back up lights

Before I called the DMV and opened a can of worms as far as "what's legal on the books" I think I'd stop by my local garage and ask my mechanic what would pass with him! LOL

Not the total-correct way to do it, but if my local mechanic would pass it reliably I think I'd make what I want and go camping. I can't see how many LEO's would hassle you if you just use them for backing into a camp site. Night time campground parking isn't a high priority on most police radars LOL.

Just keep them off while traveling and you shouldn't have any issues.

BillyW wrote:
I mounted regular lights, not LED. They are wired to the trailer battery through a relay and only come on when the tow vehicle is in reverse. They REALLY light up the area. I can't see how they could be illegal.

They are only illegal if on while driving down the road. "white lights on rear" while traveling down the road can and will get you a ticket.

IN MY opinion, the best way to help you see when backing into a space in the dark is to disable the back up lights completely. I have a switch on my truck that allows me to turn out the lights. With them on it lights up the front of the trailer which ruins your night vision and puts almost zero light behind the trailer where it's could be of help. With no back up lights your natural night vision can be a big help in backing as can be a spotter.
Good luck / Skip

RoyB wrote:
I would check with your local DOT INSPECTION STATION on what you can do or not do regarding adding lights on the trailer bumper area...

Anything on the back of the trailer has to be DOT approved including the light lens etc and things might have to removed in order for you to pass a DOT Safety Inspection. Back-up lights of course can only come on when you are backing up. Pretty sure the law wants that to be tied to your 'going into REVERSE' with your truck and not just be a ON-OFF switch somewhere that you turn on. You safety inspection will catch you on this law...

Back in the day we use to be able to put socks over lights etc but I'm pretty sure that is not allowed now... If the light is mounted it has to work and meet DOT requirements otherwise you have to remove it.

For backing up purposes you might want to install the lights on the sides of the trailer instead of the back bumper areas...

My fifth wheel trailer has those 8-inch scare lights mounted on the both rear sides up near the roof and they really light the camping area great when backing in. I turn mine on from a switch near the inside trailer access door.

Roy Ken

Ken a lot of the info you have provided is even incorrect for Va where you and I live and have to have the state police annual vehicle safety inspections.

1. The one thing that is true is that any uncovered functioning lights must be DOT approved to pass Va inspection.

2. In Va you are allowed to have any additional lights anywhere as long as they can be made inoperational during normal vehicle operation (i.e. on a switch or even by pulling a fuse). This basically makes them for "off road" use. Additionally, they have to be able to be covered with a cover designed for them and not by using such means of covering like tape/cardboard, etc.

FWIW I have a set of navigator lights on the back of my Van that have been there since 2002 that are on a switch in the cab to use as aux backup lights. These lights are never covered and in the 14 years of Va inspections on my Van have never been questioned. I also have a set of Fog and Driving lights mounted on the front that have OEM plastic covers for them and those too have never given me an issue passing state inspections, but I do have them covered for inspections. I also have a set of PIAA aux backup lights on my 2013 Sonata that I have tied into my backup lights and I made nice cloth elastic covers for them that I put on for inspections and these also have a cutout switch in the trunk and they have now passed two Va inspections.

Point of this is one has to check with your state DMV laws and inspection requirements which can vary by state to determine what is and what is not allowed and how you can use these type lights and still be "legal".

Finally, several prior posters have mentioned about these lights not allowed to be on a switch and while I'm not going to check every state law on this I question if this is actually true. IIRC you see these off road light bars on things like JEEPS with covers on them normally and I would bet 10 to 1 that all those are on switches and just like the Va state requirements they can be made inoperable and are covered with proper and approved covers when not in use off road.


Larry

BurbMan wrote:
I have a set of driving lights mounted on the rear bumper. They are wired directly to the RV battery through a relay that is triggered by the reverse lead in the pigtail, so they come on automatically when I shift into reverse. Not only nice for backing the TT in a site after dark, but also when backing out of gas stations, etc. The only regulation is that they must be configured to only come on when in reverse, they can't be wired into a manual switch.

X2, White light showing at rear of vehicle when moving forward is illegal. Your backup lights need to be wired to come on when the TV is in reverse. This is best done through a relay with the power coming off the trailers 12v system.

I have a set of driving lights mounted on the rear bumper. They are wired directly to the RV battery through a relay that is triggered by the reverse lead in the pigtail, so they come on automatically when I shift into reverse. Not only nice for backing the TT in a site after dark, but also when backing out of gas stations, etc. The only regulation is that they must be configured to only come on when in reverse, they can't be wired into a manual switch.

My trailer came with backup lights as part of the tail lights and the prior owner added two flush mount LED lamps in the bumper. They are wired in to the OEM lights and are brighter then the OEM's. Lots of light though for backing and legal as far as I know.

I have a pair of conventional fog lights mounted on my fifth wheel that work very well for backing at night - and I have a couple of recommendations:

Mount them 3-5 feet from the end, underneath, aimed out and back at about a 45 degree angle (experiment with the angle). Aiming them directly back doesn't do much good because you really cant see straight back in your mirror anyway. You normally use objects to the side for a reference. Also put them on a switch instead of wired to come on when you are in reverse - you need them on all the time while you are positioning the trailer into a site. Keep it simple - you really don't need to have them switched from the truck. I mounted my switch underneath the trailer in the front. You are generally out looking around anyway. LEDs would work OK too if they are bright enough, but remember, you loose some light in your mirror. Make them brighter than you think you need.

I don't think any laws would apply because you can't turn them on while traveling anyway.

I installed a "plug in" back up light in the 7pin connector.



You can get them from Amazon and some RV stores. Easy to do and works pretty well.

I would check with your local DOT INSPECTION STATION on what you can do or not do regarding adding lights on the trailer bumper area...

Anything on the back of the trailer has to be DOT approved including the light lens etc and things might have to removed in order for you to pass a DOT Safety Inspection. Back-up lights of course can only come on when you are backing up. Pretty sure the law wants that to be tied to your 'going into REVERSE' with your truck and not just be a ON-OFF switch somewhere that you turn on. You safety inspection will catch you on this law...

Back in the day we use to be able to put socks over lights etc but I'm pretty sure that is not allowed now... If the light is mounted it has to work and meet DOT requirements otherwise you have to remove it.

For backing up purposes you might want to install the lights on the sides of the trailer instead of the back bumper areas...

My fifth wheel trailer has those 8-inch scare lights mounted on the both rear sides up near the roof and they really light the camping area great when backing in. I turn mine on from a switch near the inside trailer access door.

Roy Ken