Battery Backup Light?

[fallsrider]

I recently had to back into a campsite in the dark, by myself. I set my Dewalt flashlight at the back of the site where I wanted the street side rear corner of my trailer to end up, but entering the site from the road, I came within about 6"-8" of scraping a tree and doing serious damage to my awning. That got my attention.

I've been thinking...(I know, a dangerous thing), but I was wondering if there are any lights out there that are battery powered with a magnetic base? I would not use them very often, maybe a few times in the winter, and it would save the hassle of hard wiring in a backup light system. I could just set one or two on the square tube bumper facing backward and see better where I'm backing.

I've done a couple of searches on the internet, but haven't found anything yet. If I found the right lights, they would go on my Christmas list to my DW. 🙂

[Gdetrailer]

fallsrider wrote:
I brought my DS to our local state park tonight, arriving well after dark. Wow, are these new backup lights nice! They completely lit up the whole CS behind me as I was backing in. What a difference. I could see really well through my side mirrors.

If you have considered adding backup lights, I can highly recommend these.

Thanks for the update!

Glad they work well for you.

A "mod" which is well worth the hassle.

[fallsrider]

I brought my DS to our local state park tonight, arriving well after dark. Wow, are these new backup lights nice! They completely lit up the whole CS behind me as I was backing in. What a difference. I could see really well through my side mirrors.

If you have considered adding backup lights, I can highly recommend these.

[fallsrider]

Gdetrailer wrote:


:B

Much better than messing around with a bunch of magnetic flashlights 😄

That really should be very helpful!

I agree. I'm glad I went this route now.

[Gdetrailer]

fallsrider wrote:
I finished installing my backup lights this afternoon. It went pretty easy, thankfully. While I had the end caps off the bumper, I installed fiberglass screen over the holes to keep out wasps. I didn't have a problem this summer, but it would only have been a matter of time.

The lights seem bright enough. But the real test will come while trying to back into a very dark campsite.

:B

Much better than messing around with a bunch of magnetic flashlights 😄

That really should be very helpful!

[fallsrider]

I finished installing my backup lights this afternoon. It went pretty easy, thankfully. While I had the end caps off the bumper, I installed fiberglass screen over the holes to keep out wasps. I didn't have a problem this summer, but it would only have been a matter of time.

The lights seem bright enough. But the real test will come while trying to back into a very dark campsite.

[fallsrider]

CarterKraft wrote:
You might be suprised with the amp draw ofthose ligths, I have six of them on my service truck bed and 2 sets of LED compartment lights, all of them together don't pull more than 10 amps.

If they are indeed 27 watts each, which is what they are rated, then they will pull 4.5 amps total.

I can believe that the ones on your truck don't pull more than 10. LEDs are great that way.

The lights arrived today. I bought stainless screws to match the taps. I'm looking forward to mounting and wiring them.

[CarterKraft]

fallsrider wrote:
Well, I decided to proceed with the hard wired installed lights. I purchased this 2-pack, 27W LED Lights, recommended by Gdetrailer, and also purchased the 14 ga marine wire recommended by BurbMan. Since I'm only going to be pulling less than 5 amps, the 14 ga will be more than sufficient.

You might be suprised with the amp draw ofthose ligths, I have six of them on my service truck bed and 2 sets of LED compartment lights, all of them together don't pull more than 10 amps.

[texasclarks]

I have one of these Kobalt lights from Lowes that has a magnetic base as well as a flexible 'snake' body that you can coil around the bumper or other object.

CLICK HERE

I like it because it uses a rechargeable as well as a 3xAAA battery pack.

I bit more than harbor freight but much better quality.

[BurbMan]

Instead of a lockwasher you could use a little blue loctite on the threads, that would keep the profile inside the bumper as low as possible. Post some pics when you get it done, it sounds like a very cool mod!

[fallsrider]

BurbMan wrote:
...With the 4 tapped holes in the back...

...If you would like or have any use for the 4 1/2" square U bolts that I used in my first installation, I would be happy to send them to you for free...

Thanks, Burb, for the generous offer on the U bolts. I had not noticed the tapped holes. I like your idea a lot for mounting directly to the bumper. I already have the stubby Phillips. I might just get the right size screws in stainless, with a thin lock washer. I have a ladder on the right side, so I would just need to be careful stepping on or off the ladder that I didn't step on the bumper and put any pressure on the light on that side. Should be doable. Great idea.

[BurbMan]

Those are nice lights. With the 4 tapped holes in the back of the light you could mount them right to the bumper. Picture the lights mounted on the rear face of the bumper out at the ends by the rubber caps. Drill through the bumper and use short pancake head screws that you can install from the inside using a stubby phillips. The shallow heads won't interfere with the sewer hose.

If you would like or have any use for the 4 1/2" square U bolts that I used in my first installation, I would be happy to send them to you for free if you have a use for them, they are still pretty clean and rust-free.

[fallsrider]

Well, I decided to proceed with the hard wired installed lights. I purchased this 2-pack, 27W LED Lights, recommended by Gdetrailer, and also purchased the 14 ga marine wire recommended by BurbMan. Since I'm only going to be pulling less than 5 amps, the 14 ga will be more than sufficient.

I decided to go ahead with this because I crawled up under my trailer this afternoon, and I already have grommets installed in the cross members of the frame, allowing me to easily run the wire from the junction box under the front of the trailer to the rear of the trailer. It should be easy.

I already have mounting ideas, but I will look more into it when the lights arrive.

[BurbMan]

Amen, I switched all my interior lights to LEDs, along with the porch and scare lights. I never got around to doing anything with the back up lights, since the TT has to be plugged into the truck for them to come on.

Post some pics of what you come up with.

FYI, I got my wire from Best Boat Wire, the have the best prices by far., I used marine duplex #12, you may get away with #14 or even #16, just watch the voltage drop on the distance.

[fallsrider]

BurbMan wrote:
...My lights are halogen, 55W each...

Yeah, you're looking at 110 watts, or about 9 amps. I can see why you wired in a relay. I'll try it without a relay first. LEDs have definitely changed lighting in RVs, especially where you are wanting to use less amps.