My rig is old and very basic. The backup lights are, to be blunt, pretty lame. I am thinking of adding a docking light on the driver's side and a couple of flood lights off the back. I have plenty of places to mount a couple of floodlights as my rig is the old design with the large square steel tubing for a back bumper, ugly but functional.
I was going to wire it in so that I would have to have the rig in reverse and have a dash mounted switch engaged to have them on. Now I am thinking of just having the dash mounted switch as I can see times when one might want the docking lights on when the rig is parked, or pulling forward while parking.
However I do it, I plan on having the dash switch enage a relay and power the lights through the relay. I also don't see much value in having the back-up floods switched seperate from the driver's side docking light.
So, point of this post is to just throw the idea out there and see what suggestions or warnings people have.
88 Gulf Stream 34' Sun Vista, Ford 460, Edelbrock Perfomer carb, Thorley headers
Ford F-250 crew cab 4X4, 6.0 turbo diesel complete roof rebuild
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Docking lites work best down low, just behind rear wheels. This will let you get the best light dispersion, and give you a point of refence of wheel location. I would recommend 2 switches, you wont' always need the high mounted lights. I would also use either a lit switch, or indicator lamp to avoid leaving them on when not needed. I followed a toy hauler this summer that had halogen fixtures on the back, blazing away, at high noon.
Old 78 SRW F350 w/460 54 miles pulling a new(to us)98 28 foot citation 5'er
Darryl&Rita wrote: ... I would also use either a lit switch, or indicator lamp to avoid leaving them on when not needed. I followed a toy hauler this summer that had halogen fixtures on the back, blazing away, at high noon.
Most definitely will use a switch with an indicator light.
I would wire the switch in series with the backup light switch on the truck so the lights could not be on unless the truck was in reverse. If you want a bypass switch on the trailer that would be O'k as long as it is always turned off when going down the road.
If your going to put a pair of lights on the back, I suggest
you place them high near the top of the roof about a foot inside to
get the widest and largest spread of light beam.
If you have a rear camera, it would be in the middle.
For me, a side patio/security light provides more coverage
of the side than a docking light because of its height. JMO.
My docking lights are factory installed, high on both sides about center of the rig. I very seldom use them, though they really light up the area when I do.
As for backing lights, I would want them high enough to avoid overhanging hazards.
Dave & Rose C
90 Safari Ivory 34' DP 04 Saturn VUE V6
We added docking lights to one of our camping friends rig. Two at the front of the rv, two at the back of the truck, and two at the rear of his 5er. We installed two relays, one for the switch in the truck to turn the lights on, we used the aux in the bargman plug to send power to enrgize the relay. We addd a fuse block close to his battery, and mounted both relays close to the fuse panel. While running wires we added a few extra so we can easily power other 12 volt items he may want to add. The other relay is energized by a switch in the bedroom an living room. These lights coming on make great scare lights. Be sure to use wires heavy enough for the total amp draw, and size your fuses according to wire size.
2003 Jayco 308fbs eagle 33' tt, towed by a 2003 Ram 3500 slt, quad cab dually, cummins diesel ho, trailer towing package, with 6 speed manual. Hauls better 1/2, 3 kids, myself, and a 2003 ez go clays car.. I have added so far, neon lights, clearance lights, back up lights, black light, lift kit, mud tires, and everything necessary to make the golf cart street legal. It's now ready to spend the winter in the garage for more mods. More neon, strobe lights, alarm, a pa system, maintance, and whatever else that comes along. This golf cart does wheelies and travels thru 7 inches of mud when need be. Two honda eu2000i gens twinned to supply the electrical power. Latest addition an 04 Honda Goldwing. [url]http://www.hometown.aol.com/rvnagain/myhomepage/profile.html[url]
If you have vehicle inspection requirements, better check to see if the lights need to meet SAE or other certification to me mounted on motor vehicle. Also, if they turn on automaticly with REVERSE that may mean more regulation. I got stung by Virginia inspection laws and had to make many changes to be legal on mine.
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2006 Chevy 3500 CC LB 4WD DRW Duramax auto-6
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