LED light bar on back of TT

SU

sugarray40

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2014
Posts
228
I have been thinking of adding this to get some light for backing at night. Would really be nice to have the light and wonder if I'd have to install a switch?
 
That would be handy. I have often thought about adding lights for backing in at night. We always seem to arrive after dark. I would be interested to know what kind of light you are using and how it works out.
 
I don't want to have to use an auxiliary switch, hopefully I could wire it into the trailer harness somehow. My TT is in storage and not sure if there are back up lights already. That would be ideal as I could wire right to them and would always be activated when in reverse. Should get some good ideas here.
 
I don't think there are backup lights. I am always tapping the brakes for extra illumination. On our old camper we had a rack welded to the back and I added tail lights to it and had to run new wire back from the junction box in the front of the trailer. I could not find a clean easy way to tap into the wiring that was already there.
 
I recently purchased 4 18w 4inch Cree Led flood lights. I put two on my golf cart (pit vehicle at drag races) and I am planning on installing two on the rear bumper of my 2015 Jayco Jay Flight 26BHC. The center pin of my 7pin connector is unused so I am going to wire backup lamp circuit through there.
 
I think your better off putting in a switch, and wiring it to the 12 V battery, that way if you want to use the lights for something other than backing up, you can.
 
chuckworkb said:
I think your better off putting in a switch, and wiring it to the 12 V battery, that way if you want to use the lights for something other than backing up, you can.
Click to expand...

As I recall, someone mounted the backup lights on the trailer (with a switch like above), but mounted the lights in front of the axles. Then they could see the side of the trailer and their tires. Part of their reasoning was that - lighted or not - they couldn't see directly behind the trailer anyway. But they wanted to see where the tires were going.
 
The middle/center pin is for back up lights.

img_268396_0_f429c47f4bd0beb3160a91b46332c1f8.jpg
 
In your wire harness there is an unused wire for backup lights, if I recall correctly it is a yellow wire. On many units there is a junction box where the wire harness ties to the TT wiring, locate this location via following your TV/TT wire harness cable. You could tie into this wire, and run a wire to the rear of the TT attached to the frame. Connect the lights you want, and ground to the frame. Now every time you put the vehicle in reverse the backup lights will automatically engage.
 
No fair.. I already have too many "must do" mods to my camper.. Now you've just added one more...

I have an addition however that might make this mod better.. I figure if your going to go ahead with everything it would take to mount and wire backup lights, you might as well go a little further.. I would place a two way switch somewhere near the front hitch. In positon "A" the switch would allow power to come from the backup pin as described by USTABSLIM. When in this position you will automaticly have lighting when backing up. After you are setup and free from the tow vehicle, you can now move the switch to position "B" which would be directly tied into your camper battery. Now you have rear lights if needed... Any other time the switch can be in the off position.
 
You guys are too smart for me. The switch idea is AWESOME!! Keep posting up how to do this. It will really help. Thank you all for all your info.
 
Dang, 'nother mod for my list -- definitely will do the switch idea too, but a 3 way -- I want to be able to back up without blinding everyone behind me in some situations.
 
Tex1961 said:
No fair.. I already have too many "must do" mods to my camper.. Now you've just added one more...

I have an addition however that might make this mod better.. I figure if your going to go ahead with everything it would take to mount and wire backup lights, you might as well go a little further.. I would place a two way switch somewhere near the front hitch. In positon "A" the switch would allow power to come from the backup pin as described by USTABSLIM. When in this position you will automaticly have lighting when backing up. After you are setup and free from the tow vehicle, you can now move the switch to position "B" which would be directly tied into your camper battery. Now you have rear lights if needed... Any other time the switch can be in the off position.
Click to expand...

gotta do this!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I was thinking -- off, on, auto -- so I could turn it on if not hooked up and also have the auto backup feature as well as the off position
 
mitchmitchell said:
I was thinking -- off, on, auto -- so I could turn it on if not hooked up and also have the auto backup feature as well as the off position
Click to expand...

Yep, what I think now too!

Anyone have a switch recommendation?

Would you run a yellow wire to the center wire and a red wire to battery, then ground to frame? Each then connected to the switch and labeled?
 
sugarray said:
Yep, what I think now too!

Anyone have a switch recommendation?

Would you run a yellow wire to the center wire and a red wire to battery, then ground to frame? Each then connected to the switch and labeled?
Click to expand...

Switch recommendation??? I'd say Radio Shack but you had better hurry and find one soon.. :eek:

As far as your wiring goes.

Yellow to hitch pin.
Black to Light
Red to battery

Assuming your light is grounded already to the trailer you won't need to install any ground wire...
 
 
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