Help with backup lights
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Help with backup lights
I'm going to make a stab at this and hope this is the right group to ask. I have an '05 f350 ps crew king ranch (w/o the accessory wiring switches) and am looking at putting in some aftermarket back up lights. Would like to do this myself as I'm a cheap sob and am wondering if anyone has done it in the past and could share some wisdom as to the best way to accomplish the wiring task. I've tried the search deal on this site and doesn't seem to be working for me. Appreciate any help you could provide.
Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 76
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From: Bothell, WA
Welcome to the site md muhr. There is a plethora of info in here.
I mounted some auxilary tractor lights to the hitch receiver then t-tapped the reverse wire in my taillight. I plan on adding a relay and a switch so I can turn them on without the truck in reverse.
In this thread they have talked about it some.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=295633
If I ever get around to adding the relay anytime soon,
I could email some pics and a how to if you want.
I mounted some auxilary tractor lights to the hitch receiver then t-tapped the reverse wire in my taillight. I plan on adding a relay and a switch so I can turn them on without the truck in reverse.
In this thread they have talked about it some.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=295633
If I ever get around to adding the relay anytime soon,
I could email some pics and a how to if you want.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,221
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From: Dallas
I went to the local wal-mart and picked myself up four ricer fog lights. They were yellow and came in a package of two complete with wiring, switches and all. I used these and mounted two under the doors, and two at the back of the truck along the frame rail. The two under the door I pointed out at a diagonal direction, the two in the back straight out. When I flip them on EVERYTHING behind me lights up, and really makes backing easy. (factory backup lights suck even worse on a lifted rig).
Total cost: around 30 bucks... would do it again in a split-second.
good luck.
Total cost: around 30 bucks... would do it again in a split-second.
good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 223
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From: Breezewood (S.Central) PA
I haven't bought this but I saw them on Trucks TV
http://www.whitenight.com/whitenight/mainFrameset-1.htm
It is a set of lights that attach to a receiver hitch but still allow the hitch to be used. I'm going to get a set to install on my Bronco that I use for snow plowing my drive to help me in the winter.
http://www.whitenight.com/whitenight/mainFrameset-1.htm
It is a set of lights that attach to a receiver hitch but still allow the hitch to be used. I'm going to get a set to install on my Bronco that I use for snow plowing my drive to help me in the winter.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 81
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From: Dallas, Ga
I just installed the whitenight back up lights on my truck this past weekend. I have a long box truck. I love the new lights. They work great and very easy to install 3 wires. the lights are 55wats. It cost me $71.00 bucks. I feel allot safer backing up now because I can see!! As a side note they look great too!
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 782
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From: Sweet Home Alabama
The company that did my lift must have ordered the wrong ones or the receivers are different. That receiver mount light got in the way of the RV plug which would not work for me. I mounted my lights (also a wal mart special, but they are white) in the rear and wired them to the reverse wires in the RV plug and they only come on in reverse. I had an RV plug that is used to wire or rewire trailers so I hooked the lights to the RV spades and plugged it into the RV plug. When the trailer needs the RV plug, the lights are unplugged. I did it this way because I actually had the RV plug lying around to rewire a trailer I got rid of and I did not splice into any ford wires. At some time I will-maybe. They only light up the area the exterior mirrors see as it is lifted and I cannot see directly behind me near the bumper. If a car pulls behind me close, I can barely see the top of the windshield. This was a great mod and the lights are small enough so they tuck under enough that they are not easily spotted when walking by.
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From: Breezewood (S.Central) PA
Originally Posted by igotoneforya
The company that did my lift must have ordered the wrong ones or the receivers are different. That receiver mount light got in the way of the RV plug which would not work for me. ...
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Sweet Home Alabama
My installer did not know that, but he offered to relocate the RV plug behind the receiver. Although I think it would look better out of sight, the DIY walmart works as well and saved me 100 for a muffler!
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 423
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From: Cabot, Arkansas
Originally Posted by md muhr
I have an '05 f350 ps crew king ranch (w/o the accessory wiring switches) and am looking at putting in some aftermarket back up lights. Would like to do this myself as I'm a cheap sob and am wondering if anyone has done it in the past and could share some wisdom as to the best way to accomplish the wiring task.
I installed some of the $17 oval Walmart specials (I think the same ones as superstroker) and mounted them on my hitch under the truck. Since they are so small they don't pose much risk of being damaged while off-roading. Mine project a yellowish beam which some will not want, but it works great for me.
As for the wiring, there is a reverse light wire in the 7-pin connector and I tapped into it. This wire is already setup with a factory relay and fuse and my lights come on anytime I'm in reverse. I guess some big campers have backup lights and this wire powers it. My 7-pin cover has a wiring diagram which shows what each wire does, taking the guess work out of picking the right wire.
Check my gallery for a "not very detailed" photo of my install.
Edmo
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 81
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From: Dallas, Ga
The whitenight lights are plastic but they don't look cheap to me. I think they look good on the back. I had to move the trailer wiring just a little to install it not allot of trouble at all. I can send anybody pic's if they would like to see it installed.
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Originally Posted by Edmo
md muhr,
I installed some of the $17 oval Walmart specials (I think the same ones as superstroker) and mounted them on my hitch under the truck. Since they are so small they don't pose much risk of being damaged while off-roading. Mine project a yellowish beam which some will not want, but it works great for me.
As for the wiring, there is a reverse light wire in the 7-pin connector and I tapped into it. This wire is already setup with a factory relay and fuse and my lights come on anytime I'm in reverse. I guess some big campers have backup lights and this wire powers it. My 7-pin cover has a wiring diagram which shows what each wire does, taking the guess work out of picking the right wire.
Check my gallery for a "not very detailed" photo of my install.
Edmo
I installed some of the $17 oval Walmart specials (I think the same ones as superstroker) and mounted them on my hitch under the truck. Since they are so small they don't pose much risk of being damaged while off-roading. Mine project a yellowish beam which some will not want, but it works great for me.
As for the wiring, there is a reverse light wire in the 7-pin connector and I tapped into it. This wire is already setup with a factory relay and fuse and my lights come on anytime I'm in reverse. I guess some big campers have backup lights and this wire powers it. My 7-pin cover has a wiring diagram which shows what each wire does, taking the guess work out of picking the right wire.
Check my gallery for a "not very detailed" photo of my install.
Edmo
This is exactly what I'm looking to do. B/u lights will be used while I back down ~150 ft. of alley each night when I park. Looks as if this configuration will work very well if I point the lights outward a skosh. Thanks for the info.
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Joined: Aug 2003
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Back up lights that don't show
I purchased some back-up lights that tie wrap (they come with very big black tie wraps) to either side of the horizontal tube of my trailer hitch. They are tucked up under the truck so they hardly show and they work great! I didn't want to get the type that mounts flush with the rear of the truck using the trailer hitch, since I know I'd smash them up plowing in the winter (when I back into snow drifts).
I ran a switch to my dashboard and got the power from a fuse-tap (a special connector that lets the original fuse plug in, and gives another power output) from the fusebox in my dash. The total power was pretty low (<10amps) so I didn't bother with a relay. The switch I bought can easily handle it.
Check out my galary for photos of the back-up lights (new in the box and mounted) and my dash switch.
Good luck!
I ran a switch to my dashboard and got the power from a fuse-tap (a special connector that lets the original fuse plug in, and gives another power output) from the fusebox in my dash. The total power was pretty low (<10amps) so I didn't bother with a relay. The switch I bought can easily handle it.
Check out my galary for photos of the back-up lights (new in the box and mounted) and my dash switch.
Good luck!
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