Your trailer’s side marker lights are crucial to ensure road safety. They assist other motorists to spot your trailer when driving at night, driving in low-visibility conditions, or during inclement weather, lowering your chances of accidents. Working side markers also ensure you’re in line with road legislation, safe, and free from possible fines.
At Go Trailer, we believe that every trailer part counts. That is why we are offering long-lasting trailer parts such as trailer dollies, jockey wheels, winches, couplers, axles, leaf springs, wheels, tires, and performance-endurance lighting products. The right choice in side marker lights enhances visibility, minimizes maintenance, and improves tow safety overall.
Types of Trailer Side Marker Lights
When selecting trailer lighting, the most commonly used options are incandescent lights and LED lights. Although they both light up your trailer, their functionality, longevity, and cost are quite different.
Trailer Incandescent Lights
Incandescent bulbs produce light by heating a tungsten filament inside a sealed glass enclosure containing inert gas.
Advantages:
- Low Initial Cost: Often less costly than LED lights when first purchasing.
- Warm Light: Some like the dry warm glow of incandescent bulbs.
Disadvantages:
- Short Lifespan: Filaments burn out very fast.
- More Energy Consumption: Less energy-efficient, producing heat in addition to light.
- Brittleness: Vibration or roughness of roads can damage them.
These are the drawbacks of incandescent lights. Thus, they are less suited for trailers that are to have heavy usage, rough roads, or exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
LED Trailer Lights
LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) convert electricity directly into light using semiconductors, producing little heat and less energy.

Advantages:
- Energy Efficient: LEDs consume significantly less power than incandescent bulbs.
- Long Lasting: Solid-state construction withstands shock, vibration, and impacts.
- Long Lifespan: Can last tens of thousands of hours, minimizing replacement needs.
- Brighter Light: Increased visibility enhances night driving or bad weather safety.
Disadvantages:
- Higher Upfront Cost: LED trailer lights may be more expensive upfront, but the cost is subsidized by longevity and lower maintenance.
In the Go Trailer, our multi-purpose LED taillights provide bright light, low energy usage, and rugged housings built for rugged trailer applications.
LED vs Incandescent: The Main Differences
| Feature | Incandescent | LED |
|---|---|---|
| Brightness | Moderate | Bright, highly visible |
| Energy Use | High | Low, efficient |
| Durability | Fragile | Shock & vibration resistant |
| Lifespan | 1,000–2,000 hours | 20,000–50,000 hours |
| Maintenance | Frequent replacement | Rare replacement needed |
| Cost Over Time | Low upfront, high long-term | Higher upfront, lower long-term |
LED trailer lights outclass incandescent bulbs in nearly all functional applications, particularly when durability, efficiency, and safety are factors to consider.
Why Go Trailer Suggests LED Lights
Designed Specifically for Harsh Trailer Environments
Go trailer parts primarily involve producing and supplying different types of high-quality trailer parts solely designed for rugged environments. Our LED trailer side marker lights are designed to be dustproof, water-immersion proof, vibration-proof, and temperature-proof—perfect for use under extreme outdoor conditions on trailers. Whether towing boats across beach surfaces or maneuvering tight warehouse docks using cage trailers, our lighting solutions are designed to perform effectively in all conditions.

Long-Term Value of Go Trailer LEDs
Doing business directly with an established and veteran trailer components manufacturer, such as Go Trailer, provides you with the benefit of products that offer value and bring innovation. Our LED solutions save your time by eliminating downtime due to recurring bulb replacement, and enhanced safety compliance is a premium package for commercial users and end-users. Our Multi-function Taillight, listed under our Trailer Light section, exemplifies this commitment by offering bright output with minimal power draw—all encased in a durable housing that withstands harsh usage conditions.
Customer Satisfaction with Go Trailer Products
Our clients consistently report satisfaction with both product quality and service experience. They think that our company has high customization ability, professional production equipment, and fine products, making us a trusted partner globally, from Australia to Europe.
How to Choose the Right Side Marker Light
Considerations Before Buying
Before making a decision between an incandescent or LED side marker light for your trailer:
- Decide how often you will be using your trailer.
- Take into account exposure to the elements (e.g., exposure to moisture).
- Look at your budget—not just when first buying but long-term.
- Take visibility requirements into account based on your typical routes (city vs country).
If you’re working with one of our specialty trailers, such as a Boat Trailer or Box/Cage Trailer, listed on our website’s Trailers page, employing LEDs would typically be the better choice because of the risk of water exposure or heavy load handling zones.
When to Use LED vs. Incandescent
Use LED if:
- You require long-term reliability.
- You work in harsh terrain.
- You prefer higher light intensity.
- You prefer to conserve maintenance costs in the long run.
- Use incandescent if:
- Your budget is extremely low.
- Your use is intermittent or limited to short runs on flat roadways.
FAQ
Q: Are LED trailer side marker lights superior to incandescent?
A: Yes. LED trailer lights consume less power, are brighter, and last longer than incandescent bulbs. They are also more resistant to vibration and more durable, making them perfect for trailers used under heavy loads.
Q: Can I install LED in place of incandescent side markers on my trailer?
A: In general, yes. LED trailer lights are plug-and-play with typical trailer wiring. Nonetheless, verify the voltage and connector style on your trailer before bulb replacement.
Q: Do LED trailer side marker lights last a long time?
A: LEDs last tens of thousands of hours, well over incandescent bulbs. This lessens costly replacements and saves money in the long run.
Q: Is the Go Trailer LED side marker light weather-resistant?
A: Yes. Go Trailer LED lights are an outdoor use product and will function through rain, splashing, and normal towing trailer exposure.
Q: Are LED trailer lights more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs?
A: Yes. LEDs have most electrical energy transformed into light without heat loss, utilizing a small fraction of the energy of incandescent bulbs while saving your trailer’s battery life.