Rear backup lights
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Rear backup lights
Anyone have any cool solutions for night-time backing and trailer hitching? I would like to use one of the upfitters to turn on lights in/under the bumper and some type of bright LEDs in the third brake light on the back of the cab. Something very bright.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 436
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Subscribing because I like the idea. I've got limo black tinting in the back and it is tough to see when backing up at night.... Although the camera does a great job at night. I can hook the boat up first try in total darkness.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
Slightly off topic: backing up my 5er at night is a real pita. The camera doesn't dim enuf. Too much glare and reflection coming off the screen from the front of the 5er and the back-up lights on the truck. Dang! Plus, the side mirrors reflect the front of the 5er and the back-up lights making it hard to see. I know I'm whining, but, that's the way I see it. Is there a way to disable the camera when the 5er is hooked up?
One more light complaint. Why can't I turn on my cargo light without turning on the interior cab lights?
Sorry Epic.
One more light complaint. Why can't I turn on my cargo light without turning on the interior cab lights?
Sorry Epic.
Thread Starter
|
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Slightly off topic: backing up my 5er at night is a real pita. The camera doesn't dim enuf. Too much glare and reflection coming off the screen from the front of the 5er and the back-up lights on the truck. Dang! Plus, the side mirrors reflect the front of the 5er and the back-up lights making it hard to see. I know I'm whining, but, that's the way I see it. Is there a way to disable the camera when the 5er is hooked up?
One more light complaint. Why can't I turn on my cargo light without turning on the interior cab lights?
Sorry Epic.
One more light complaint. Why can't I turn on my cargo light without turning on the interior cab lights?
Sorry Epic.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Mine came with the upfitters also and I have not really come up with a good use for them either. I just pull a gooseneck and a standard trailer.
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More Turbo
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 677
Likes: 118
From: Ontario, Canada
Well, I mounted a cheap driving light between the trailer electrical plug and the hitch receiver and it is wired into the reverse light wire of the the 7 pin plug. This lights things up quite nicely for the rear view camera.
I will be mounting a couple other cheap driving lights under the trailer, but I am not sure how I will be wiring them yet. The upfitter switches seem like a good idea for this, I will just need to create a plug for the trailer lights.
Of course neither of these options light up the hitch in the back of the truck...maybe a small light mounted in the truck bed connected to an upfitter as well.
I will be mounting a couple other cheap driving lights under the trailer, but I am not sure how I will be wiring them yet. The upfitter switches seem like a good idea for this, I will just need to create a plug for the trailer lights.
Of course neither of these options light up the hitch in the back of the truck...maybe a small light mounted in the truck bed connected to an upfitter as well.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: central MN
I just got done putting 4-2' led light bars in the bed of my truck. I put them up high under the bed rails on the part that is at a 45 degree angle. This works really well and the lights have magnets on them that stick pretty well. I just put a switch on the left side of the bed in on of the holes that are already there. I wired direct to the battery so that I can use them any time I want. They only draw 17 watts so if I forget to turn them off it's not a big deal. I got these light bars from bright led dot com. This lights up the bed really well.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
I just got done putting 4-2' led light bars in the bed of my truck. I put them up high under the bed rails on the part that is at a 45 degree angle. This works really well and the lights have magnets on them that stick pretty well. I just put a switch on the left side of the bed in on of the holes that are already there. I wired direct to the battery so that I can use them any time I want. They only draw 17 watts so if I forget to turn them off it's not a big deal. I got these light bars from bright led dot com. This lights up the bed really well.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Ok, here you go....
Get a 12V linear actuator
25 lbs. Linear Actuators
Fabricate a light bar that raises up between the cab and the bed when you throw the switch. LED bar should be small enough to fit in that gap. Would be very slick.....
Get a 12V linear actuator
25 lbs. Linear Actuators
Fabricate a light bar that raises up between the cab and the bed when you throw the switch. LED bar should be small enough to fit in that gap. Would be very slick.....
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 630
Likes: 30
From: Green Acres, Ca.
I mounted a set of low profile oval 55 watt driving lights from Pep boys onto the receiver hitch and hooked them up to up-fitter switch #4. Marked the bracket holes on the receiver hitch, drilled and tapped a 10-24 thread hole to mount the lights to. Works pretty darn good. The only drawback is the ignition has to be on to the accessory position. I would post pictures back thats a pain in the rear.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Washington State
I mounted a set of low profile oval 55 watt driving lights from Pep boys onto the receiver hitch and hooked them up to up-fitter switch #4. Marked the bracket holes on the receiver hitch, drilled and tapped a 10-24 thread hole to mount the lights to. Works pretty darn good. The only drawback is the ignition has to be on to the accessory position. I would post pictures back thats a pain in the rear.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
I mounted 2 2"x4" KC backup lights on my back rack and use them to back up all the time. I have a 20' car trailer used for wood pellet delivery. The only time I have a hard time is when the rain beads up on the mirror and creates glare.