Trailer Backup Lights
 

Any ideas? anyone with some experiance with this? :? :P

I want to mount a couple flood lights off the tail of my trailer for backing.
Figure I will set them off the center bar on my rear bumper area...where I can angle them nicely...and yet have them out of the way of docks and such.

I don't want them mounted on the sides of the Tractor rear fairing...as I seen done. Problem I'm having is how to wire them...to my Tractor backup lights. So...when I shift into reverse...they will come on.

I'd be happy also to figure them on a switch in the cab...if I knew the best way to wire this. (second best wish)

For now...I can't figure a good method. I'm resigning to just mounting an on/off switch back on the tail. I can get out and go flip them on and off as I need to. Not a problem when bumping docks...as I need to go open my doors anyway. But for the times I'm in a Truck Stop or where ever...sure would be nice to not have to do that everytime...especially during BAD weather. This is the time I really want the trailer backup lights the most.

Man...wired somehow to the Tractor backup lights would be fantastic....but how?

Dang electrical embilical has no extra wires...now that they have them wired up for ABS.

Re: Trailer Backup Lights
 

I think it would be just less of a problem if you add a light and a switch to the rear of the trailer.. that way if it screws up you know exactly where everything is!

Most of the Log Trucks I drove up here had lites on the rear of the Pup but I never had them when I was OTR-They would come in handy though and it wouldn't take much to put em on the end of your trailer-Just splice a line for the light going from the Main to the rear and cut and enclose the hole with our light.

I KNOW you've seen backup lights on Logging trucks in Felch.

Roadhog does the trailer already have backup lights? And you just want to add flood lights?

this article in fleet owner talks about it, and then at the end gives 4 good links for manufacturers. check out page 100 in the philips industries online catalog, that switch might be what you're looking for. but then again, given my mechanical skills.............;) :mrgreen:

You can do like I did on my pick up truck, I spliced into the circiut for the stock back up lights but then added a dash mounted switch in that line. That keeps the lights from being left on while driving. I added aux lights to the headache rack and to the trailer that way.
Now as far as running the pig tail, Your on your own there :lol:

Don't they have relay systems that will automatically activate trailer docking lights when the 4 way flashers are activated? I thought I'd read about something like that at one time.

try calling wabash @1-800-431-4421 thay had backup lites on trailers in 2002. we still have a few 2002 trailers and it is nice, nothing to hook up just plug in the pigtail and air and go but anytime you start to backup "move about 12in" the backup lites come on and goes beep beep beep and lites go out about 30sec. after you stop moving.

if thay can't help try calling a good tralier shop and see if thay can add a system like wabash used to your trailer..

i've had drivers call me on the cb when going down the road and ask if i had backup lites and the trailer, you can see the white lens between the red tail lights.

great for backing at truck stops and at docks at nite, nothing like having lights at the a$$ end of the trailer.

What makes this a big issue for me is this new Tractor I'm driving has tinted glass side windows.
This tinted glass cuts my night vision down by I'd say roughly 66.6 % :?

I've thought of just taking the tint off the windows....but I've grown to like it because of the help with cutting down the lights in my eyes and mirrors with night driving. It's crazy trying to back at night though. :shock: Especially if it's stormy. I'll have to get out and look at how I'm doing several times or more.

I'm finding out the wiring is not so easy a deal. I'm really not fond of just mounting a on/off switch at the tail.....or even running the switch long, up to the nose, if I want to mount the lights at the tail.
I guess it is looking more like I need to run them off the sides of the Tractor. Oh well. Not big on that idea...but it seems to be my easiest way....if I want them to be hooked into the reverse gear switch.

One positive feature about mounting them off the Tractor fairing...is the lights come with me, no matter what Trailer I hook to.

Why can't these Trailer Manufacturers give us Trailer backup lights anyway? There ought to be a Law! :evil: ...bastids. :?

There are some wireless lights on the market.

I'll provide the link shortly or in a few days, but right now my stomach hurts.

Yeah, I would say, mount a toggle switch back there, like you said, roadhog. Only thing is, you would have to get out, and turn them on if you are backing up in a truck stop. Do you have a light on the back of your sleeper? Maybe run wires up to there, somehow. It's always something weird, when you want to do someting like this. Never easy. :lol:

Re: Trailer Backup Lights
 

A ball of twine, two torches(flashlights) with long life batteries, some double sided sticky tape and a 58 ft long stick to push on/off switch.....Hey presto.... Saved you a fortune Bro....
Hey, what are friends for eh? Don,t sweat on it, you can buy me a tea when I see you :wink:

Yo..Yo Wot...my brutha.. :D heheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee :P

Maybe Slimland would tell me...

Hark Heathen... :?
smite thine 66.6% tint from thy windows...
and ye shall SEE...sayeth The Lord.

Blessed is HE ...who can SEEeeeeeeeeeeee! :)

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/Leland10/467.jpg

...maybe it's as simple as that...
:? ...or as difficult as you wanna make it. :lol:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/Leland10/38.gif

You could mount the switch on the back of the tractor and run a rope and pulley system up to the cab. Thats how I would do it.

Or you could take the lazy way out and install one of these.

http://www.svc.com/rm02.html

Hey! Good deal .... :) ...me likie! :D
Not a bad price for this remote. Just mount the lights at the tail...and hit the remote when I want to use them. Cheap and easy...and I won't have to mount them to my Tractor. I hated that idea the most.

Thank you!

:idea: Just a thought here ...and it is a scarey one at that...Have you ever considered just rolling down the windows at night...when your backing :?: :?: :?: :?:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...al_l_387_4.jpg

I'm driving a 387...and that won't work, as you can see, there is a large fixed piece of glass off the mirror. You can roll the window down, but it does no good, as you can't see the mirror that way, and you can't see the trailer either. You have to open the door and lean as far out as you can. That only works just so far...and it really sucks...so what you end up doing is...getting out of the truck and checking your progress.

I thought of getting the tint off. ....but you know what....I've considered everything...and I think adding backup lights is my best solution...at least for me. I mentioned why I still wish to keep the tint.

I really like marylandkw's suggestion about the remote switch. I can add a couple lights off the tail, with some very simple wiring...and voila...cheap and easy solution.

Having backup lights is the best way to go. I am surprized they are not a standard item on all trailers. Some nights...especially stormy nights...that added light can make a difference.

R.U. hooked to the same trailer all the time or do you switch often?

Anyways, here is the link to the wireless remote control lights:

http://www.awdirect.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=23035

What you can do is replace the red lenses with clear, that way you get your light the way you want it.


If you got 650 burning a hole in your pocket fine, if not i feel that two battery powered lanterns velcroed to the dot bumper ( you would put them on before you back up) would be more cost effective and just as useful as the above item.

3) Wiring some aux lights to the trailer should not be to hard; I will look at the wire diagram soon or not so soon depending on my health/energy levels.

Lewis friend...

thanks for the input. You mentioned a couple times you are not feeling well.
I hope it is nothing serious, and that you will feel better soon.
regards Hog

Well, basically i've been playing the "stay awake" game. But the game is officially over as of 9:30 am this morning and i will be hitting the street so to speak on monday in search of a new gig.

Anyhoo, do you stay hooked to the same trailer all the time?

Why not remove the door and remount your seat further out to the left, like on the running board?

Thats what I did and it improved my mileage by 20% :lol:

I like having the switch in the cab for the extra back up lights. Not that I use them when I have a 4 wheeler behind me with high beams or anything, no, that would be wrong.

The other thing to try would be to get two good spotlights. The disadvantage is that the one on the right is going to be hard to control.


I like MDKW's idea, but it appears that the lights under the remote will still need a power source. To that, i have another link which i'll post.

I'm under immence time pressure you see?

But i still wonder,

a) do you own the trailer?
b) are you hooked to the same trailer all the time or do you swap often?

Naaa...I'm a Company Driver.
I usually keep the same Trailer....but I've been seperated several times from it. Things have settled down more for us now that the winter is over...so I'll most likely stay hooked to the Trailer I have.

The Company will reimburse me for my expenses. I do just want to make it simple and cheap. So...I'm sure just mounting a couple flood lights off the tail and wired to the remote is perfect. I'll just tap the power going to the tail lights.

We have 4 brand new Pete 387's. One guy took off his tint. I wanna keep mine on. It really cuts down the glare of bright lights at night. That has been an annoyance for me for sometime.

The other guys with the 387's...what they want to do with their's is up to them. They might see my set up and want to do the same. My Boss is cool with the idea...and he may suggest it to the other Driver's. None of us like the idea of mounting the lights to the Tractor.

Hey...for a roadsalt crusted old Trooper... :?

you sure have some Criminal ideas! :lol:

MAN WALKIN' :P