Reverse Lights On Trailer

[MORSNO]

I added reverse lights to my trailer to help illuminate while backing in Alaska's famous winter darkness. We are always driving out to our riding areas and back home in the dark, so I added these lights to help in parking after a long day (the ramps block the truck reverse lighting). Thanks to 94fordguy for the idea and help on installation.

Layout the lights so they will line up with the factory tail lights


Drill 2-1/2" holes with a holesaw (be carefull so you don't damage wiring)


Cut between holes with a sawzall (be carefull so you don't damage wiring)


Fish wire between rear of trailer and tongue. Connect wire to the new reverse lights and tie into existing ground from tailights


Connect wire to the center reverse pin on 7 wire plug


Installed lights


Light test


I also added tall reflective markers on the rear trailer corners to help see where the trailer is when backing. Snow is falling on the mountain peaks up here, time to start getting ready for another season! Anyone else have any ideas for an open trailer that they want to share?

 

[94fordguy]

Nice job man, looks just like mine

Excellent write-up

 

[volcano buster]

I opted for a tractor light underneath. This floods the trailer tires, which I can see, when backing up in the dark. Being that the enclosed trailer is so big, it wouldn't help me as much to have the lights on the very back.

I may put a toggle switch in for this light so I can light up the tires in case of a nocturnal change, or tire chain issues. As of right now, it just comes on with the reverse lights.

 

[94fordguy]

That's an excellent idea... I did a variant of that when I did back-up lights on the enclosed I picked up... 2 at the rear and 2 just in front of the tires for added side lighting, works great... I haven't got around to putting a toggle in for the trailer lights, but I did have one in my Expedition and from experience there I would highly recommend it

 

[lost]

That's an excellent idea... I did a variant of that when I did back-up lights on the enclosed I picked up... 2 at the rear and 2 just in front of the tires for added side lighting, works great...

Would you have pictures of the front lights you could post?
Have backup lights on the trailer and your idea has me thinking
Thanks

 

[94fordguy]

That's an excellent idea... I did a variant of that when I did back-up lights on the enclosed I picked up... 2 at the rear and 2 just in front of the tires for added side lighting, works great...

Would you have pictures of the front lights you could post?
Have backup lights on the trailer and your idea has me thinking
Thanks

I will try to take a couple today and post them up asap...

 

[94fordguy]

I don't have any shots at night, but the side-lights sure are nice for maneuvering... If I didn't have the loading light pole on my 4-place open above (that I am trying to sell), I would do something like this on it also.

 

[lost]

Thanks for the pictures!

 

[Racer220]

Glad I went through this thread. Some excellent ideas to be able to see the places you back into at night. I really need to add some lights to my rig. This thing can be the ultimate beast to see when backing up at night especially between other race trailers. I did add quite a few more running lights last summer to see the corners and just to bling it out a little, but it's still dark as shiii especially when there is no moon. I'll post some pics if I can get around to adding any more lights.

racer

 

[Bilko]

I did the same thing on my 26ft Enclosed. I wired in a relay to the trailer battery and a switch, so that it would be controlled by the truck in reverse and the switch for loading lights with or without truck. The relay was put in so that I did not run too long of a wire (Dim lights) all the way to the back. I used tractor implement lights from Napa they were only $7 and are bright.

 

[noob]

I'll have to get some pics for ya. I ordered some LED boat docking lights and installed them on side wall of trailer juse behind the wheel wells. Light up down the side of trailer just like one of the pics above. works great.

 

[MORSNO]

Post some pics on here noob. Are they wired into the reverse lights or do you have an auxiliary switch to turn them on/off as needed?

 

[akrevrider]

I added reverse lights to my trailer to help illuminate while backing in Alaska's famous winter darkness. We are always driving out to our riding areas and back home in the dark, so I added these lights to help in parking after a long day (the ramps block the truck reverse lighting). Thanks to 94fordguy for the idea and help on installation.


I also added tall reflective markers on the rear trailer corners to help see where the trailer is when backing. Snow is falling on the mountain peaks up here, time to start getting ready for another season! Anyone else have any ideas for an open trailer that they want to share?

Great post & pics of your trailer mods. The lights & markers will give you much better visability when backing up. I have the same type of trailer with the ski runners screwed into the plywood deck.

What type of sealer do you use to seal the trailer deck?

appreciate it,

akrevrider

 

[MORSNO]

Great post & pics of your trailer mods. The lights & markers will give you much better visability when backing up. I have the same type of trailer with the ski runners screwed into the plywood deck.

What type of sealer do you use to seal the trailer deck?

appreciate it,

akrevrider

I put a fresh coat of Thompsons WaterSeal on the deck every summer (only takes about 20 minutes). It helps the deck last a little longer and makes it easier to clean the snow off in the winter and mud from the wheelers in the summer. With the prices of trailers up here, anything to help them last is money well spent in my opinion.

 

[cwbyup_22]

I installed two 100W Cat work lights on the back of my enclosed trailer and ran the power for them off of the batteries in the trailer with a relay that is controlled by the backup lights on my pickup, I also wired in a switch to the normally closed side of the relay so I can flip the lights on without the pickup being hooked up. It makes a huge difference when backing up at night or loading/unloading at night. I have a couple of extra lights laying around I think I will mount them in front of the tires to help light the side of the trailer while backing and also in the event of a tire change at night. Thanks 94fordguy for the idea!!!!!!!

 

[noob]

Here's a pic in building and final stage. After all was said and done I should have put another one closer to the front of the trailer as well. Works well. It's wired to run when I put the truck in reverse as well.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

So for the guys with the lights on a switch in your truck. How are you running the wiring for the lights? Are you using a 2nd trailer light plug to run that switched power line?