Extra outdoor lights

I've seen lots of folks use rope light under their campers.

Change to an LED. Much brighter.

You can purchase 12v white exterior led strips in almost any length on line. I have found the double back tape they use on them to be somewhat wimpy though. Buy a roll of good exterior double back tape and you will be good to go.

we keep it dark just the amper side light. No need to light up the campgrounds.

. . .NO OFFENSE to anyone, BUT, we enjoy looking at the night sky - shooting stars, satellites, lightning displays, airplanes & UFO's ( haven't seen any yet ). . .There are different pollutions: barking dogs, loud radios, drunks, unattended rowdy kids & yes lights. . . So, please keep it minimal for your NEIGHBORS. . .Thanks!!!!

More than anything I am looking for lights for backing up the trailer. Maybe I will throw 4 55w halogen floods on the trailer for backing up / parking at night. I agree about not having the outside of the trailer look like the Vegas Strip.

Isn't one of the pins on the trailer plug for backup lights?

tkoden wrote:
More than anything I am looking for lights for backing up the trailer. Maybe I will throw 4 55w halogen floods on the trailer for backing up / parking at night. I agree about not having the outside of the trailer look like the Vegas Strip.

Isn't one of the pins on the trailer plug for backup lights?

I was looking at these LED floodlights for that same purpose.

Yes, a reverse light is assigned a pin on typical 7 pin RV umbilical, the center pin.


Instead of using the reverse pin on the umbilical, I plan to use a switch on the tongue. I don't want them coming on every time I back up, only when needed. I'm out of the truck and reconnoitering in back of the trailer before I back up, anyway.

Yes I added extra lights.

I added a porch light to the street side for using the outside shower at night.

I also wired the reverse lights to a switch inside so they can be turned on.

I added a light in the front so I can see when hitching and unhitching after dark.

We camp often in remote dark places. The lights are normally off but it is very nice in the middle of the night to flick four switches and light every side of the trailer.

tkoden wrote:
Anyone add any extra lights to the outside of their trailer? The one light we have is really pathetic. I am thinking about adding some lights under the edge of the trailer pointing down and out to light the ground and not blind any other campers around us. They would also double for parking at night.

12 years ago I mounted a pair of the cheap "Navigator" flood type lights to the rear bumper of my Van specifically for better illumination when backing up the trailer. You can buy similar lights that mount to the receiver, but to be effective they need to be mounted at the edges of the TV so that they light the sides/wheels of a towed vehicle. I power these via a switch in the cab thru a relay mounted in the rear bumper area and are powered by the existing "trailer charge ckt". I had removed that wire from the 7 pin connector and ran a dedicated 8 ga wire for my trailer charge for better design. I put these on a switch because I can turn them on when hooking up at night to better illuminate the tongue area and the sides of the trailer. My bumper had two existing holes at the edges of my bumper that I used. Here is a pic of mine:




I found this mod even with the cheap "Navigator" type lights so much better than the lacking existing back up lights I even installed the cadillac version using the $150 PIAA backup lights specifically designed for this use to our 2013 Sonata vehicle since I have to backup a 100'+ private drive into our garage at home. Any vehicle I use a lot will now have some sort of auxilary backup lighting system so you can actually see where you are backing up at when dark.

Larry

At an auto parts like Napa you can purchase auxiliary agricultural lights. Low draw and mounted in a downward position under the back of the trailer, they make a great back up light. I mounted the switch in the top of the battery box and ran a power wire to them. They ground to frame and work independently of the backup lights to allow them to be on without the vehicle being in reverse. Not offensive to the neighbors. We use rope lights on the ground under the trailer, provides enough light to see utilities when you are required to run outside at night.