Flatbed lighting
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: DEWINTON Alberta
Flatbed lighting
I may have posted awhile back about some light issues but can't find/ remember.
Wrapping up the build on flatbed for my 88 f150 4x4
I have it set up that I am using 1 reverse light(each side) and one 3 way light.
Within the factory harness I've identified the brake, signal & headlight wires.
Hooked up everything to test and all seem to work.
A cpl of questions now.. Just about every deck I've seen has a reverse and 2 red lights run ? Why is this ?
2nd yes all my lights seem to work expect the fact that once key in ignition is engaged the red light are always on dim, with truck running as well. Go through signals, brake check, lights and that works but once off the lights are still on dim red glow?
i know I've asked about this before and was suggested a grounding prob, I cannot find a ground prob.
Is it the fact I'm only running 1 light ?
Brake switch at the pedal ?
Anyhow, I've taken the wiring appart 10 times now and still the same outcome.
Also, does an 88 have daytime running lights ? I think not but you guys would know.
I have owned this truck 3 years now but have never driven it yet, should be on the road this month.
thank you, if you guys think of some thing let me know, I'm dying to drive this baby!
Wrapping up the build on flatbed for my 88 f150 4x4
I have it set up that I am using 1 reverse light(each side) and one 3 way light.
Within the factory harness I've identified the brake, signal & headlight wires.
Hooked up everything to test and all seem to work.
A cpl of questions now.. Just about every deck I've seen has a reverse and 2 red lights run ? Why is this ?
2nd yes all my lights seem to work expect the fact that once key in ignition is engaged the red light are always on dim, with truck running as well. Go through signals, brake check, lights and that works but once off the lights are still on dim red glow?
i know I've asked about this before and was suggested a grounding prob, I cannot find a ground prob.
Is it the fact I'm only running 1 light ?
Brake switch at the pedal ?
Anyhow, I've taken the wiring appart 10 times now and still the same outcome.
Also, does an 88 have daytime running lights ? I think not but you guys would know.
I have owned this truck 3 years now but have never driven it yet, should be on the road this month.
thank you, if you guys think of some thing let me know, I'm dying to drive this baby!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 11
From: Ohio
What is this 3 way light you mention?
You ask about a reverse light and 2 red lights run? Yes, most any vehicle will have at least one reverse light and two tail lights. What is the question?
There are FOUR wires to the rear of the truck.
Left turn/brake
Right turn/brake
parking lights
reverse lights
You must have something wired incorrectly if the rear lights are on dim all the time. This is no standard factory wire to the rear of the truck that will do that, unless you have trailer towing package and it has a 7 pin plug that had battery power(with key on). Not sure if that was offered back then? I know my '96 F350 had it.
You ask about a reverse light and 2 red lights run? Yes, most any vehicle will have at least one reverse light and two tail lights. What is the question?
There are FOUR wires to the rear of the truck.
Left turn/brake
Right turn/brake
parking lights
reverse lights
You must have something wired incorrectly if the rear lights are on dim all the time. This is no standard factory wire to the rear of the truck that will do that, unless you have trailer towing package and it has a 7 pin plug that had battery power(with key on). Not sure if that was offered back then? I know my '96 F350 had it.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: DEWINTON Alberta
Thanks,
most flatbeds i see around have 2 red lights on each side plus the white backup. Bringing total to 6.
mine I have used 1 backup each side and 1 red each side . Total 4
the reds I bought give me signal, brake and running lights when headlights are on.
question 1 is the fact that I've tried to use a so called universal or all in one light a problem ?
questiin 2 why the heck is the red light always on dim ( everything functions normal other than that ) ?
when I bought truck had no box on so wiring was disconnected.
factory plug was still in tact so I wired into that.
i don't think there was ever a hitch on truck so no 4 flat or 7 pole present.
i think I'm ok with the way I've set it up but cannot get the tail lights to go off unless key is out
ill recheck all grounds etc.as well recheck that I have wired correct.
tx
most flatbeds i see around have 2 red lights on each side plus the white backup. Bringing total to 6.
mine I have used 1 backup each side and 1 red each side . Total 4
the reds I bought give me signal, brake and running lights when headlights are on.
question 1 is the fact that I've tried to use a so called universal or all in one light a problem ?
questiin 2 why the heck is the red light always on dim ( everything functions normal other than that ) ?
when I bought truck had no box on so wiring was disconnected.
factory plug was still in tact so I wired into that.
i don't think there was ever a hitch on truck so no 4 flat or 7 pole present.
i think I'm ok with the way I've set it up but cannot get the tail lights to go off unless key is out
ill recheck all grounds etc.as well recheck that I have wired correct.
tx
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles, Ca.
A constant light is wrong and it's not because of grounding. One of the wires is getting power when it shouldn't and you need to figure out which and why.
In this context, doesn't matter if you run one light on each side or 50, they would always be powered with the key on which isn't right. The trucks you see with two lights per side might be running an independent lighting system and your truck was originally wired for an intermittent system. It wasn't equipped with DRL and even if it was it would make no difference for the taillight wiring.
You're running three way lights plus reverse lights which is redundant and possibly confusing things for you. The reverse in the three way is all you need. If you want additional reverse lights you need to be aware that the extra amperage load might cause a problem.
Independent: One bulb filament for brake, and another for turn. Like with cars that have a red brake light and yellow signal light, two separate lights. On some aftermarket bodies they're independent but both red.
Intermittent: The same filament does both brake and turn which is how your truck was manufactured.
In this context, doesn't matter if you run one light on each side or 50, they would always be powered with the key on which isn't right. The trucks you see with two lights per side might be running an independent lighting system and your truck was originally wired for an intermittent system. It wasn't equipped with DRL and even if it was it would make no difference for the taillight wiring.
You're running three way lights plus reverse lights which is redundant and possibly confusing things for you. The reverse in the three way is all you need. If you want additional reverse lights you need to be aware that the extra amperage load might cause a problem.
Independent: One bulb filament for brake, and another for turn. Like with cars that have a red brake light and yellow signal light, two separate lights. On some aftermarket bodies they're independent but both red.
Intermittent: The same filament does both brake and turn which is how your truck was manufactured.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 778
Likes: 2
From: southeast Idaho
It can save a lot of problems if you also run a ground wire thru the plug so it does not have to ground thru the trailer hitch which makes it intermittent at best. With an iffy ground electricity can backfeed thru the system to other lights which leaves them on , but under powered and dim..
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 542
Likes: 1
Are your lights LED's? If so, that's probably the culprit for your weak light when you shouldn't have any - trace voltage, it happens a lot with older vehicles when converting to LED. There's a fix for it, I just can't remember what it is, I believe it involves a diode, I know it was discussed at length in the '73-79 forum a year or so back.
What exactly are you meaning by 3-way? Stop/turn/tail? If that's the case, there's no real reason to run duals on each side, it's just a cheap way to dress it up some (to some people). Your pickup is wired from the factory to use the same bulb for stop and turn anyhow, so you can't really split 'em without some relatively major re-wiring. The law says a single fixture is okay (at least here), and you will need a center trio over a certain width - that's up into dually territory, usually, although I was told that's why Raptors have trios on both ends.
If you're talking turn/tail/reverse lights, like on a Jeep, then that's all you need - heck, they're all a Jeep has, so why not?
What exactly are you meaning by 3-way? Stop/turn/tail? If that's the case, there's no real reason to run duals on each side, it's just a cheap way to dress it up some (to some people). Your pickup is wired from the factory to use the same bulb for stop and turn anyhow, so you can't really split 'em without some relatively major re-wiring. The law says a single fixture is okay (at least here), and you will need a center trio over a certain width - that's up into dually territory, usually, although I was told that's why Raptors have trios on both ends.
If you're talking turn/tail/reverse lights, like on a Jeep, then that's all you need - heck, they're all a Jeep has, so why not?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: DEWINTON Alberta
Yes they are led lights.
i called them 3 way because they are brake/turn/running.
I haven't had a chance to run down these possible solutions because work has been crazy.
I hoped to be driving this spring and now looks like fall.
projects seem to drag on.
Ill see if I can dig up the diode thread .
thanks for help !
i called them 3 way because they are brake/turn/running.
I haven't had a chance to run down these possible solutions because work has been crazy.
I hoped to be driving this spring and now looks like fall.
projects seem to drag on.
Ill see if I can dig up the diode thread .
thanks for help !
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