backup reverse lights on trailer?

I installed a backup light on my old Star Craft. It was wired so that it came on with the tow vehicles reverse lights, OR if you activated a lighted switch on the camper tongue. (it was handy to have a light on the back of the camper to use while parked at camp).

Funny thing is, even though it was a 55W light, it still did not really help with backing up at night! A far more useful light would be on the SIDE of the camper that lit up where the wheels are and what was behind the camper. I may add side/rear facing lights to the new camper over the winter. Note that the standard 7 pin RV plug supports the backup light function. It is the round center pin. Also note that some vehicles may not have this pin wired.

On my 5th wheel there is a door side flood and an Off door side flood. If I got to a site after dark I would turn both of them on before backing in. Of course my ground guide would still be out with the flashlight to watch behind the trailer.
You have a porch light on one side of your TT. It wouldn't be too difficult to add another on the back side.

My dads 69 Fireball had backup lights from the factory. Nice feature!

I wish my trailer had backup lights but it doesn't. Never bothered to put any on.

As far as where to get them I bought some LED's from Northern Tool and love them for my farm eqip. This is the one I bought. And it's BRIGHT!!

reverse lights and a backup camera behind trailer.

is on my wish list.

I have an upper flood light and reverse lights in the trailer tail lights. None of them do me much good because I can't see behind the trailer anyhow. They do help my spotter avoid obstacles.

The greatest benefit is two shop towels over the tow vehicle stop/tail/reverse lights. With the TV lights reflecting on the front of the trailer everything beyond that point is black.

I also have a porch light on each side of the trailer near the wheels, that is the area I need to see.

Another tip is a white hose or rope along the edge of where you want the RV. You will be surprised how well a white hose will show against the dark ground.

I have a wife-with-flashlight mod installed near the back of my trailer

The center pin of the 7-way blade connector is usually the REVERSE LIGHT connection.



Like said above however I also get better results with SIDE LIGHTS verses REAR LIGHTs... Without a back-up camera you can't see anything directly behind you...

Also mounting lights on the REAR of the trailer will get you into the DOT SAFETY RULES regulations to deal with...

i.e. having a white lens rear lights coming on with an auxiliary toggle switch somewhere may not be allowed in the eyes of the DOT SAFETY LIGHTS requirements etc... Seems like everytime I do something like that I have to remove it before passing my annual SAFETY TRAILER INSPECTION haha... The WHITE LENS LIGHTS mounted on the rear of the trailer have to come on only when you are in REVERSE and have DOT APPROVED LENS's etc...

Roy Ken

http://www.lowes.com/pd_458094-49296-FU2402-2_1z0vgb1__?productId=50056887&pl=1

If your camping where there's power this will light up the camping pad like high noon. I place it at the front side of the pad and shine it down towards the back.

I had some running lights leftover from a motorcycle project I never got to. Any after market auto/truck type running light will work. I mounted mine on top of the 5th wheel bumper. I ran a fused power wire from the lights to a switch I have in a curb side compartment. That way when my wife gets out to help back in she can flip the switch. I didn't want them wired up to the reverse on the truck because when I pull forward I can't see when to stop to back up. With the switch they're on all the time till I turn them off.

Keep it simple - switch on the trailer. You'll probably get out to survey the site anyway and you can turn them on then. Besides, during the parking process, you'll want to leave the lights on when you are not in reverse.

Power the lights by the trailer battery.

Locate them about 1/3 to 1/2 way back (wherever is convenient to mount them), and aim them out to the side at about a 45 degree angle to illuminate your "reference points". Don't put them on the back.

Use a light with a flood (not spot) beam.

The brighter the better. There are lots of LEDs available now, but they are still pricey for the bright ones. No more than you will use them, it will take a long time to burn out an incandescent (vibration will probably get the filament first).