Lighting(side marker lights)

[stevemorris]

are travel trailers required generally to have side marker lights?

strangly, ours doesn't. I thought they were required in Ontario Canada and just about everywhere else

[trail-explorer]

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:
That's really odd. If I were you, I'd look at adding them.

I used these when adding marker lights: http://www.ledtrailerlights.com/cm-1a-s68.htm

Do a google search for FMVSS108 and CMVSS108. There's a poster that shows all lighting requirements.

FMVSS is "federal motor vehicle safety standards" vehicle CMVSS is Canada (or Canadian) motor vehicle safety standards.

[SoundGuy]

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:
With that, OP, do you mean it has no front side marker lights or no intermediate side marker lights?

stevemorris wrote:
there are no lights anywhere on the sides of the trailer(22ft)

Seems unusual ... make, model, year of trailer would be helpful. 😉 Is this a new, relatively new, or older trailer? :@

Our 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS, purchased here in Ontario, has a red running light on each side of the trailer at the rear and an amber running light on each side of the trailer at the front, all about 8" up from the trailer's lower edge. It's a 19 footer measuring 22' 6" coupler to bumper.



FWIW, there are also two amber running lights at the front of the trailer, mounted on each side of the front wall about 8" below the roof line, and on the rear wall there are five red running lights - one on each side of the rear wall and three in a row in the centre.



Good thing, 'cause when backing our trailer off the street and on to our driveway I flash ALL the lights on the trailer - brake lights, front, rear, and side running lights - with this Trailer Lights Dongle (4 pics) I built for this purpose.

[Community Alumni]

Got them on mine, the trailer cap to rear is 33'.

[opnspaces]

maybe go look at others at the dealership and see if they have lights. Maybe the factory forgot to put them on yours.

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

stevemorris wrote:

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:
With that, OP, do you mean it has no front side marker lights or no intermediate side marker lights?

there are no lights anywhere on the sides of the trailer(22ft)

our previous trailer(19) had them, front yellow and rear red. at the ends, same height as the taillights

That's really odd. If I were you, I'd look at adding them. You can run them low on the frame for something that size so you don't need to make unnecessary holes in your rig. US regs say they have to be at least 15" above the ground. I'm sure Canada's regs are similar.

If that is how it came and it's relatively new, I'd print out a copy of the regulations and take it to the dealer and force them to do it.

[stevemorris]

IDoMyOwnStunts wrote:
With that, OP, do you mean it has no front side marker lights or no intermediate side marker lights?

there are no lights anywhere on the sides of the trailer(22ft)

our previous trailer(19) had them, front yellow and rear red. at the ends, same height as the taillights

[Chuck_thehammer]

on my Old 30 foot Coachmen..

there are 3 amber,, front edge, middle, rear edge. (each side)

and my small motorcycle trailer has 2 side lights.. front edge, rear edge.. its 10 feet long.

in the USA.. can NOT be sold without them. just like brake/tail lights.

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

With that, OP, do you mean it has no front side marker lights or no intermediate side marker lights?

[ChooChooMan74]

stevemorris wrote:
are travel trailers required generally to have side marker lights?

strangly, ours doesn't. I thought they were required in Ontario Canada and just about everywhere else

Looking at the US DOT regulations, which I believe are the same, you only need a midship side marker if it is over 30' in length.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/Trlrpstr.html

Edit: Transport Canada looks to be the same.
https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/tp-tp13136-trailer_e-414.htm

[IDoMyOwnStunts]

How long is your trailer? I don't know about Canada, but in the US if it is over 6 feet, it must have side marker lights according to Title 49, Part 571, Section 108 of the Code of Federal Regulations.