Backup lights

[mds47588]

Something that I have been wanting to do for awhile now was to add backup lights to the trailer. When I come home at night it’s typically about 12:30am and there is NO ambient light at my house. Seems as if the other vehicles are never in the same spot, so this one was a natural.

To add backup lights merely open up the junction box usually located on the front of the trailer frame and access the yellow wire, which supplies power for backup lights (to mimic the reverse lights on the tow vehicle) Mine was capped off. I then added two wires connecting to that and ran each along the underside of the frame, thru the grommet holes to the rear bumper. For lights literally there is an endless selection of price color, size...etc. Flood/utility lights are what’s needed vs fog/driving lights. I purchased two from Autozone that are LED and approx $20.00 each.

Mounting them is very straightforward and should pose no difficulty to anyone. All connections are crimped with heat shrink. Less than $50.00 invested and approx 1hr. Totally worth it!!

[RAurand]

Some folks need to be aware of state laws. If you have something like that, Inspection requirements require they come on when the vehicle is placed in reverse. Me, I don't see a reason for having them come on during the daytime, so I would want to control when they come on, but state inspection says no.

[mds47588]

Mods - plz delete as this was included in the consolidated mod thread I started. Thanx!!

[mds47588]

Don’t all vehicles have (or supposed to have) back up lights that come on regardless of time, your tow vehicle included?

NO laws violated. They are wired into the yellow reverse light from the 7-way. Once the tow vehicle engages reverse, then the trailer back up lights come on with the truck lights and then go off when reverse is disengaged.

[pschriro]

I mounted two under the rear bumper of the TV and tied them into the cargo lamps. They can be turned on from in the cab. They throw sufficient light under the TT to the rear. A switch in the bed allows them to be disabled when not needed.

[mds47588]

I thought about going about it way, along with a bazillion other ways as well. In the end, I kept it simple. Since the 7 way is already wired for reverse, and it’s present in the trailer the easiest way for me was to merely install two lights on the rear bumper and then when the tow vehicle is in reverse, then I have reverse lights on the trailer.

Where I live at is very dark and last week when I got home it made a huge difference being able to back into the driveway.

[pschriro]

I'm sure they work well. I was lucky that I was able to kill two birds with one stone with the lamps on the truck ... plenty of light to work the hitch.