Exterior Lighting at Night

[Wolverine]

I have been wondering what it takes to get all my marker lights and tail lights to light up at night once I have unhooked from my trailer ??? I take walks at night and see certain people have their trailers rigged up this way. I think it is pretty neat and would like to know what it takes to do the same. Is there a kit I can buy or is it stricktly know how ???

You can see what unit I have in my signiture below. Thanks for any help anyone may have and HAPPY CAMPING !!!!

[dmax_83]

You need to jump #4 and #3 on your 7 way connector.

http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/pics/f/a/faq043_ss_500.jpg

Careful though as this is a 'hot topic' on lots of r/v forums :shocked:

[nylyon]

And for that extra cool effect you can use an old Heavy Duty type automotive directional signal flasher (which fits perfectly between 4 & 3) then your markers will flash too! I'll bet that one is even more of a hot topic :)

[Wolverine]

Excuse the ignorance, what do you mean by "Hot Topic" ???
Could I burn the trailer to the ground ???

[nylyon]

Controversial, usually meaning there are strong opinions (usually against the idea)

[Wolverine]

Not big on taking chances with this big of an investment. If I burned the TT to the ground my family would hang me !!!

[rdhousejr]

We too usually walk about and like to leave the campsite cold when we do so that there are no surprises when we come back, i.e. burning your TT down. Kim's night vision isn't all that good and she really could use a night light at the steps. So, what I did was install a blue led light strip I bought at West Marine just behind the steps and fished the wire through the floor to the wall just inside the door where I installed a mini rocker switch. Power washed not a problem as the porch light switch was just above the location of my new switch. The current draw on the LED's is so low, that I can and have run this night light all night and not even notice it on my coach batteries in the morning.

As far as running all the exterior lights at night, I wouldn't just from the fact that we always dry camp and I have to rely on the coach batteries. I have not changed my exterior lights out for LEDs yet and the power consumption of the incandescent bulbs is much higher than the LEDs.

I'll take a picture tonight of the night light and post it so that you can have a better idea. It really does provide quite a bit of useful lighting.

[bed685]

I bought this great little gadget. It kind of similar to what was already discussed but a commercial version.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl6weAEPPnk

[hammer]

all you need is a 10 amp flat blade automotive fuse to jump #3 and #4 as shown in above post. They fit perfectly i have been doing this for years and no you won't burn your trailer down.

[dalenoel]

Wolverine, you should not worry of the TT burning down.

The only 'Hot Topic' aspect of this is that some do not like the lights on at night as their neighbors lights bother them. Some people don't even like to see the awning lights on other peoples campers.


Personally I leave the jumper in most of the night hours until we go in. Then I turn them off.

[dmax_83]

My use of the term 'hot topic' wasn't meant to strike fear into anyones hearts about burning down your camper. I was suggesting, as others have mentioned, that there are some who dislike any sort of light pollution while they are camping.

There are three topics that seem to get every forum worked up 1) honda/yamaha vs cheaper generators, 2) outdoor lights on while camping, 3) gas vs diesel.

[mcfarmall]

My use of the term 'hot topic' wasn't meant to strike fear into anyones hearts about burning down your camper. I was suggesting, as others have mentioned, that there are some who dislike any sort of light pollution while they are camping.

There are three topics that seem to get every forum worked up 1) honda/yamaha vs cheaper generators, 2) outdoor lights on while camping, 3) gas vs diesel.

You forgot one....towing hybrids with minivans.

Getting back to the OT, unless your boondocking you are probably going to have "neighbors" nearby. Most folks have some sort of party lights etc. which are ok by me. I use a fused dongle with a couple of 1/4" male spade connectors to turn my markers on if I want to. My gripe is not the party or marker lights but the 8" diameter lights on the sides of peoples rigs that they leave on all night.

[nylyon]

Now if they came up with a remote control version where you could click your clicker and your trailer lights flash, that would be handy!

I've done the lights on thing, but it became more of a hassle to turn them off than it was worth to me. I like lights on the outside, but I use very low intensity lights and turn them off at a reasonable time (10:00) as to not bother my neighbors. I agree that 8" security light is bothersome!

[RustyFairmount]

X2 what Hammer said.

[mcfarmall]

Somebody on here posted a picture of a dummy vehicle receptacle mounted on the trailer tongue that they would plug the trailer cord into when not plugged into the tow vehicle. You could run a fused cable from 3 & 4 into the camper to a conveniently mounted rocker switch to turn then on and off from the comfort of your coach. You could even get fancy and wire a flasher in there so you could choose flash or steady burn by flipping one switch or the other. Hmmmm, I might just do that myself!!

[Wolverine]

I had no idea this would be a lightening rod type of topic. I appreciate everyone who chimed in. It is amazing how many different views there is on this. I went ahead and took BED's recommendation an went to www.rvglow.com and bought a device for $25.00 that you plug into you 7-way. It is safe and easy and that is what I am all about when it comes to electricity. The truth of the matter is that electricity and I have a horrible past. I made the "Wall of Flame" in shop class because I couldn't wire in parallel or series. That is my boo hoo story of why I take the easy and more expensive road when it comes to wiring.

Thank you all and happy camping !!!!!!

[LilWilly]

I can understand why that would be a "hot topic" as the lights may distract sleeping children, pets, etc.

When I'm at the CG i'm usually more worried about what my neighbors are doing with their campfire. One joker about burned down my tent last year..:shocked:

[RoyBraddy]

Be sure you are connected to shore power when you run your trailer lights all night. That is alot of light bulbs to lite up and it may drain your trailer battery pretty quick.

[tlhdoc]

$25 is a lot of money when a 10 amp fuse will do the job. I think it looks nice when the campers lights are on, but please turn the outside lights off when you go to bed. Light come through the tenting of my trailer. I never understood why people feel the need to leave lights on all night. Are they afraid of the dark? IF you have to have outside lights on at night, after you go to bed...why don't you camp at Wal-Mart?:)

[82corvette]

I mounted blue rope lights underneath the floor inside the frame. It gives off a soft glow to the ground that everyone at the campground seems to like.

[RoyBraddy]

You could very easily go to the trailer cable junction box up front close to the first cross frame member under your trailer where the trailer cable connects to the trailer lights wiring. This is usually an electrical junction box with a lid coverning it.

The wires are connected using the large twist nuts so it would be easy to find the two wires for 12VDC power and the running lights and add a long 2-conductor cable back to a wall inside your trailer to an plastic wall box. There you could mount a RADIO SHACK toggle switch or maybe just a regular house light switch and turn on your lights you want on from inside the trailer. Label it running lights or something like that. Then it would be a permanent light switch for you to use from inside your trailer.

If I did this I would want the light switch near the front door so I could turn it off when in travel mode etc... Seems like a big effort just to run your outside running lights on the trailer.

It was pointed out by a post some time ago this would be a great emergency thing to do if you had to call the police or rescue squad as you could tell them its the trailer with the running lights on...

Then you tell your friends this is an emergency alert light for the Police and Rescue squad folks to find your trailer in the dark....

[cm11599ps]

I plugged a 10 amp fuse into the trailer line yesterday afternoon at the CG and theighys came on. I got home and parked about 7:30 last night and put the fuse back in when I got unhitched. Looks great to me. Can't wait till next weekend to try it at the next CG!

[RoyBraddy]

another lightning bug born....

We light up pretty good at camp sites. Have a greeting lamp post on, rope lights under the awning which doesnt draw bugs, and usually have two clamp-on desk light pointing up into the trees off to the side of picnic table area. The idea here is to keep the REAL BIG bugs over there and not around our outside chairs. The low leaves of the trees looks good lit up too..

Then I can find my way back to the trailer when I go to the bath room.

[LouRobin]

Ok, I have very limited Electrical ability, I see the connector picture at the beginning of this thread, and see where it say jump the two using flat blades with a fuse. Is this jump something I can buy, or have to build?
Anyone have a picture of this.
Sorry guys, just a bit electrically challenged.

[RoyBraddy]

goto RVGLOW.com

They have an adapter plug that will plug into your 7-way trailer connector and shorts out the proper two blade sockets to turn on all your trailer running lights. this will run down down your trailer battery if left on too long if you are not connected to shore power

TRAILER CABLE CONNECTOR BEFORE
http://www.rvglow.com/7wayplug.jpg

TRAILER CABLE CONNECTOR AFTER
http://www.rvglow.com/7wayplugwithadapter.jpg

Or you can just do this yourself with a short piece of wire or use a regular CAR FLASHER to plug into the two connectors and the trailer running lights will flash... Your camping neighbors will just love you to death doing this...

http://rvbasics.com/techtips/images/rvplugart.gif

Not really TOO TECHNICAL... Notice the raised FLAT area on the plug just above the pins 3 and 4. This is the key to look for to identify where the pins 3 and 4 are located.

Photos from Google Images

[Gibby3275]

Do you bend the 10 amp fuse to get it in?

[drfife]

Do you bend the 10 amp fuse to get it in?

No need to bend the fuse, it will fit right in and the radius will be enough grip to hold it.

[Jagiven]

Here are a few pictures of my setup. I use a 15 amp fuse. Reason why; the wires are not rated for 10 amp. The flasher is a heavy duty one from NAPA, I think it was model # 552 cost me $4. Fyi, if you use a light duty flasher the lights flash faster (what a tung twister).

There are no modifications to anything. How I remember where to plug it in. There is a bump out on the plug for aligning the plug into the felmale socket, I just jumper across those to terminals.

5048 5050 5049 5051

[RoyBraddy]

yup

[Boss Wagon]

all you need is a 10 amp flat blade automotive fuse to jump #3 and #4 as shown in above post. They fit perfectly i have been doing this for years and no you won't burn your trailer down.

Thanks, Hammer. I have wanted to be able to have my lights on at camp, prior to turning in of course. I was actually thinking about putting another connector, with just the lug for the lights wired to the battery. Then you made it simple. I went outside, put in the fuse, turned the battery disconnect switch "On" and then there was light!

[chris.nelson12]

On my 2011 eagle TT 32RLDS I pulled a speaker in the rear and found where Jayco ran the taillight wires from front to rear, I ran a wire to a switch and mounted it by other wall switches on cabinet end. It works Greg and I upgraded all my exterior lights to LED and it looks awesome at night!!!

[Dwilcox353]

I love this forum!
Wife and I have never seen this while camping. Too simple to think of. Had to try it out. Grabbed a fuse, plugged it in, and there was light. Grabbed the wife and she liked it (Spousal approval is a must with mods to HER trailer), then I told her about the flasher. She liked that idea to. Then I said "So next spring when we go camping with your folks, what do you think of stopping by their trailer, stick your head in and say "Why are your markers flashing?"" She loved that idea.
10 AMP fuse - $.20
Heavy Duty Flasher - $4.00
Freaking out your in-laws - Priceless

[tnchuck100]

I don't leave "party lites" on all night. I will usually turn them off around 11 PM. I know many leave them on all night. Not a big deal. However....I cannot stand it when a close by neighbor has a 5er and leave those bright white moon lights on the sides where the bedroom is. When it happens it takes all the restraint I can muster to keep from turning them off with my pellet gun.

[elstonian]

We have a gadget for our camper called RV Glow, I bought it on ebay for $20 it plugs into the 7 way plug and turns on all the outside lights on the camper its awsome to be able to find the camper in the night since our seasonal spot is pretty dark....



2006 GMC Sierra 2500 (gas)
2011 Jayco 23j

[chipper]

I ran a string of rope lights under the trailer. It gives out a lite glow of indirect lighting, just enough to see where you are walking around in the dark.

[nevercominhome]

I love this forum!

10 AMP fuse - $.20
Heavy Duty Flasher - $4.00
Freaking out your in-laws - Priceless
+1 :cool:


I ran a string of rope lights under the trailer. It gives out a lite glow of indirect lighting, just enough to see where you are walking around in the dark.
Chipper, did you run the entire trailer, one side, or just a section? I like the sound of your idea.

[MrKong]

The worst offenders are the people that run the 6 or 7 inch round lights. Last year I had a person across the road had one installed on the back of the TT and ran it all night long.

But, small lights are great, they attract the bugs away from me to another spot.

[mcfarmall]

I think some strips of LED's or neons would be cool tucked up under the frame of the trailer. Only problem with that is it would light up all the junk I store under there like firewood, my tote tank, shoes.....

[krackeer]

I think some strips of LED's or neons would be cool tucked up under the frame of the trailer. Only problem with that is it would light up all the junk I store under there like firewood, my tote tank, shoes.....

That was my plan at one time. Problem is figuring out how to get them to stay in place. a friend did purchase a 15 foot led light strip that is waterproof from amazon. he applied it on the awning where most people hang their lights. It had self adhesive, but he then went over it with some clear plastic tape. it rolls up with the awning and hasn't caused any issues in the 2 years he has had them there. It came with a remote that allows him different color combos as well. i plan on getting a set in the spring. they cost about 30 bucks.

[ram2009]

I bought a 40ft length of rope light for our ez up canopy, when not used for that I drape on the ground from the hitch under the trailer by the wheels to the back of the unit. This way the lights glow from the ground up.

[ram2009]

dmax_83 the picture supplied above is upside down or not correct. notice where the slot is located on both pictures. opposite sides??

[dmax_83]

dmax_83 the picture supplied above is upside down or not correct. notice where the slot is located on both pictures. opposite sides??

You are correct, I just noticed it after you pointed it out. I 'borrowed' that pic from another website. The general principle remains the same though regardless of the incorrect indexing of the picture. Thanks for pointing that out.