Led flood light mounted on back of trailer

[Zede98]

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 I will be able to flood the area I'm trying to back into.
I would like to know thoughts on the best way to install something like this... Should I run the wire under the carriage or snaking it between the roof and ceiling?

[GlennLever]

Both my race trailers came equipped with rear load/unloading lights. One has them mounted on the inside of the trailer, and the other has them mounted above the rear door on the outside of the trailer.

They are not connected to my backup lights.

[Ivylog]

I would run a wire out of one of the rear marker lights and plug the LED into this wire when you need it. Something like 1/4 of a flat four way trailer plug.

[Oldme]

I have run into a number of different things when
I was an LEO in Virginia for 26 years before retirement.

The inspections are per STATE Motor Vehicle law
not Fed. DOT so they will not pertain to everyone.
Lights under the Va, Law will conform to the Fed. DOT
standard for lights, when used.

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Safety.shtm

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/downloads/VA_Motor_Vehicle_Approved_Equipment_List/02_Auxiliary_Lamp.pdf


You will also find if you place covers over the lights
and classify them as "cosmetic" then the State Inspector can
not use that to fail an inspection.

I even had that problem once, and had the State Trooper
that inspects and supervises the inspectors to respond
and clear it up. These were on the front and neither
questioned my "hitch/loading lights" on the rear.

I never had a problem with " hitch / loading lights"
on the back bumper.

Va. code and I believe most states also have specific laws
against clear or white light shining behind the vehicle
while in motion. Noting about being stationary, unless that
are blinding on-coming traffic.

[ScottG]

Put them on a separate switch on the trailer someplace and DOT wont care at all that they're back there.
You can put ANY bright lights you want any place on it and DOT doesn't care as long as you don't use them on the road.

[RoyB]

Gdetrailer - I had to work real fast to get them disconnected too haha... I was holding up the line...

That was my point exactly... Check with DOT to see what is authorized...

But being the PLAN B guy I am I always have ways to get what I needed done...

I guess I should cancel all my comments and let you guys discuss more important things with the OP...

Roy Ken

[Gdetrailer]

RoyB wrote:
It is more than just mounting lights on the rear - they have to come on only when you are in REVERSE... They also have to be DOT APPROVED LENS on the lights...

This is what happened to me here in VIRGINIA when I mounted two lights on the bottom of my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer. These were turned ON by a separate switch inside my POPUP trailer.

Much like this GOOGLE IMAGE from the internet...

GOOGLE IMAGE...

They worked out pretty good for me...

Then I had to get my Virginia Safety Inspection a couple of months later and the first question I got was why those lights did not come on when he asked to put my truck in reverse... The inspector also said he could not find a DOT NUMBER stamped on the lens...

He made me remove the two lights before I could pass my DOT Safety Inspection.

After taking them off I just decided not to have any mounted. I could have added the 12VDC line from the center connector of the 7-way trailer connector but just decided I would go for lights on the side of the trailer.

Back in my JEEP DAYS I was always running into SAFETY INSPECTION problems with all of our lights mounted on bars and things... DOT just doesn't these lights to ever come on when driving down the public roads...

Sorry to start anything here from what I said - Just passing along what I went thru a couple years back. Take it for what ever it is worth... I can remove my comments if you guys like...

Roy Ken

Roy, I STATED that the only "rule" is rear facing WHITE LIGHTS MUST be only active while in REVERSE.. That means a MANUAL SWITCH IS A NO. NO.

Your inspection station flunked your setup BECAUSE of the MANUAL SWITCH, then they started the nitpicking from there..

Many people think they are being smart or coy about rigging up rear lights on a manual switch but as you found out it is not acceptable.

Had you done it correctly the first time they would not have hassled you.

[Chris_Bryant]

I would hook them to an inconspicuous spdt switch, one side hooked to the backup line, the other to a fused battery feed.
Unofficialy, of course 😉

[discovery4us]

My toy hauler had two lights mounted on the top back but I found they were really only good for loading and not backing. I wired the center plug on the truck for backup lights and then mounted two KC floodlights just under the rear bumper of the trailer and then up to the trailer plug. Put the truck in reverse and on came the lights. I used heavier gauge wire, the relay that came with the lights and zip tied the wire to the trailer frame.

[RoyB]

It is more than just mounting lights on the rear - they have to come on only when you are in REVERSE... They also have to be DOT APPROVED LENS on the lights...

This is what happened to me here in VIRGINIA when I mounted two lights on the bottom of my OFF-ROAD POPUP trailer. These were turned ON by a separate switch inside my POPUP trailer.

Much like this GOOGLE IMAGE from the internet...

GOOGLE IMAGE...

They worked out pretty good for me...

Then I had to get my Virginia Safety Inspection a couple of months later and the first question I got was why those lights did not come on when he asked to put my truck in reverse... The inspector also said he could not find a DOT NUMBER stamped on the lens...

He made me remove the two lights before I could pass my DOT Safety Inspection.

After taking them off I just decided not to have any mounted. I could have added the 12VDC line from the center connector of the 7-way trailer connector but just decided I would go for lights on the side of the trailer.

Back in my JEEP DAYS I was always running into SAFETY INSPECTION problems with all of our lights mounted on bars and things... DOT just doesn't these lights to ever come on when driving down the public roads...

Sorry to start anything here from what I said - Just passing along what I went thru a couple years back. Take it for what ever it is worth... I can remove my comments if you guys like...

Roy Ken

[Bumpyroad]

just wire them up like back up lights.
bumpy

[Markiemark32]

allen8106 wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
You need first check with DOT for your state, for rules & regulations concerning this type of lighting on the back of the TT.

It may not be a problem, but I believe this varies from State to State.

As long as they are not on when driving they are legal. No different than back up lights on the car or truck.

My friends Toy-Hauler has them factory installed, so thinking, as stated "As long as they are not on when driving they are legal.".


MArkiemark:C

[Gdetrailer]

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..

[allen8106]

Dakota98 wrote:
You need first check with DOT for your state, for rules & regulations concerning this type of lighting on the back of the TT.

It may not be a problem, but I believe this varies from State to State.

As long as they are not on when driving they are legal. No different than back up lights on the car or truck.

[RoyB]

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

[Dakota98]

You need first check with DOT for your state, for rules & regulations concerning this type of lighting on the back of the TT.

It may not be a problem, but I believe this varies from State to State.