OK..forgive if this is stupid.My husband totally rebuilt the roof on our little baby Bronco pop up truck camper. So..it is time to replace the marker lights - of course upgrading to LED. Question #1..is there a specific number of lights required? There were 5 across the back and I would like to eliminate 3 so I can put my awning mount there (VERY limited space back there) That would make 2 red across the back towards the corners, 2 red at the back sidecorners, 2 amber at the front sidecorners and 4 amber across the front. That sound OK? Question #2..where have you found the best prices for LED lights? And what should I look for. Seems to be a vast assortment. Some are 4 inches wide...some are 2 inches.Expect more stupid questions. And I will make sure we get pictures. I think he has done a great job.

Found this.... just worth replacing for sure. Led's are brighter, but its not like an interior light that will drain your batts... its only on then the truck is running.Under 80" wide, no. If it is 80" or wider it is required for the federal motor vehicle safety standard.http://www.ntea.com/uploadedFiles/NTEA_Site_Home/Technical_Resources/Lighting_Guide/fmvss_lighting_chart.pdf

I'm not sure there IS a "requirement" for truckcampers since they're not "vehicles", but I think the same standards for trailer sidemarkers are applied: Amber for front, red for back. (Sides only- taillights fulfill the purpose at the rear.)I replaced the (four) sidemarkers on my trailer with LED's I bought at a truck stop. Bought a four pack each of red and amber thinking it smart to have a couple of spares. Cost was about fifteen dollars a pack as I recall.Seven years later, I STILL haven't had to swap them out!

check with dot I think that it is 5 red rear 5 amber front maybe just commercial units

johnhealey1776 I believe has the answer. I don't believe that it makes any difference whether it is a camper or a semi. If they were not required do you think the manufacturers would install them. Not for a second would they install them. They are all about getting the biggest return on each unit so if they could save the cost of the lights on them they would do it.This is IMO.

Yes as noted there are DOT requirements. Specifically address and related to physical dimensions, has nothing to do with weights, capacities or commercial-http://www.nhtsa.gov/Cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/TBMpstr.htmlIf its over 80" & over wide the 3 center ID lights (visualy state presence of wide vehicle 80"+) and corner clearance lights ( visualy show width) are required on both the front and rear. However If truck cab has ID lights not required also on front of box though rear & corner marker lights still are. As I read the requirements if under 80" the 3 ID (and outer top corner clearance/marker lights) are not required. Though Id still run the clearance lights just for visibility. Pop up not so much maybe but makes ensuring not hitting something a bit easier.

marker light question | Good Sam Community

johnhealey1776
Explorer
May 06, 2014
Found this.... just worth replacing for sure. Led's are brighter, but its not like an interior light that will drain your batts... its only on then the truck is running.

Under 80" wide, no. If it is 80" or wider it is required for the federal motor vehicle safety standard.

http://www.ntea.com/uploadedFiles/NTEA_Site_Home/Technical_Resources/Lighting_Guide/fmvss_lighting_chart.pdf
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 06, 2014
I'm not sure there IS a "requirement" for truckcampers since they're not "vehicles", but I think the same standards for trailer sidemarkers are applied: Amber for front, red for back. (Sides only- taillights fulfill the purpose at the rear.)

I replaced the (four) sidemarkers on my trailer with LED's I bought at a truck stop. Bought a four pack each of red and amber thinking it smart to have a couple of spares. Cost was about fifteen dollars a pack as I recall.

Seven years later, I STILL haven't had to swap them out!
mikeh449
Explorer
May 06, 2014
check with dot I think that it is 5 red rear 5 amber front maybe just commercial units
Butch50
Explorer
May 06, 2014
johnhealey1776 I believe has the answer. I don't believe that it makes any difference whether it is a camper or a semi. If they were not required do you think the manufacturers would install them. Not for a second would they install them. They are all about getting the biggest return on each unit so if they could save the cost of the lights on them they would do it.

This is IMO.
AnEv942
Nomad
May 06, 2014
Yes as noted there are DOT requirements. Specifically address and related to physical dimensions, has nothing to do with weights, capacities or commercial-
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/TBMpstr.html
If its over 80" & over wide the 3 center ID lights (visualy state presence of wide vehicle 80"+) and corner clearance lights ( visualy show width) are required on both the front and rear. However If truck cab has ID lights not required also on front of box though rear & corner marker lights still are.
As I read the requirements if under 80" the 3 ID (and outer top corner clearance/marker lights) are not required. Though Id still run the clearance lights just for visibility. Pop up not so much maybe but makes ensuring not hitting something a bit easier.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 06, 2014
None of the regs posted so far are applicable to truckcampers.
Super_Dave
Explorer
May 06, 2014
This topic gives me cause to ask an equally stupid question about clearance lights. I've never understood their purpose on truck cabs or camper noses. The fact that they are the primary reason for camper leaks makes it that much harder for me to understand their purpose. From the inside of my truck, they have never illuminated anything that helped me as a driver. If it is supposed to help the "other guy" from hitting me, I'm unclear why they be pointed at the roof of my cab or the nose of my camper.
WVbassmistress
Explorer
May 06, 2014
Thanks, everyone. I'll have to measure but it would be pushing it to be 80 inches wide. I looked at the new Palomino pop-up TCs and they only have 2 on the corners in the front, but still have a 3 light cluster (excluding the 2 on the corners) along the back *** the ones I was hoping to ditch***. Then again....looking at the charts above, I take it to mean I only need the 2 red lights at the back corners to indicate width. That's my plan and I am sticking to it!!

Great info!
silversand
Explorer
May 06, 2014
...never had a single marker light on our pop-up manufactured in 2005.5 (none of the high-end pop-up manufacturers that I know of (costing $22,000+) have them on their units either). Our roof-line is at 8-foot 2-inches (roof closed, of course). Camper width: 87.5 inches (I don't think that there are any truck campers made, pop-up or hard-side, that fit half ton to 1 ton trucks narrower than about 84~87 inches; with jacks off, ~81 inches).

I had to put reflector tape markers on front of cabover (and, on the 4 jacks) myself. My reasoning is: walkers and cyclists can see the camper jacks as they (and we) drive by them (and us)...I guess I'm just going a step further (ie. being proactive).

I, too, would like to see the DOT regs on this (both State DOT, and Federal DOT).
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
May 06, 2014
WVbassmistress wrote:
Then again....looking at the charts above, I take it to mean I only need the 2 red lights at the back corners to indicate width. That's my plan and I am sticking to it!!

Great info!

My advice would be to put an amber up front on each side, too. The purpose of the amber-front, red-rear scheme on the sides is to give observers a sense of your direction of travel.