Back up lights; Locations, Types, Why?
Professional
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Panhandle of WV
RE: Back up lights; Locations, Types, Why?
here is where i put a pairof pilot 55 watt lights on the rack of my Ram today. i have them wired directly into the cargo light so i didn't have to run a separate switch into the cab. im not sold on the final location yet though. they are small though which is what i was going for. i have them where they are because of the problem of backing up in the night with 5% tint and better visibility in the bed when loading things at night.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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RE: Back up lights; Locations, Types, Why?
I mounted a couple of Hella’s on each side of the hitch. I made a bracket and attached to the hitch bolts on the backside of the cross-member. Simple stuff and then wired to the front with relay and dash switch. Haven’t lost one yet to hills, valleys, mud, snow, rocks, ditches or recklessness around here. Works for me!
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[IMG]local://upfiles/29346/081DB931B6D348D8A9193B8E63599AD7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/29346/969DF0B39E374B2387D5D697F9BBE046.jpg[/IMG]
RE: Back up lights; Locations, Types, Why?
ORIGINAL: mopar74
I have seen and had many different types of back up lights. Lost some in snowbanks, off road, sand dunes and backing over that object that was a little too high,
. Some that mount on the hitch are not permanent, some hang too low.
What have you got, where are they mounted, why and are you pleased?KC, PIAA, White Night, TSC?????
This is what I finally ended up with and didn't think about it until the recent post that also wrote about cargo bed lights.
[IMG]local://upfiles/56283/BBE68C9AEB354FE0A168A4CF9ADEC00A.jpg[/IMG]
PIAA 1500 Back up Lights. WHY: Three poleswitch; on, off and reverse. They areback up so they are widebeams. With the high mount it allows me to see in the bed of the truck and over the rails and tailgate if I am towing and want to check on anything while backing. I can work out of the bed to get at toys/tools.I can't back them into anything without being an idiot and hopefully they will last. I have realligned them since I took the photo.
I have seen and had many different types of back up lights. Lost some in snowbanks, off road, sand dunes and backing over that object that was a little too high,
. Some that mount on the hitch are not permanent, some hang too low.What have you got, where are they mounted, why and are you pleased?KC, PIAA, White Night, TSC?????
This is what I finally ended up with and didn't think about it until the recent post that also wrote about cargo bed lights.
[IMG]local://upfiles/56283/BBE68C9AEB354FE0A168A4CF9ADEC00A.jpg[/IMG]
PIAA 1500 Back up Lights. WHY: Three poleswitch; on, off and reverse. They areback up so they are widebeams. With the high mount it allows me to see in the bed of the truck and over the rails and tailgate if I am towing and want to check on anything while backing. I can work out of the bed to get at toys/tools.I can't back them into anything without being an idiot and hopefully they will last. I have realligned them since I took the photo.
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Professional
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 156
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From: coastal Massachusetts
RE: Back up lights; Locations, Types, Why?
Pirata: Good lord, why do you need a backup light that bright?
Good question -thought I mentioned it. I do a lot of work/play behind my truck, sometimes at a good distance.
The lights are only a good quality light taken with a good digital camera. If you notice the reverse lights on the body are stock and look bright also. (Photography another expensive hobby of mine)
Work; I will be at a scene where we are loading things, generators, supplies or whatever to a site where there may be no electricity yet or a power outage.
Play; At the beach if you back in to get the kayaks off and dress in the daytime you may not return until suset or dark. Then you are changing out of your wetsuit and gear, loading kayaks and drying off in the dark. Most beaches do not have lights as they don't want you there at night and lights would encourage one too do just that.
I saw a Subaru, (not mine but the vehicle of choice for kayakers it seems) rollin reverse with the brake on doing what I just wrote. This was the same college educated person who thought 'trucks are not good for transporting kayaks'. I don't get that so much now & my wife has another mopar/Jeep with her own Kayak rack. When we are together we can meet up and park side by side and she can change discreetly, (flick of a switch)and safely.
They fit my uses. I would never want to force any opinions on anyone.
Just some thoughts after going through many different types/sets of lights through many years.
mopar74
Good question -thought I mentioned it. I do a lot of work/play behind my truck, sometimes at a good distance.
The lights are only a good quality light taken with a good digital camera. If you notice the reverse lights on the body are stock and look bright also. (Photography another expensive hobby of mine)
Work; I will be at a scene where we are loading things, generators, supplies or whatever to a site where there may be no electricity yet or a power outage.
Play; At the beach if you back in to get the kayaks off and dress in the daytime you may not return until suset or dark. Then you are changing out of your wetsuit and gear, loading kayaks and drying off in the dark. Most beaches do not have lights as they don't want you there at night and lights would encourage one too do just that.
I saw a Subaru, (not mine but the vehicle of choice for kayakers it seems) rollin reverse with the brake on doing what I just wrote. This was the same college educated person who thought 'trucks are not good for transporting kayaks'. I don't get that so much now & my wife has another mopar/Jeep with her own Kayak rack. When we are together we can meet up and park side by side and she can change discreetly, (flick of a switch)and safely.
They fit my uses. I would never want to force any opinions on anyone.
Just some thoughts after going through many different types/sets of lights through many years.
mopar74
