The backup lights on my 2017 F-150 are deplorable. I am going to add a tailgate light bar and hook it to the reverse light wire of my truck to get adequate light. I know that the ScotchLock connectors are horrible. What is/are good means of connecting to the tail light wires? I would rather not actually cut the wires and use butt connectors to reconnect them if that can be avoided. (I haven't decided yet if I am just going to hook to the reverse wire and ground, or if I am going to hook to all of the lights and have marker/turn signals/brakes also working.)

in my opinion, I cut solder and shrink tube wires that are out in the weather. wire nuts and crimp connector,s will fail in time.

I came across someone that put a light bar on their reverse circuit. He blasted everyone behind him while navigating a dark parking lot. I'm glad he could see because he destroyed my night vision for a good 30 seconds.

I cut, solder, rubber tape, then heat shrink. Shrink the shrink before the 'tape' dries so it gets squished out of the shrink ends. Makes a waterproof connection.

Consider a relay if that lightbar draws a significant load.

Have you checked the trailer connector for a reverse light wire?I agree that others will not like your light bar install.Have you tried brighter LED style lamps to improve lighting?

Connecting to existing wiring. | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Oct 27, 2018
Bobbo wrote:
What is/are good means of connecting to the tail light wires?
These involve cutting the wire however will provide a permanent sealed splice connection.

Waytek Wire - Multiple Sealed Wire Connector
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 27, 2018
https://www.delcity.net/store/Heat-Shrink-&-Crimp-Step!Down-Butt-Connectors/p_805405.h_801806

With road-salt exposed terminations I go a couple of steps further

Cut and strip the original wire
Use a bare 10 gauge butt connector
Cut and strip the pigtail wire
Solder the entire crimped 3 wire assembly
Use adhesive lined 3:1 heat shrink tubing and have a quarter inch overlap at both ends
Finally a gop of electrolytic silicone grease to ensure the gap between paralleled wires in absolutely watertight.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2018
I'd be surprised if nobody makes a harness plug that will be a plug and play wiring breakout.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2018
GordonThree wrote:
I came across someone that put a light bar on their reverse circuit. He blasted everyone behind him while navigating a dark parking lot. I'm glad he could see because he destroyed my night vision for a good 30 seconds.

I don’t plan to be “navigating a dark parking lot” while in reverse.

mchero wrote:
Consider a relay if that lightbar draws a significant load.

I am going to be doing some testing before permanently installing it to see if that is a problem.

enblethen wrote:
Have you checked the trailer connector for a reverse light wire?
I agree that others will not like your light bar install.
Have you tried brighter LED style lamps to improve lighting?

I have a Ford, and they DO have a reverse wire in the trailer connector. My tail lights are a sealed unit. I can’t replace the reverse bulbs. If one of the bulbs dies, I have to replace the entire tail light unit.

wnjj wrote:
When backing up, turn your headlights off (to marker lights onlyj. You’ll be surprised how much better you can see looking back without your headlights shinging back at you off of things in front of you. You may find no need for reengineering the factory back-up lights.

If I wanted to splice into a wire, I would scrape back the insulation with a knife, wrap the new wire around, solder and tape over it all. No cuts to the factory wire that way.

Tried with the headlights off. Ford’s reverse lights just suck. I like your concept of just stripping the insulation off the wire, but I would like to put heat shrink tubing over it. I may go with the cut/twist/solder/heat shrink route.

time2roll wrote:
Bobbo wrote:
What is/are good means of connecting to the tail light wires?
These involve cutting the wire however will provide a permanent sealed splice connection.

Waytek Wire - Multiple Sealed Wire Connector

If I go with the cut method, I will use those and put shrink wrap tubing over it. Belt and suspenders.

Chris Bryant wrote:
I'd be surprised if nobody makes a harness plug that will be a plug and play wiring breakout.

Actually, they do for the 4 wires of a 4 pin, but that leaves off the reverse circuit. I will have to splice in the reverse wire no matter what. After all of my testing, I am going to buy that harness and splice into it. That way, if really bad things happen, I can remove that harness and have the stock truck again.

Thanks everyone. A lot to consider. If you have any further ideas, I am still open.
Boomerweps
Explorer
Oct 27, 2018
Do an Amazon search for LED backup light bulbs. The people that bought them on the Jeep forums swear by them. ~ $15 a pair. The comparison pictures they posted appear twice as bright.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2018
Boomerweps wrote:
Do an Amazon search for LED backup light bulbs. The people that bought them on the Jeep forums swear by them. ~ $15 a pair. The comparison pictures they posted appear twice as bright.

Bobbo wrote:
My tail lights are a sealed unit. I can’t replace the reverse bulbs. If one of the bulbs dies, I have to replace the entire tail light unit.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Oct 27, 2018

Coolkun 10W 12V LED Flood Lights, Daylight White AC/DC IP65 Waterproof ,1000lm Outdoor &Indoor Security Floodlight
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Unless you do your backing up at 80-mph these waterproof lamps are light-years superior to any LED light bar. They offer incredibly wider and taller light dispersion because they are hot-spot-free FLOOD LIGHTS. They are about 50 times as bright as the brightest factory backup lamps I have ever seen. And they draw SEVEN watts not the boastful 10 watts as claimed. This isn't a "step up" from back up lights -- it's like 10 stories up.

And

They are tiny.
GordonThree
Explorer
Oct 27, 2018
What makes them superior to a light bar? It looks like they're using run of the mill SMT LEDs, trying to fool folks with the "more is better" routine.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 27, 2018
Thanks, Mex. I will have to look at those.
Gdetrailer
Explorer III
Oct 27, 2018
Boomerweps wrote:
Do an Amazon search for LED backup light bulbs. The people that bought them on the Jeep forums swear by them. ~ $15 a pair. The comparison pictures they posted appear twice as bright.

^^^THIS!!!!^^^

Before you go spend money on a light bar and before you start hacking away at your wiring harness, TRY UPGRADING THE BULB TO LED!!!

Been one of my and my DWs biggest frustrations with Fords standard backup lights and their placement..

We BACK DOWN our driveway and into our garage, this way in the winter we don't have to attempt backing up a slippery driveway.

At night, the standard backup lights might as well be a pair of candles..

Grudgingly I spent the coin on a pair of LEDs to replace the incandescent bulbs.. The result was so impressive, I ponied up for several sets to do all of our vehicles.

Consult your owners manual, but if I figured out correctly, your truck should use 3156K bulbs. Now, I did tun into a issue with a pair of LEDs on my 2013 F250 that took a SHORTER bulb so remove your bulb and verify the length before buying.. Check the depth of the bulb housing while you are at it..

I was able to use a 3157 LED which is a turn/stop/tail bulb for a backup bulb since the sockets are the same and on the backup bulb socket the wiring uses the pins for the high brightness turn/stop circuit of the LED bulb for full brightness.

I used JDM ASTAR brand from Amazon and so far they have worked very well for the few years I have had them in..

Looks like this..

Found HERE for $25 for a pair.