Ideas to address truck tail light reflection from camper?

[idaho_camper]

I have a question for my fellow TC owners.

When it's dark outside, and with my AF 811 loaded, it's almost impossible to see where I'm backing via the truck's mirrors due to the reflection of my truck's tail lights/reverse lights off of the camper.

Aside from installing a back-up camera on the rear of the camper, or removing the bulbs from the rear of the truck every time I load the camper (what a PIA that would be!), has anyone else come up with a decent means of addressing this?

[AnEv942]

On fiberglass, gel, due to how slick will be difficult. Other than washing I didnt do any real prep. On the new flashing wiped with paint thinner. I also wanted the extra sealing, if just blacking out might be a better product.

If rolling on a product first coats will look pretty bad. When I redid ours didnt think about slickness of the added aluminum flashing. 1st coat roller kinda slide around, I was thinking this isnt going to work.

I had the same experience when I rolled the bed liner on our truck. Even though I had sanded it 1st coat just was bad. However 2nd coat is where it starts to build/cover. So I continued on camper.

On the al first coat I 'helped' the roller just to get product on. Let it dry, subsequent coats back rolled in one direction once tacking. Let it set for an hour, roll on another coat and it started building. Think 3 coats, Next day I rolled 2 more coats. All coats, dont dry roll, but dont over work too wet (or youll be back to square one for coverage). If it matters, rolling with any high solids product it will be textured, last pass (each coat) needs to be rolled in one direction. Bottom line its the film build up when rolling.





I coated aluminum flashing, galvanized tin angle, poly tank cover, primed wood, and previous coating. Only real problem was the exposed section of rear bumper, powder coated white. Its even more slick once wet & just sliding around. Just mopped and let dry. Took several coats before film thickness started to cover.

[kereams]

AnEv942 wrote:
I assume from under wings of camper. Recently redid ours, Mostly to kill reflected glare of tail/brake lights.




I use Henrys sealer/damproofer #107 water/asphalt emulsion. Dries hard & textured flat black (rolled).
But Duplicolors flat black truck bed spray paint from auto parts works well, It has a very fine texture. Or any flat black paint.

Our third brake light/bed light is tied to interior light, I put switches on it. It was worse the reflected tail lights. Pulling those bulbs got old.

What did you do for surface prep? I tried doing this to my camper over the weekend and that stuff will not stick to the fiberglass on my camper.
Thanks

[deltabravo]

My camper is coming off this week, so it might be time to spray something on my AF811.

The wings are plywood, covered with some sort of black vinyl like material, and the edges aren't sealed all that great, so better weather proofing method would be beneficial

[pjay9]

In my Dodge the feed for the cab marker lights was in the pax windshield post. Installed a small/tiny toggle near top of post up lights on down lights off.

[tony_lee]

I was trying to think why I have never had any reflection problems, or reversing light problems and suddenly realised that in the past 8 years, I've driven at night less than a handful of times.

Get up late, slow pack-up, another coffee before heading off and then reverse the procedure starting at 3pm at the latest.

With the bigfoot, that part of the camper seems to be perpetually covered with a thick layer of mud so I have a natural solution to the problem anyway.

[deltabravo]

deltabravo wrote:
...or Rustoluem leak seal (or whatever it's called)

Found it: Leak Seal at Home depot

Rustoleum has a product like Plasitip called Flexidip. Home Depot usually has both brands. They are less expensive than Leakseal

Flexidip at Home Depot

WalMart also sells Leakseal, but I haven't seen Plastidip or Flexidip there.

[deltabravo]

~DJ~ wrote:

nomadic1962 wrote:
Paint the inside of the overhang Black. Works great!

^^^This^^^

It would provide a good weather proofing too. I'd use something like Plastidip in a spray can, or Rustoluem leak seal (or whatever it's called)
All of it can be found at Home Depot.

My AF811 and truck combo do the same thing, but it hasn't bothered me much because I rarely drive after dark, and I park where I don't have to back up since I almost always have a trailer.

Painters tape or black coating are good solutions.

[AnEv942]

I believe some campers may come blacked out-or maybe the owners had already done, either way its good idea.

Switch on the cab lights, I used a pilot so know when there off, use to flip down the visors. Usually a single wire feeds them. I don't have a problem with the cab light glare so much unless were in a lot of dust or fog, then it can be hard to see past. But on our standard cab thats a lot of yellow glow, makes me squint 🙂

[jimh406]

Yep, flat black paint on my wings as well.

[Camp__Forrest__]

Another vote for flat black paint. The bigger issue for me is the cab clearance lights reflecting off of the cabover.

[idaho_camper]

AnEv942: I like this idea a lot. Thanks!

[AnEv942]

I assume from under wings of camper. Recently redid ours, Mostly to kill reflected glare of tail/brake lights.




I use Henrys sealer/damproofer #107 water/asphalt emulsion. Dries hard & textured flat black (rolled).
But Duplicolors flat black truck bed spray paint from auto parts works well, It has a very fine texture. Or any flat black paint.

Our third brake light/bed light is tied to interior light, I put switches on it. It was worse the reflected tail lights. Pulling those bulbs got old.

[Dakota98]

Would some type of 12 volt "spot light" mounted high up & wired to your porch light work? You still need light behind the truck when your backing & it's dark outside, but by leaving the truck lights off, & blacking out the back-up lights & using this set-up, maybe ???

On the other hand, I know you said, "aside from a back-up camera" maybe a wireless back-up camera would work best. It could be connected to any 12 volt hot lead (porch light, interior switch). I have one ($55 on Ebay) & it has NIGHT VISION. No lights needed at all. It's clear as day behind me with all lights off. You may still need to do something with the back-up lights, when in reverse, but ?

[_DJ_1]

nomadic1962 wrote:
Paint the inside of the overhang Black. Works great!

^^^This^^^