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Wiring my own reverse lights

Williebeaman

Williebeaman

1/2 ton status
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Location
Austin tx
Anyone done this? My reverse lights work when they want to and they aren’t all that bright to begin with. I was thinking of figuring out how to mount a couple small lights on my bumper or under it to a switch in the cab I can manually turn off and on. Pretty straight forward job? Anyone that has done it you got any pics of your lights?
 
Run a relay for each light that is either triggered by the factory reverse light and//or by a switch. Pretty easy actually.
 
I run a 9" led light bar in place of my cargo lamp on the V3500. Its great.
 
I put one Vision X brand 4 led light under the rear bumper on my '95 truck. I tried LED replacements in the factory reverse lights which didn't add much because of how poor the housings and lenses are. So used a single pole, double throw switch to operate the one under the bumper.
I hooked a wire from the output side of the original reverse light switch, (Y connection and left the rest functional) , to the top terminal.
The middle terminal runs to the LED light under the bumper.
The bottom terminal has fused, battery hot power.

This way I can have it on with the reverse lights, or off, or on with the truck off or running in neutral. ( Rear work light)

@centexk5 I didn't use a relay at all because of the amperage of the lights was less than the original incandescent bulbs in the reverse lights. I haven't had a problem since installing this. I am curious why you recommend a relay for each light. Maybe I misunderstood you.
 
That's probably plenty of light. The included wiring should be nice to have, it looks like it even uses a relay.
What do you have for a rear bumper? Hopefully it has a flat face.
 
6872xtc said:
That's probably plenty of light. The included wiring should be nice to have, it looks like it even uses a relay.
What do you have for a rear bumper? Hopefully it has a flat face.
Click to expand...
Hmmm now you mention it my stock bumper kind of faces down.
 
6872xtc said:
I put one Vision X brand 4 led light under the rear bumper on my '95 truck. I tried LED replacements in the factory reverse lights which didn't add much because of how poor the housings and lenses are. So used a single pole, double throw switch to operate the one under the bumper.
I hooked a wire from the output side of the original reverse light switch, (Y connection and left the rest functional) , to the top terminal.
The middle terminal runs to the LED light under the bumper.
The bottom terminal has fused, battery hot power.

This way I can have it on with the reverse lights, or off, or on with the truck off or running in neutral. ( Rear work light)

@centexk5 I didn't use a relay at all because of the amperage of the lights was less than the original incandescent bulbs in the reverse lights. I haven't had a problem since installing this. I am curious why you recommend a relay for each light. Maybe I misunderstood you.
Click to expand...

It's an old habit and a personal thing. I agree LED's don't draw much and they probably aren't needed. I just don't like to draw current from an existing circuit if I don't have to.
 
I should rig up some better back up lights,the original step-side tail lights don't do squat for illuminating behind you ,and when plowing my driveway ,it gets aggravating when you cant see well behind you,I have a 40 foot long retaining wall made of 2x4 foot concrete solid blocks that are not very forgiving if they contact the truck..(and it has the scars to prove it ..:doah:)..

On previous trucks,I have added back up lights and used a manual switch to activate them,as the original switch combined with the neutral safety doesn't always turn on the lights in reverse,I had to hold the shifter slightly up or down to keep them on,so I unplugged the wires at that switch and ran power to the toggle switch, to the wires, so I could turn them on manually...(this comes in handy for tailgating jerks at night!)...I used the original back up light wires to the original tail lights to power the lamps I added..

One thing I should have added was a indicator light or an illuminated toggle switch so I'd not forget to turn them off ,but I only had a problem once when I bumped the switch on in daytime accidentally and didn't notice they were on..the battery was dead at 5 pm when I went to leave work..instead I moved the power wire to another spot on the fuse box that was only hot with the key on..
 
centexk5 said:
It's an old habit and a personal thing. I agree LED's don't draw much and they probably aren't needed. I just don't like to draw current from an existing circuit if I don't have to.
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On halogen lights that's the way I would go, but I would probably just use one 30 amp relay, it the amp draw was low enough. Fewer connections to seal up from the elements.

@Williebeaman those lights probably will have a good enough flood pattern to still do well if aimed down some. I would be concerned about how it looks on a curved bumper surface, or possible damage when you go playing. But those may not be huge concerns, you have to decide that.
 
I added lights on my dodge. Simple bracket they hang just under the bumper. Tapped into the reverse wire to a relay. Super easy.

When I go to put them on the stepside I have brackets that will put them just above the stock taillights. Which will protect them and give height to really throw the light far.
 
dyeager535 said:
Not real tough to make brackets. Tons and tons of things to use for mounting points.
Click to expand...
Lights that come with the single bolt mounting brackets could possibly be a good option depending on where they get mounted, too.
 
I recall the way the later (weatherpack vintage) taillights were wired, the reverse lights weren't through the same plug as turn/tail/brake?

Just wondering if there is a connector that can be run inline like they make for the 4 wire flat trailer plugs.

Not a fan of splicing into wiring, at all. Especially on the exterior of a vehicle. It's personal preference, but based on the results of millions of previous owners trying to play automotive electrical engineer.
 
dyeager535 said:
I recall the way the later (weatherpack vintage) taillights were wired, the reverse lights weren't through the same plug as turn/tail/brake?

Just wondering if there is a connector that can be run inline like they make for the 4 wire flat trailer plugs.

Not a fan of splicing into wiring, at all. Especially on the exterior of a vehicle. It's personal preference, but based on the results of millions of previous owners trying to play automotive electrical engineer.
Click to expand...
Yea I really want to avoid this that’s why I just want the lights on a switch for me to turn off and on manually. I’m starting to slowly tackle the wiring the previous owners did now.
 
The trailer adapter plugs are a really good invention. They are super simple to bypass/remove if needed, something like that for what you describe would seem a good solution.

Obviously need some additional wiring to run it off a switch, but if you are ok using the backup switch to turn them on, then just adding an inline connector if possible would be ideal.

I just can't recall how they connect the reverse lights. On my SM465 I made a three way harness with the weatherpack so I could trigger the backup camera, that way I didn't have to splice anything.
 
if you go led like i did they draw less than stock bulbs and give a white light and more of it . so adding in a 3rd and led will still be o.k. for stock . my combo is around 3k lumens total in led stock upgrades and add on in bumper center and no problems since i built the truck .
 
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