Why Don't Trailers Have Backup Lights?!

[StevenD]

Anyone have a suggestion for wiring up some? I have to back into several completely dark alleys and it would speed things up if I were able to see better.

I think below and under the rear bed rail, between the bumper, would be the safest place. Can I wire it to the tractor back up lights and use the power already available at the taillights?

Steven

[Malaki86]

I've seen trailers with backup lights. They're usually seen on grain and dump trailers.

[Kranky]

Here is what you need:



One of these mounted under the rear of your trailer will give plenty of light.

Wire it to the backup light circuit on the tractor & connect it thru the trailer cord (there should be at least 1 pin in the trailer plug that is currently unused)

Or you can hook it up to a separate switch in the cab and control the light manually. If you use the manual option, don't forget to turn the light off when on the road or you'll be blinding the drivers behind you.

[Fredog]

Anyone have a suggestion for wiring up some? I have to back into several completely dark alleys and it would speed things up if I were able to see better.

I think below and under the rear bed rail, between the bumper, would be the safest place. Can I wire it to the tractor back up lights and use the power already available at the taillights?

Steven

since we dont pull the same trailer all the time, what they did was put a swivel light on the rear bumper and wired it to the trailer lights, there is a water proof switch beside it, you just get out, turn the switch on, point the light where you need it and back up, then you can turn it and use it to see to unload.

[Mr. Ford95]

If your pulling the same trailer a light is useful if backing in the dark. If your always switching trailers, obviously it isn't very useful unless you can attach and detach it real quick. Companies won't put them on usually, just an extra expense that really isn't needed.

[Roadhog]

You can install a simple wireless [here] remote to a pair of floods.
Or what I do, which is the easiest and cheapest... just wire up 2-floods to a switch at the tail.

[allan5oh]

With ABS equipped trailers, all the wiring is used, and you cannot modify the middle wire of the pigtail.

[terrylamar]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

[flood]

this is so E Z weld a flood light o a pair of vice grips (to clamp light on back of trailer) 6 plastic spring clamps (to hold wires to side of trailer and air hose) 75 ft of wire (red and black) and go to U-HAUL and pick up a set of adapt-a-light...?

replace your borch light with 1 adapt-a-light (1 left over as a spare) you will have two wires hanging out of the borch light to plug in the wires going to the flood light and the clips to hold the wires to the trailer. then just turn on the borch light and the flood light will be on.

when your done just unplug the wires and roll it all up and stick it in your side box until the next time you need it.

[thebaldeagle655]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

yeah, go ahead, one of our drivers used his load lights on a tailgater with high beams, the tailgater was a Texas DPS Officer. I think the fine was only about $125 for white light illuminated to the rear as well as points on his license. Bears don't light to get spotlighted, even when they are in the wrong!

[terrylamar]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

yeah, go ahead, one of our drivers used his load lights on a tailgater with high beams, the tailgater was a Texas DPS Officer. I think the fine was only about $125 for white light illuminated to the rear as well as points on his license. Bears don't light to get spotlighted, even when they are in the wrong!

Dude, it is not even worth explaining to you. Consider me repremanded. I'll just go sit in the corner for a while.

[Windwalker]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

I've never worried about TAIL-GAITERS. It's up to each driver to keep his own vehicle under control. As long as the 4-wheeler isn't driving with a cell-phone growing out of his/her ear, and the head isn't where the sun doesn't shine, they can stop faster than I can. It's the ones that absolutely MUST be in front of me that bother me, because, again, they can stop faster than I can.

[Fredog]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

I've never worried about TAIL-GAITERS. It's up to each driver to keep his own vehicle under control. As long as the 4-wheeler isn't driving with a cell-phone growing out of his/her ear, and the head isn't where the sun doesn't shine, they can stop faster than I can. It's the ones that absolutely MUST be in front of me that bother me, because, again, they can stop faster than I can.

I HATE those people who drive too close in front of me!!

[Roadhog]

I HATE those people who drive too close in front of me!!

...don't get us started now! :?

[Syncrosonix]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

yeah, go ahead, one of our drivers used his load lights on a tailgater with high beams, the tailgater was a Texas DPS Officer. I think the fine was only about $125 for white light illuminated to the rear as well as points on his license. Bears don't light to get spotlighted, even when they are in the wrong!

Dude, it is not even worth explaining to you. Consider me repremanded. I'll just go sit in the corner for a while.

don't worry terry, it made me laugh.

[Roadhog]

It could act as a great deterrent for tailgaiters!

+1... Terry...

Got a maniacal chuckle out of me too :P