Marker lights...LAW???pj

[pjay9]

Is it required to have front top corner marker lights on a TC when the truck cab has the 1-3-1 set up and the back of the TC has 1-3-1 plus STT ?

Why do I want to drill holes in my front panel for lights that are potential leaks no matter what you do???

THOUGHTS, PLS!!!!

[tad94564]

Host no longers put those marker lights on, says they are not needed when I asked.

I prefer not having them, less holes to leak air/water is a good thing.

[Reddog1]

I have a total of 14 clearence lights. I replaced the OEM lights with sealed L.E.D.s, and used butyl tape and a very small bead of Proflex to seal them. That was in 2005. I have seen no evidence of leaks.

I also added two L.E.D. light bars in the rear, with tail, brake and turn signals. I prefer lots of lights, especially in foul weather with mud and such swirling around the back of the TC. I do turn them off when I stealth camp. :B

Wayne

[pjay9]

enblethen wrote:
The way I see the diagram, you do not nee top side lights. They are in conjunction with longer rigs that require the mid-ship lights. The five across front.

It didn't come with 5 across!

[enblethen]

The way I see the diagram, you do not nee top side lights. They are in conjunction with longer rigs that require the mid-ship lights. The five across front.

[pjay9]

Good comments here! I am thinking of just having the wires capped and under the skin if ever needed! I am so well lit up otherwise who will notice no top lights?
Jfet, that is a very good solution, but your rig could draw attention for not having them, so I would have done something similar.
I think you must be over 30' to need side lights midships, I am 26' minus...even USCG regs break at 26'.

All of you have made good points and appreciate the comments.

[ScottG]

I really dont think anyone would know any different if you didn't have them.

[deltabravo]

Corner is a minimum. Technically they are also needed in the middle, but not all RVs have them.

Do a google search for FMVSS108.
If I were in your position, I'd just to the corner lights on the front, as well as the sides.

The best marker light is one that's totally sealed. This is the one I run, so does WCJeep (we both have AF811s)

Sealed RV Marker Light, LED

[path1]

enblethen wrote:
Really depends on size of vehicle, height width and length. Lights should have been installed correctly from the factory based on Federal requirements.
Federal Lighting requirements

X 2

Dig into the regs along with the pic's. 80 inch width seams to be dividing line IMO. Didn't bother looking up height.

And yes just up front alone there are 15 holes for water to get in. Each light has 2 holes for screws and 1 hole for wires. Times 5 lights at 3 hole each equals 15 holes.

But progress is catching up. I've seen newer LED clearance lights that only need 1 hole about the size of a nickel. That was at Freeway trailer parts (north of camping world, on same street)

Have you thought about what would happen if you didn't install clearance/running lights?

When the DOT reflective tape became law for commercial trailers our company famous for messing around and waited till the last moment.

Then they had a hard time getting any because everybody wanted it at that time.

End result was a "fix it" ticket at the scales at the tide flats north of you, on I-5.

No big deal.

[Jfet]

Don't know if it is an option for your setup but I put the front marker lights on our solar panel mount so I don't have any leak issues.

[tonymull]

Mine has the lights, but if my headlights are on auto, where they stay 99% of the time, they don't come on even at night, I have to turn the headlights to ON manually...2015 silverado.

[Tiger4x4RV]

I asked a family member who is in law enforcement. He said that as far as he knew such lights are not required. However, if a vehicle has the lights they have to be in working condition.

[enblethen]

Really depends on size of vehicle, height width and length. Lights should have been installed correctly from the factory based on Federal requirements.
Federal Lighting requirements

[tonymull]

Pretty sure they are only required for commercial vehicles. Not every camper even has them.