trailer light red-black continuation (aka short)

Are the red and black wires coming out of trailer lights supposed to be shorted? I have a continuation tester. It beeps when the two probes are connected (aka touching) in continuation mode. I tested the red and black wires coming out of my trailer lights. The beep goes off which would indicate that there is a continuation (aka short) of some sort between the red and the black wires. Is this normal behavior or are my lights fried?

You are making it alot harder than it is. Get a test light and test for power. Make sure you have a ground. If you don't have power at the light work your way back until you have power.

You guarantee that no fuses will blow if I connect this trailer to the car?

Testing the way you are will show continuity through the bulbs. If you are real concerned about a short, remove all the bulbs and do the same test.

jack, you're asking us a near impossible question. In a perfect world, trailer wiring color codes are uniform. In the real world, all too often they are not. There is no way we can guarantee which color wire is doing what on your trailer. That being the case, if you're uneasy with it, you are going to have to determine which wire (on trailer) provides ground, provides LT and RT, which wire does tail lamps, etc. That's the only way you can insure things are proper. Like Steve mentioned, continuity will search for ground through bulbs. Ground does weird things.

OMG ! ....I don't believe what i'm reading ..... jack what was the problem to begin with ?? ....... if you are that worried about blowing a couple of stupid fuses, then rig up a 12v battery with a connector and resetable fuse link ..... or take it to someone that has the knowledge to trouble shoot it ...... Trailer wiring is not Rocket Science ....JMHO