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.



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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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..

[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.