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NewToUs's avatar
NewToUs
Explorer
Jun 17, 2017

Exterior Light Added LED Strip light with Pictures

We upgraded the outside light as we found that prepping food or arriving or packing up in the dark, the outside light was just not practical. My dear handy husband came up with an idea to add an extra switch on the orange outside light. This way we can have the original light working together with the strip light, which lights up the whole camp ground so bright it can be. But then we can also flip the little switch outside and have only the orange light on for a more romantic soft light. This was one of our best mods. It eliminated us bringing along the Coleman light we previously used outside to prep food by.


  • RoyB wrote:
    .........I was wanting to add back-up lights to one of my trailers and finally went to the DMV to talk about what I was wanting to do...........


    There's your problem. Never ask! Just do it. Everything is illegal. I added 55 watt fog lights to the back of my boat trailer so I could see backing down the boat ramp. They came on in reverse. I'm sure they were illegal but I never got pulled over for them. As long as they're off who's going to care?
  • RoyB wrote:
    Adding lights to trailers always make one wonder if what you are doing is legal in the eyes of the state DOT office.

    Fairly certain the DOT has nothing to say about lights that aren't designed to be on whilst traveling down the road. Check your patio lights on your camper, let us know if they are DOT approved...
  • RoyB wrote:
    Adding lights to trailers always make one wonder if what you are doing is legal in the eyes of the state DOT office. They have the general approved plan for the required SAFETY LIGHTS

    Generally added lights to the sides of trailers will not be frown on by DOT.

    One must be very conscious when adding unapproved lights and fixtures on the front and rear of the trailers... These are things that might accidentally get turned on and cause safety problems when be driven or pulled down public roadways... Hopefully the annual state inspections catch the problem areas before anything bad happens.

    I was wanting to add back-up lights to one of my trailers and finally went to the DMV to talk about what I was wanting to do and it would have been very much illegal in their eyes. Glad I asked before putting money into the mod project...

    Just saying....

    Roy Ken




    The RV manufacturers do not worry about it when they add awning lighting, convenience lighting at hitch and dump valve areas, and the annoying decorative lighting on front caps and under skirting. If the added lights are not tied into the running or other indicator lights and illuminated while the vehicle is in motion a local DMV or LEO can pound salt. The arrangement of minuimum required lighting is dictated by the Feds by the way. (NHTSA)
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Adding lights to trailers always make one wonder if what you are doing is legal in the eyes of the state DOT office. They have the general approved plan for the required SAFETY LIGHTS

    Generally added lights to the sides of trailers will not be frown on by DOT.

    One must be very conscious when adding unapproved lights and fixtures on the front and rear of the trailers... These are things that might accidentally get turned on and cause safety problems when be driven or pulled down public roadways... Hopefully the annual state inspections catch the problem areas before anything bad happens.

    I was wanting to add back-up lights to one of my trailers and finally went to the DMV to talk about what I was wanting to do and it would have been very much illegal in their eyes. Glad I asked before putting money into the mod project...

    Just saying....

    Roy Ken
  • Nice job!
    I always like to see how people do this mod since there doesn't seem to be any clean industry method.

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