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Living in the country, I find the stock backup lights on my van leave a lot to be desired. You city folks don't know about country dark, but let me tell you, it's DARK. Since I have a few extra off-road lights laying around, I decided to fix the problem. The new light looks like it belongs there. It comes on with the backup lights, and I have a kill switch on the dash board for times when I don't want the extra light. (Like when backing with a trailer.)
The light is driven by a relay which is concealed behind my taillight assembly. There's plenty of room in there. I ran 10 gauge wire from the front to feed the relay, stealing some 12v from the lug on the starter solenoid next to the battery, where the B+ connects to the solenoid. There's an inline fuse, of course (ATC, 30 amp). I ran the supply wire and the switch wire in some 1/2" wire loom and used cable ties to attach it to the rear AC lines. A tap on the backup light wire provides 12v to the relay when the backup lights are on, and the ground goes through the new switch on the dash.
Here are a few pics:
The finished product. (Yes, I know, I need to replace the trailer light fixture.)
Mounted on a piece of C-channel, attached to the trailer hitch mount point. Just undo the nut, put the C-channel in place, and replace the nut.
A closer view of mounting the C-channel on the trailer hitch nut.
Since mine is a stripped down model (no fancies at all, not even power windows), I have a couple of blank spots available to mount switches or whatever. There is plenty of room behind there. The switch is intended to light when on, but since I am using it to switch the ground side of the relay, it doesn't. I don't care!
The switch looks clean, the light is subtle and as you describe 'looks like it belongs there', nice job!
Any picks of the 'C' channel bracket before you mounted it? did it come with the lamp or did you 'fabricate' it?
No, sorry, I don't. I think I may have had two of those. I'll check on that and post a pic if I find it. It wasn't a common thing you'd find at the hardware store. It was actually a piece of a bracket that was part of a shipping container for a cellular base station. Those are bolted into their shipping containers pretty securely. I remember I nabbed one from the trash because the wood is really pretty sturdy, and I wanted a couple of the panels for a project. It's much better grade than your typical industrial wooden shipping box.
Any piece of 2 - 2 1/2" C-channel would work, though. You'd just have to drill the holes. This bracket already had holes at the right locations. It was perfect!
I tried this after dark last night and wow! What a difference! This project was well worth the effort!
You discovered what I did concerning needing some real lumens to help backing up at night. The stock reverse lights wouldn't allow my back-up camera to discern anything worthwhile. The lights I bought can be found on ebay for about $8 each. I wired them up just as you did except I don't have the switch. Here are some pictures showing the difference.
i had backup lights jerry-rigged on my plow truck (2006 F350) for a few years. Got bashed alot backing into piles, etc and the last one finally got knocked off the last storm of the season last year.
Ended up just putting LED bulbs in my reverse lights. While they’re not the same as spot lights, they are significantly better than the stock reverse bulbs. I used them this winter and they helped alot.
I will also get some night images once my install is complete.
I did a little something different using some of those bumper flush-mount lamps.
After having placed a couple of the non-flush mount lights using magnets to judge distance needed and location approximation. I went with this solution instead of bumper mounting.
Installing these as low-level area work lamps and to enhance my Back up Camera View.
I am lacking an LED-less fuse block (I hate these things. Electricity continues to pass through/crossover via the resistor) for the rear cabin of Buffy, as soon as I can find/afford one, I will get back to you all with some night shots.
I can get links for Light used, the lights I recommend, and materials I am using for installation.
If anyone is interested.
Nice. I like the idea of having them up out of the way. I'm sure mine will get whacked now and then. But, the price was right!
I have toyed with adding some additional brake lights in the manner you have mounted your backups.
I saw those flush mounts a week after I had ordered my bracket mounts. I think the Sgt. has the best idea regarding mounting style and placement. The sun has yellowed the front clear plastic on mine in 3 years. On my replacements I have a sheet of 3M's UV-block for windows to apply. Hopefully that will extend their useful life.
I am not very subtle. As poor as the rear view is on these things, I want to see what's behind me. I can use the shadows projected on a near wall
LOL...Back Up Cam kit :P
Love this the ZEROCLUB Digital Wireless Backup Camera System Kit for Back up and towing Purposes.
No need for a permanent mount. I run one of the wireless cameras mounted to a magnet for towing other than my trailer, vehicles, Misc/Unexpected Tow, etc.
plus have one camera permanently mounted on Van and one on the Travel Trailer.
This leaves one Wireless Cam in standby for whatever I need
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
But, the price was right!
