start to weaken, and might blow under a load, rather then a short, after some time of use ( trip / autoreset). You don't want them tripping when drawing 85% of the load due to age and use.

http://www.wiringproducts.com/dept_28.html

Look down the page for ATC Fuse Style Type 3 Manual Reset

I did not price search, only looked for the content, you might find them cheaper then 5.75 each.

The other thing is the depth of the fuse box cover. I don't know if you wil get the stock fuse box cover back on, these are deeper then a ATC/ATO fuse, but I don't know if they stick out past the relay depth.



You will need to try one, and see if the cover can be reinstalled.

 

Yea, did some more searching later, must have been fat fingering something because all of a sudden I came up with all sorts of listings.

Found several, and like you said, I'm going to be looking at the manual reset type. From one of the pics I saw they may come close to fitting under the cover. The ideal would be real close and have the reset on the end. Then I could drill holes in the cover and not have to take the cover off to reset. Will have to see what I find.

Will post results, and pics if it works.

 

Don't forget, 2 covers to get to the actual fuses.

1. The cover on the kick panel that covers the fuel inerita cut off switch and the fuse panel.
2. The actual cover to the fuse panel.

Don't know if they are that deep, you might need to either :
1. Over cut the covers to the fuse panel.
2. Use a plastic rod for pushing the reset button.

I would think leaving the cover in the stock form is fine, as you hope to not have this happen that often.

 

Hopefully it won't happer very often, but invariably it's pulling back a purchased trailer. Never near the shop.

 

Murphy's law in full effect.
Never fails, it will be out in the middle of no where, while raining, and your battery in your flashlight will be dead

At least that is the place that I always find motorcycles & trailer lights break down.