reverse lamps on a trailer?

[dan58]

Anyone tried wiring something to add a little light?

OR.....

http://www.whitenight.com/

[Typhoon]

It has been on my list for quite awhile, I just never get around to it.
I am planning to just mount two lights about 10" in front of the bumper to they are out of the way but still are able to light up 15-20' behind the truck.

I would also suggest a switch and relay so they can be on, on in reverse or off

I set on the trailer would be nice, but I am not sure you would gain much over a proper setup on the truck.

[96zj]

Frosty and I have been discussing this. There is a pin on most 7 pin setups that work for a reverse light. I plan to make a few changes to the trailer I bought from happick as far as lighting goes. I am going to add 2 sets of white lights. The first will be mounted to the tool box on the trailer and will be wired via switch. They will be good for loading and any late night wrenching that needs done at the camp site. The other set will be wired into the rear cross member and will be wired to the reverse signal from the truck.

I think having a set on the rear of the trailer would be helpful as getting lights mounted to the truck to shine around the trailer and a rig would be difficult. Adding both couldn't hurt, but I think the lights on the trailer would make it easier to see what is behind the trailer.

[frosty]

Yeah I plan on adding a set to the front of the trailer to light up the deck and a set on the rear to light up behind the trailer. I will probably put the deck lights on a switch so I can run them when needed. I'll probably have to add a battery to the trailer as well. I just need to get around to doing all that.

I am also going to add some better lights to the rear of the truck so I can see at night to hook up. Those will be on a switch as well.

There is a wire on the 7 pin setups for reverse like Mike said. You just need to find out if its in use by something else or not on the Dodge.

I had looked at the Whitenight setup before and think I'll just add my own lights. Probably cheaper to replace if they get busted or tore up.

[xcheckr]

Dan, just get McKenzie to stand back there with a flashlight :)

[frosty]

Write up for backup lights on a Dodge. Would apply across the board for most trucks though.

http://www.phildorsett.com/backuplights.html

A cheaper solution than the Whitenight setup but it is more time consuming.

[dan58]

The whitenight page shows were you can tap into the 7pin harness. Should make it pretty easy. I'm not terribly concerned with lighting the trailer, but behind the trailer. I think the problem is where to mount them where they can't get beaten up.

[96zj]

I dont know what your trailer looks like, but if you have a vertical surface on the rear cross member you can mount them in that cross member. I had also considered putting them in the fenders like my brake lights are right now. My trailer had a tube rear cross member that I am thinking of replacing with a piece of C-channel so I can install lights in it.

I tried to find a picture of what I am talking about but I can't seem to find it.

[Typhoon]

I would mount them right next to the taillights.
They would be up and out of the way and as long as over the deck should light up behind the trailer well.
You would have to be careful not to drive over them when loading the pile.

[Typhoon]

I dont know what your trailer looks like, but if you have a vertical surface on the rear cross member you can mount them in that cross member. I had also considered putting them in the fenders like my brake lights are right now. My trailer had a tube rear cross member that I am thinking of replacing with a piece of C-channel so I can install lights in it.

I tried to find a picture of what I am talking about but I can't seem to find it.

I think they would get busted up quick on the rear crossmember.
I broke the LED running lights within a month of getting the trailer.

[96zj]

You might consider something like this too:
http://marylandcreepers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=493&stc=1&d=1267210997

[Heavychevy]

I've got them on the front of my deck. I'm going to add them to the fenders. I have a battery in the trailer toolbox and a switch on the side of the tool box. Hit the switch, or reverse and you have back up lights. Works when the truck isn't hooked up too. Truck charges trailer battery. I went to school for this, I can draw you a diagram. My set up is the dookie.

[96zj]

I think they would get busted up quick on the rear crossmember.

Not on, but IN. Flush mount style.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=852863

[frosty]

Pics of the back of your trailer?

Either put them on the rear of the fenders or flush mounted on a rear cross member like Mike said.

And I was adding the truck lighting stuff because you mentioned the whitenight setup. I think adding them at the truck, front of trailer and rear of trailer would help out overall in any situation.

[67temp]

Not on, but IN. Flush mount style.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=852863


If you are going to do flush mount like in the thread make sure they are far enough outboard or inboard of where your tire will hit (unless you use ramps). Mine are flush mounted and get pushed inside the channel when I drive onto the trailer.

[Kack]

I have flush mount lights in my rear crossmember. The ramp pivot pins protect the lights. I don't use the ramps too much but haven't had a problem breaking them. FWIW I have 4 of these in the rear crossmember with a flush mount LED D.O.T. Strip in the middle. I'd recommend them to anyone. I can drag the brake and even being red they are bright enough to see when backing up.

http://www.trailerandtruckparts.com/Sealed-Red-6-12quot-Oval-LED-Trailer-Turn-Signal-and-Parking-Light-Flange-Mount-10-Super-Diode-_p_504.html

I wouldn't hesitate to put the same thing in a white version, closer to the middle.

[davenjeip]

I've been thinking about doing this for quite a while, but have just been waiting until I have time to redo the whole mess of wiring on my trailer.

I ran 12V power to the trailer coming from the truck to power the charger on my breakaway battery. Meant to tap into the reverse lights on the truck at the same time, but can't seem to remember if I actually did it or not.

The way I see it, you want a bunch of light and a couple little lights coming off the skimpy wiring of the trucks reverse wires won't be much help at all. Thinking four of those cheap plastic tractor spot lights at Auto Zone, with two mounted on the front corner of the trailer and two on the rear, and somehow being able to pivot them to point at the deck of the trailer when not using them for backing.

My plan is to have them powered off the 12V and triggered by the reverse lights from a relay. That way I don't have to worry about beefing up the trucks reverse light wiring and I could easily add a switch on the trailer to power them on without being in reverse.

FWIW, I did upgrade the reverse bulbs in my truck. Not a huge improvement, but there is enough difference that I feel it was worth the couple bucks it cost me.

[Kack]

Another Cheap, BS, kinda ghetto trick is to line the plastic reflector in the light with tin foil or something shiny. Like I said, ghetto, but it gave the 4Runner some more light. Before the tailights got bashed out of it

[dan58]

I've got them on the front of my deck. I'm going to add them to the fenders. I have a battery in the trailer toolbox and a switch on the side of the tool box. Hit the switch, or reverse and you have back up lights. Works when the truck isn't hooked up too. Truck charges trailer battery. I went to school for this, I can draw you a diagram. My set up is the dookie.

Now that sounds like the trick. I really need to rewire the whole trailer thing spring. POS wiring gets beat to shit in parking lots like RC.

[Kack]

I ran all my wiring through plastic conduit. It took some extra time but it's all protected

[Ripster]

I really need reverse lights on my trailer for backing down my driveway, but I know I'll never get around to actually installing them. :doh:

[frosty]

I really need reverse lights on my trailer for backing down my driveway, but I know I'll never get around to actually installing them. :doh:

Strap the kid to the back with a couple spot lights. :lol: Cheap, simple and effective. Well probably not cheap if you are footing the food bill.

[frosty]

If you do rewire it I would suggest a junction box at the front of the trailer and run all wires from it. Run an individual wire to each light or brake, ground each light separately to the frame at the light. Makes it easier to trouble shoot if a light goes out. It also brightened up my lights instead of the single long poorly put together cable that was daisy chained around the entire trailer.

The conduit is a nice idea along with a couple of junction boxes or Tee's along the way to pull out the wires you need. Running some extension cord is also not a bad idea for wiring if you dont run conduit. It should hold up better over time. I've also seen where people have used garden hose to protect the wiring as well.

I rewired mine a while ago but I think I am going to change it up a bit again this spring. I used some generic cable from Lowes or HD and I dont much care for it now and its not going to hold up in the long run.

[Ripster]

Strap the kid to the back with a couple spot lights. :lol: Cheap, simple and effective. Well probably not cheap if you are footing the food bill.

Been there, done that. Halfway down the driveway I'm ready to kill him because he can't hear me and is pointing the flashlight in the wrong direction. It's even more fun having the wife hold the flashlight. That usually ends with her providing guidance on where I can put it and storming off long before I've made it all the way down the driveway. :doh::lol::doh::lol:

[dan58]

This thread is what got me thinking:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=866954

[ehall]

Sounds like you guys are talking about two problems, one is seeing the trailer deck, the other is seeing behind it. The 7-pin connector has separate pins for reverse and constant battery power, so you can address these separately by wiring work lights on a switch on the constant battery pin, and run trailer backup lights to the rear of the trailer on the other.

[PartsGuy]

I have the exact lites you first posted Dan , give me a call and come get them

Randy

[PAallterrain]

I used driving lights from autozone 29.99. My factory 7pin ford hookup uses the center connection for reverse.

Works really well.

[94krawler]

Dam I'm going to need to do this so I can back up to the new house.


I see harbor freight expendable 5.99 fog lights in my future:lol: