Brighter Reverse Lights
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, FL
I bought a set of the reverse lights that mount to the hitch with brackets. I have them tucked up high so you cant even see them unless you bend over. They came with 55w bulbs but I installed 100w bulbs. Hooked them to the upfitter switches (using a relay of course) and now its bright enough to get a sun tan back there.
You can do the same thing by hooking in to your reverse light rather than the upfitter (or both if you use a resistor) but I wanted mine on a switch so I can see when I am hooking up a trailer, playing in the woods, or whatever. The lights are especially funny when the teenage girl on the cell phone is 3 feet from the bumper and you hit the lights. I think thats known as a brake check.
You can do the same thing by hooking in to your reverse light rather than the upfitter (or both if you use a resistor) but I wanted mine on a switch so I can see when I am hooking up a trailer, playing in the woods, or whatever. The lights are especially funny when the teenage girl on the cell phone is 3 feet from the bumper and you hit the lights. I think thats known as a brake check.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-question.html
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Its easier than it looks.
85 - ground
30 - Battery (I put an in line fuse on this one)
86 - To the upfitter switch of your choice
87 - To your lights (or whatever accessory you might want to run)
This relay adds protection and also prevents voltage drop. I installed mine inside the frame rail by the spare tire.
85 - ground
30 - Battery (I put an in line fuse on this one)
86 - To the upfitter switch of your choice
87 - To your lights (or whatever accessory you might want to run)
This relay adds protection and also prevents voltage drop. I installed mine inside the frame rail by the spare tire.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: North Branford, CT
I did the same thing as WhiteEx, but my lights are Walmart driving lights, $15. It's about as bright going backwards as it is going forwards.. 
Easy to tap into the 7 pin connector backup circuit.
Easy to tap into the 7 pin connector backup circuit.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 407
Likes: 1
From: Richland, WA
Its easier than it looks.
85 - ground
30 - Battery (I put an in line fuse on this one)
86 - To the upfitter switch of your choice
87 - To your lights (or whatever accessory you might want to run)
This relay adds protection and also prevents voltage drop. I installed mine inside the frame rail by the spare tire.
85 - ground
30 - Battery (I put an in line fuse on this one)
86 - To the upfitter switch of your choice
87 - To your lights (or whatever accessory you might want to run)
This relay adds protection and also prevents voltage drop. I installed mine inside the frame rail by the spare tire.
Is adding a relay necessary? I thought the factory installed upfitters were wired with a fuse and relay.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
The "switched" power is used so that the ights will only work with the key on aux or if the truck is running. This helps prevent linadvertanly leaving them on and draining the battery. If you find the need to have them on without the key or the truck running then use a lighted switch to remind you that their on. Regardless, power is needed here to energize the relay coil.
The addition of the relay keeps the higher current wiring that the lights draw outside the cab, allows the use of lower gauge wiring and lower current rated switches to be used (for the relay coil power only) as well as eliminating a safety hazard.
The comment on wiring them to the back-up light circuit should be used with caution. Confirm your current draw of the lights you will be using so you don't overload the existing system. If your using a high current system you can wire a high current relay to the back-up wiring , this being your "switched" power (eliminating the manual switch in this case).
The addition of the relay keeps the higher current wiring that the lights draw outside the cab, allows the use of lower gauge wiring and lower current rated switches to be used (for the relay coil power only) as well as eliminating a safety hazard.
The comment on wiring them to the back-up light circuit should be used with caution. Confirm your current draw of the lights you will be using so you don't overload the existing system. If your using a high current system you can wire a high current relay to the back-up wiring , this being your "switched" power (eliminating the manual switch in this case).
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Yes the upfitters have their own relay but again only aux1 has the higher current rating (20 amps i believe) if in-fact you go with a high current set-up. If not i believe the others are good for 10 amps.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 1
From: NorCal
The 05-07 upfitters are rated 30 amps for #1 and #2, and 10 amps for #3 and #4.
I have my backup lights wired directly to upfitter #1 and I added an indicator light up high on my dash so that i wouldn't accidentally leave them on going down the road.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Thanks for the clarification Greg, I figured adding the words "I believe" was my disclaimer so i wouldn't have to go look it up. LOL
Thanks again
Dave
Thanks again
Dave
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Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,180
Likes: 669
From: Scio, OR
Just FYI, I was curious about this subject so I did some reading. My truck is a 2004 and my service and owner's manuals are model specific, so this might not apply to everyone, but I'd hazard a guess that they're all mostly the same.
There is a relay in the CJB for the trailer tow backup light wire. The owner's manual says relay 211 and it also says "Diesel engine only". It's fed by fuse #39 which is 15 amps. I don't know why it'd be different in a non diesel engine though.
I looked at a couple of backup light kits online and it appears they are typically two lights each with a 55 watt halogen bulb. A little math says that 110 watts at 12 volts is 9.16 amps, so figure 10.
So if all you're doing is just two 55 watt bulbs, you should be OK tapping into the trailer backup light wire without an additional relay. However, if you're putting in higher wattage bulbs you'd definitely want the additional relay. You'd also need to consider the additional amperage draw of the backup lights in your trailer or camper, if you are connecting one of those as well.
Just a little extra "light" on the subject.
There is a relay in the CJB for the trailer tow backup light wire. The owner's manual says relay 211 and it also says "Diesel engine only". It's fed by fuse #39 which is 15 amps. I don't know why it'd be different in a non diesel engine though.
I looked at a couple of backup light kits online and it appears they are typically two lights each with a 55 watt halogen bulb. A little math says that 110 watts at 12 volts is 9.16 amps, so figure 10.
So if all you're doing is just two 55 watt bulbs, you should be OK tapping into the trailer backup light wire without an additional relay. However, if you're putting in higher wattage bulbs you'd definitely want the additional relay. You'd also need to consider the additional amperage draw of the backup lights in your trailer or camper, if you are connecting one of those as well.
Just a little extra "light" on the subject.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Correct, I wouldn't do this if you plan on hooking up your trailer as you would have trailer back-ups as well as the aftermarket back-ups. This would surely put you close or above your 15 amp Maximum. If you wanted to get ingenious you could install a disable switch or jumper configured so when the camper is plugged in it disables the aftermarket lights.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: North Branford, CT
I've got that covered, my trailer doesn't have backup lights. 
I'm not sure why they bother with trailer BU lights anyway, they are typically so far back and of the cheap / weak variety that they do nothing for you.
I'm not sure why they bother with trailer BU lights anyway, they are typically so far back and of the cheap / weak variety that they do nothing for you.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,513
Likes: 1
I'm not sure why they bother with trailer BU lights anyway, they are typically so far back and of the cheap / weak variety that they do nothing for you.[/quote]
Pretty much the same purpose as the factory reverse lights... I think they are more about letting the people around you know that you are backing up, not so much about helping you see behind you.
I wasnt going to get involved in this but since it was brought up... I also ran 2 lights on the back of my 28 foot enclosed trailer. I hooked in to the same relay I run for the trucks aux reverse lights and ran the wire with my trailer plug. 200 watts of light does help me back up and more importantly I live on a dark country road (speed limit 55 mph) so it alerts any fast approaching cars that I am backing in to my driveway.
Pretty much the same purpose as the factory reverse lights... I think they are more about letting the people around you know that you are backing up, not so much about helping you see behind you.
I wasnt going to get involved in this but since it was brought up... I also ran 2 lights on the back of my 28 foot enclosed trailer. I hooked in to the same relay I run for the trucks aux reverse lights and ran the wire with my trailer plug. 200 watts of light does help me back up and more importantly I live on a dark country road (speed limit 55 mph) so it alerts any fast approaching cars that I am backing in to my driveway.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,620
Likes: 3
From: WARRINGTON, PA
heres mine that i have on my excursion. i cant mount them on the top of the hitch like the super dutiescan because there is no gap.
edit: NO COMMENTS on the munchkin in the backround squating. Its me and i'm 6'5" 250. Although, i look like i'm 2'5" and 400 lbs. lol.
edit: NO COMMENTS on the munchkin in the backround squating. Its me and i'm 6'5" 250. Although, i look like i'm 2'5" and 400 lbs. lol.