Back up lights

[Vintage465]

My 2015 Creek Side did not come with back up lights. I intercepted the 7 wire cable at the front of the coach with a 4x4 weather proof box. The seven wire comes out to the left to the left. The Seven wire continues up into the coach thru the top of the box. The conduit(emt)comes out toward us in the pick and makes a right hand turn at the frame.

'Bout half way down the coach I installed a weather proof 2x4 box to add side lumination when the back up lights come on. Nice for late night arrivals.

This is the little light for side lumination. There is a matching one on the other side of the coach. You can see the LB I installed to facilitate a conduit tap to go to the other side of the coach.

I mounted the back up lights to the bottom of my tool boxes. Ran conduit across the back of the coach. Put another 2x4 weather proof box to drop the wire out for the left b/u light.

This is a close up. These lights are 1250 lumens and cost $44.00 from Northern Tools. The side lights are 1050 lumens and cost $15.00 from Northern. The back ones are so much better. I may change the side ones when I get a few other projects done.

[hornet28]

The flood style work great I just aim them off to the side a bit probably not over 10-15 degrees, certainly not as much as 45 degrees. This is the style I use under the truck bumper.https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-6INCH-36W-LED-WORK-LIGHT-BAR-SPOT-OFFROAD-ATV-FOG-TRUCK-LAMP-4WD-12V-6/392292938458?hash=item5b567b32da:g:BoUAAOSw7gdc0UOl

I have 2 pair of this style on the headache rack on my open car trailer. One for back up and 1 for loading. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-4INCH-27W-Round-LED-WORK-LIGHT-BAR-Spot-OFFROAD-DRIVING-FOG-LAMP-12V-USA/254185654784?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Dd1fa8248627249abaff91aaf4c5adab3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D391874642369%26itm%3D254185654784%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

[opnspaces]

hornet28 wrote:
I have had back-up lights on every trailer I've owned since the late 60's. You don't point them straight back but angled off to the side. For the last 20+ yrs I've also added extra bu lights to my trucks. The aftermarket lights are much better at illuminating a wide area

For lights that are truly on the back, try aiming them in an X. You still get the center of the space lit up, but you also get a wider pattern to the sides.

[Vintage465]

Those are sweet! Some day I may take the ones on the back, put them on the side and install those sweeties you have there on the tool boxes that the current work lights are mounted under.

[nremtp143]

My Montana and neither Sandpiper had backup lights, so I out them on there using LEDs from Etrailer. The top ones are actually 10 CLEAR LED lights for the backup and the bottom ones are 10 tail/stop/turn lights to brighten the rear up while on the road.

[Vintage465]

JRscooby wrote:
Backup lights on the back of trailer? Before I back in I normally get out and walk the site. If it is dark, I got a flashlite in hand. I guess if I had lights on trailer I would never need to lay the light to shine on a obstruction. But my eyes must not work as good as most, no matter how much light, I can't see thru a trailer! IMHO, the best place to mount backup lights would be the sides near the front aiming back and slightly out, to light up the sides and what they are likely to hit.

In my post I should have noted that it's mostly for my wife so she can see when she gets out to back me in. Makes it so she's not tripping on rocks etc. She gets a great view of where the trailer is headed. Also I can see tons down the side of the trailer on both sides and all the stuff that the corner of the trailer is getting close to as I'm backing in.

[hornet28]

I have had back-up lights on every trailer I've owned since the late 60's. You don't point them straight back but angled off to the side. For the last 20+ yrs I've also added extra bu lights to my trucks. The aftermarket lights are much better at illuminating a wide area

[JRscooby]

Backup lights on the back of trailer? Before I back in I normally get out and walk the site. If it is dark, I got a flashlite in hand. I guess if I had lights on trailer I would never need to lay the light to shine on a obstruction. But my eyes must not work as good as most, no matter how much light, I can't see thru a trailer! IMHO, the best place to mount backup lights would be the sides near the front aiming back and slightly out, to light up the sides and what they are likely to hit.

[Vintage465]

rhagfo wrote:

GordonThree wrote:
Nice work, conduit and junction boxes look great.

I have the same lights on my back bumper. Adding a side light on either side is on the Todo list.

Probably illegal in many states but mine are on a switch so they're available if I'm in park, or drive, trying to line up, hook up, pack up, etc.

A tip for the future, upgrade the bolt that couples the light to the bracket to stainless steel, and put a little anti-sieze on it.

If they are wired to the Backup light circuit and only come on when backing not likely illegal. I would have aimed the side lights backwards about 45 degrees.

Yup they are wired into the backup light circuit. I might aim the side lights back a bit. They are mostly for illuminating the side though so I can see.......and my bride.

[Vintage465]

philh wrote:
Why a conduit instead of something like direct burial 12v wire?

I kind of like the challenge of running EMT. Also, it allows making changes easier.......like adding the side lights. Not very easy to make a clean tap off of a directly mounted cable to power the side lights. This way it's all protected.

[philh]

Why a conduit instead of something like direct burial 12v wire?

[rhagfo]

GordonThree wrote:
Nice work, conduit and junction boxes look great.

I have the same lights on my back bumper. Adding a side light on either side is on the Todo list.

Probably illegal in many states but mine are on a switch so they're available if I'm in park, or drive, trying to line up, hook up, pack up, etc.

A tip for the future, upgrade the bolt that couples the light to the bracket to stainless steel, and put a little anti-sieze on it.

If they are wired to the Backup light circuit and only come on when backing not likely illegal. I would have aimed the side lights backwards about 45 degrees.

[GordonThree]

Technically you'd just need to cover the "off road lights" when on the public roadway ... if anyone got their nose out of joint

I was referring to the legality of being able to switch my trailer's backup lights on manually, without using a transmission interlock, which is another DOT no-no apparently.

[Vintage465]

opnspaces wrote:
Nice looking job. I did LED side lights on my trailer. Sure they are probably not legal, but they only come on when i switch to reverse, so I don't anticipate too much chance of attracting attention on the road.

That was my thought as well. I figure there are plenty of "real law breakers" out there that need the police's attention and my side back up lights are pretty small potatoes in the big scheme of things. 'course, I could get out of state at some kind of vehicle inspection and it might be a big deal to them!

[califasrams]

Nicely done!