backup reverse lights on trailer?

[docnascar]

For those times where you get to the campsite late and its very dark out, does anyone use additional running lights on the sides and/or rear of the trailer?

I was thinking about adding something, but I don't want to spend alot of money. Then again, I don't want something that is not bright enough to see where I'm going while backing up using my mirrors. I'm always leary of buying lights when I don't know how bright they really are.

What's the preferred way to hook them up? Through the wiring harness for access from the TV or put a switch in the trailer and connect it to the battery?



Anyone do something similar?

[Dakar_Dad]

Updated with wiring diagram:

Well I have been lurking for awhile, but this is something I have already done to my trailer.
On my 19 foot trailer I never had much trouble with backing up but with my newer 28 foot trailer you just cannot see in the dark anymore.
I clipped a tire on a short piece of wood that the forest service uses for a barrier on their sites because it was so dark and ruined the tire, but it still held air.

I purchased 10 lights on eBay for a killer price. (Search for 2x 18W Cree LED Work Light Bar Flood Beam 4WD Offroad Vehicle Driving Lamp) Now I find they are 1/3 the price now.
I use the reverse light wire from the trailer plug to energize a relay and I let the trailer power the lights mounted on the trailer.

I also on the right side center light over my tires so that when I am turning right it turns on using another relay, diode and a capacitor to keep it on for 4 seconds so it doesn't flash so I can see the curb.
I also have a switch on the trailer I can turn them on with and one of my up-fitter switches inside my truck to be able to check out my tires while driving.
I mounted two of them under my truck bumper, two over the tires and two on the back of the trailer with them facing outwards a bit.

I also found the wire to my back deck lights and have them turn on also. I put led's in them to be much brighter than the little bulbs that come in them.

[TurnThePage]

I added lights under the trailer bumper shining rearward, and near the axles shining out to light up the tires. I wired them to run off the trailer batteries via a relay. They light the area up very nicely without being offensive.

[2112]

I have acquired several of THESE from Harbor Freight. I keep a few in the TV and attach them to edge of the rear bumper, frame, steps, wherever I need the light when needed. Works great.

[Hiking_Hunter]

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).

[goducks10]

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.

[Hondavalk]

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.

[RoyB]

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

[Golfcart]

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

[beemerphile1]

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.

[Chuck_thehammer]

reverse lights and a backup camera behind trailer.

is on my wish list.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

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!!

[schlep1967]

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.

[Coolerman]

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.