i want to put some extra backup lights (actually they are fog lights) on i wil probably mount them under the hitch and wanted to know if i could just tie into the original wiring or if i should use a relay and get power from the battery.


2000, F-350, 5.4L, auto, 4.10, westin side steps, western pro plow
original firestone junk tires.

 

Take power off the battery with a relay and put a switch inside the truck. If you take power directly from the battery you can switch these guys on even if the key is not in the ignition.



2001 F-350 CC Lariat 4X4 LB PSD SRW, Heated leather, off road package, western snow plow, strobe lights in parking lights, headlights and backup lights, tinted windows, stull billet insert, pioneer cd player, rockford fosgate 700S amp rocking 3 JL Audio 10W0's behind back seat,Infinity Interiors and an Alpine amp, husky liners front and back,Banks transcommand, K&N FIPK, ATS Ported Turbo Housing, Diablo Sport 110HP chip, Hypermax pryo/boost gauge, Hypermax 3.5 inch downpipe and 5 inch exhaust.

2002 F-350 XL 4X4 PSD DRW, XL Decor Package, 9' Heil Dump Body, 8' Western (for now) Poly Plow, Strobes Front and Back, toolboxes and Wheel Simulators.

 

You will need to take the lights off the battery through a relay to a switch. Be careful, some fog lights consume a large amount of amperage. Use an appropriate relay for the amperage draw of the lights.

 

Because,

I put a set of backup lights on my SD... they're about 1 1/2 X 5" wide and the directions had me just tie into the reverse wire of the harness. No relay necessary. Now these arent going to blind you backing up but they do light up the night when your backing up. they mounted nicely on the receiver hitch.

I dont remember the brand name, I think it was Pilot, but I got them at a bumper to bumper store and they are designed specifically for this purpose.

If it ever warms up here, I take some photos and put em in my gallery..

 

I plan to add backup lights, with a relay, controled by a switch in the cab. I am going to tie the switch in to the parking lights so that the park lights have to be on to have the reverse lights on. Hopefully this will help me not to leave the reverse lights on and drain my battery.

 

Why don't you have the backup lights themselves switch the relay???

 

I mounted a set of backuplights to my hitch,wired to a spare acc terminal. I used a highbeam dimmer floor switch so when im backing up or some a-hole has there high beams on i move my left foot over and they are on. no toggle switch to hunt for. However i would wire a indicator light in, I have allready a pleasant conversation with the state police, because i left them on by accident

 

I was doing some research on this on a different site. A guy is supposed to make a wiring diagram for me. It will have the relay and a 3 position toggle switch. 1 pos. is off. 1 pos. is on (good for hooking trailers at night or tailgaters). and 1 pos. for them to come on and go off automatically with the reverse lights. I will try to find his address and drop him an email.

 

I copied this schematic from Stan [link:www.eurekaboy.com/f250.htm|http://www.eurekaboy.com/f250.htm]

here is a link
[link:www.eurekaboy.com/f250/offroadwire.jpg|http://www.eurekaboy.com/f250/offroadwire.jpg]

 

Thanks guys. I like CBSUPERDUTY suggestion with the 3 way switch and relay , because i do have a tralier and the option of turning them manually could be real useful.

 

Santa ordered me a White Knight for Christmas:-X12 I'll let ya know if I like it

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Dec-02 AT 09:03 AM (EST)]> Thanks guys. I like CBSUPERDUTY suggestion with the
>3 way switch and relay , because i do have a tralier and the
>option of turning them manually could be real useful.

Well I think the solution is above in Wheels post (drawing by Stan). Just wire it like that but where it says high beams you would wire to your factory backup lights and where it has KC's wire to your new backup lights. BTW...Thanks for the diagram wheels. I just say the one he has for his backup lights which is not the same.

 

Backup lights YAAA!!!!

After months of trying different lights to use for my rv, I finally found some at Wal Mart. Those fog lights and other lights I found at the auto parts just had the beam to concentrated for my use. The lights I finally settled on were some magnetic base work lights, about $14.00 each. Took the magnet off, just screwed them to my bumper and currently have them connected to the existing backup lights, but plan on putting them on a seperate switch so I can use them when I need them. What is different about these lights, they have a tall/widerectangler light beam, just what you need for backing up or just a good light source. One light lights up the entire back of my coach. Want a good light source, try them.

Have a good holiday

Ed

 

Everybody has great input, here's my two cents. It may be long but bare with me.

I bought cheap square fog lights from a parts store, I had similar ones on an '87 250 and they broke frequently so don't spend too much money on lights, even cheep ones do the trick. Be carefull NOT to get driving lights the pencil beam light is no help for backing up you need to get FOG lights. On thsi truck, my '01 SD CC, I mounted the lights to the ford hitch receiver by drilling a hole into the frame and coating it with silicon to keep it from rusting. There's plenty of good ground there. I used a relay setup with main power coming from the 12v pin on the 7 pin trailer plug. It's a large wire and it has plenty of amp capacity to run the lights. I mounted a three way toggle switch with a built-in indicator light (from NAPA about $8) in the blank spot of dash where the shift on the fly switch would be. It was important to me for the switch to fit in with the dash and I looked for weeks before I settled on the NAPA switch. I then powered one side of the switch with constant 12v power from the additional lighter plug, you know the one with the stupid garage door cover. This allows for using the switch to convince people to turn their high beams off, or for trailer mounting, etc. I wired the other side of the switch to the reserve light switch on the transmision. Here is where the relay is important. On the '87 truck I wired the lights directly to the transmission output and burned it up leaving the truck with no back up lights at all (not good!).

I normally leave the switch in the auto position, when I put the truck in reverse the indicator light in the switch lights up and the lights come on. Of course in the center off position nothing happens and when I flip it to the on position the indicator light keeps me from forgetting to turn it off. The whole setup took about 4 hours to install but it works real well and looks good.

Good luck, email me with any questions

 

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