Led flood light mounted on back of trailer
Hello this is my first post I would like to install led flood lights to the rear of my trailer with a separate rocker switch located near the battery in front of the trailer. My thought is that ...
Forum Discussion
RoyB wrote:
X2 on checking with your local DOT requirements... They have strange rules about mounting lights on the rear of the trailer as well as the rear bumpers etc. You will end up having to remove them before you can pass a safety inspection. Also any approved light on the rear of the trailer must be controlled by you going into REVERSE and not be a manual switch somewhere... It also has to have DOT APPROVED LENS as well...
You might want to consider up high on the trailer mounted on the side.
My fifth wheel has two of those 8-inch scare lights mounted on each side of the trailer up high. It lights the area pretty good when backing in... You can't see directly behind the trailer anyway.
Another thing I do here is setup a couple of those YELLOW JUMP START battery packs that has a pretty good light on them. Just sit them on the ground pointed to where you want to see when backing up...
I don't have to worry about DOT regulations using these guys... They are also handy for many things when camping off the power grid...
Roy Ken
:R
Roy, thats just plain nuts.
Why in the world would anyone want to waste a bunch of money and time with what essentially is rather expensive over sized flashlights.
OP, ignore the flashlight people, you ARE on the right track, mounting PERMANENT lights is the way to go. In spite of what folks have already posted, rear facing white lights are no different than backup lights which are ON EVERY SINGLE MOTORIZED VEHICLE since the 1950s.
The only rule that NEEDS to be observed is they MUST NOT BE MANUALLY OPERATED. They must only be "on" when in reverse. As long as you follow that rule you will not have any issues with the "authorities".
Your trailer connector on your tow vehicle SHOULD already have a reverse light pin. Your trailer typically will have full 7 pin wiring so the reverse light wire should already be on your trailer (follow the trailer plug back to the trailer to find the connection box).
You will simply need to add a new wire from the front of the trailer back to the rear.
Take a look at a recent post on this subject where the OP went with a set of LED Auxiliary lights..
HERE
It is a mod well worth doing the right way first.. instead of messing around with battery powered flashlights..
