What good are clearance lights?

They are required for full width vehicles, to let OTHERS see, and know you are wide. A regular pickup, single rear wheel, they are optional. With a dual rear wheel, they are REQUIRED. Of course, and motor home or truck is full width, so they are required there too.

Whenever you see the pattern of single light, three is middle, and another single, you know you are looking at a full width vehicle. If the are amber, you are looking at the front. If they are red, you are looking at the rear.

Seems very few know this. It is important. Should be on drivers tests.

wa8yxm wrote:
I would like to know how "Clearance" lights are supposed to work.. Now , I now on a SEMI truck if you can see the clearance lights by adjusting a mirror you could, in theory pull up to a "I'm not sure I can make it" bridge and the lights would tell you yes or no.. But on a motor home that is not going to happen. Not to mention they are about a foot low on a motor home.

I'd really like a roof mounted camera where i can watch said bridge take out my A/C cover.. or not.

As Mark mentioned, the lights are there to make others aware of your vehicle's size and direction. Since the lights are rarely at the highest point of the front of the vehicle, using them as a height detection indicator is pretty useless. Basically, the lights are there to let everyone know you're high, wide, and long.

wa8yxm wrote:
I would like to know how "Clearance" lights are supposed to work.. Now , I now on a SEMI truck if you can see the clearance lights by adjusting a mirror you could, in theory pull up to a "I'm not sure I can make it" bridge and the lights would tell you yes or no.. But on a motor home that is not going to happen. Not to mention they are about a foot low on a motor home.

I'd really like a roof mounted camera where i can watch said bridge take out my A/C cover.. or not.

I've always taken that clearance lights are not intended to be illumination lights for the benefit of the operator of said vehicle, but rather as indicators of the size of the vehicle for surrounding traffic.

I like the idea of a roof mounted camera when approaching a bridge of questionable clearance. :D

I would like to know how "Clearance" lights are supposed to work.. Now , I now on a SEMI truck if you can see the clearance lights by adjusting a mirror you could, in theory pull up to a "I'm not sure I can make it" bridge and the lights would tell you yes or no.. But on a motor home that is not going to happen. Not to mention they are about a foot low on a motor home.

I'd really like a roof mounted camera where i can watch said bridge take out my A/C cover.. or not.

Every large vehicle has them. If they weren't required, the manufacturers wouldn't go through the added expense of installing them. Pretty obvious if you ask me.

Tom/Barb wrote:

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Required by law.

Got a reference?

Federal NHTSA requirement:

TRUCKS, BUSES, MPVs: FEDERAL LIGHTING EQUIPMENT LOCATION REQUIREMENTS
(A motorhome is an "MPV")

These are direct replacements for most clearance lights. They are sealed, with no outside lens/cover to remove. They can be set in caulking and will solve your leak problem permanently. Since they are sealed, if you drive your coach underwater, they will still operate. Order the two wire type light because with a fiberglass front and rear cap, you can not use the mounting surface as a ground. These are brighter than the single bulb incandescent clearance light that they replace and mine are going on 4 years without a single failure. Polarity must be observed when wiring these in to your rigs wiring. Clearance lights

Tom/Barb wrote:

Mandalay Parr wrote:
Required by law.

Got a reference?

Vehicle code for each of the 50 states. It has to do with width over "standard" which is something around 76 to 80 inches (and something metric in Canada).

Three light pattern tells other vehicles that you are wide. Markers on outside corners show just how wide.

There required in Washington State and all red clearance lights go in back. If you drive by a LEO and he's bored it could turn into a fishing trip and those aren't good!

They are required by every state.