Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-27-2012, 07:10 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Gnarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washougal, Wa
Posts: 1,047
Back up lights

I mounted back up lights in the new Aluminess rear bumper today. I don't have them wired yet so I don't know how bright they will be. These are the lights I ordered.

http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=4133

They were the brightest 4" X 6" light I could find. Hella has 3 different beam patterns in this series of work lights to choose from. I ordered the long range beam light.

They come stock with 2 55W H3 bulbs in each light. I purchased 100w bulbs to replace the 55W'ers but I am a little concerned about heat so I'm going to run with the 55W bulbs for a while.

The lights didn't fit in the bumper very well due to the lights thickness. I ended up adding a 3/4" shim between the bumper and the light to center the light up and down. I'm a little limited with the ability to aim the lights outward. The edge of the light is very close to the bumper. I think the lights Aluminess sells for back up lights sit farther inside the bumper and don't have the clearance issues.

Front view of the light


Side view of the light, note the 3/4" shim on the light mounting bolt.


Shot of rear bumper. What do you folks think of the hub cap? I like it better than the stock steel rim look


Stock steel rim look

__________________
John

Gnarvan 1992 E350 Clubwagon
Advanced 4WD Systems Conversion

Sotar Legend 12.5' X 22" Cataraft
2003 BMW R1150GS-Adventure
2013 BMW R1200GS-Adventure
Gnarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2012, 07:17 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: Back up lights

I want to see you light up the night with them.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2012, 07:20 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Gnarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washougal, Wa
Posts: 1,047
Re: Back up lights

Feel free to sneak up behind me sometime with your high beams on. I'll be happy to give you an eyefull of light.
__________________
John

Gnarvan 1992 E350 Clubwagon
Advanced 4WD Systems Conversion

Sotar Legend 12.5' X 22" Cataraft
2003 BMW R1150GS-Adventure
2013 BMW R1200GS-Adventure
Gnarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2012, 08:03 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: Back up lights

So, you will have them on a separate switch?

Or do you plan to shift into reverse at 65mph?

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2012, 08:12 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
BIGVANS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Up In The Mountains
Posts: 427
Re: Back up lights

My rear bumper lights are on a 3 way switch - Off / Switched on by reverse / Switched on by dash switch.
__________________
2003 Ford E-350SD 4x4
V10 / 4R100 / NV271
Front Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/King Pin/Open Knuckle/High Steer
Rear Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/Full Floating
Eaton E-Lockers Front And Rear/4:10 Gears
ARB Differential Covers - Nodular Iron With Dipstick And Drain Plug
Leaf Spring Suspension Front And Rear
46 Gal Transfer-Flow Fuel Tank
ExtremeAire Magnum Air Compressor
Reunel Rear Bumper
On And On ...
BIGVANS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2012, 08:57 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Gnarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washougal, Wa
Posts: 1,047
Re: Back up lights

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350
So, you will have them on a separate switch?

Or do you plan to shift into reverse at 65mph?

Mike
I'll have them wired on a 3 way switch. On with reverse lights / off / On when the ignition is on.

I also have driving lights mounted on the back of my boat trailer that will be switched the same way. It's nice to have total control over the lights for backing up in different situations. I'm a big fan of the 3 way switch hooked up to a relay. The 3 way switch allows you to trigger the relay from 2 different power circuits.

This is a photo of the switches on my dash. Left to right they are, 3 front Hid driving lights, 2 front fog lights, 2 rear bumper lights, 2 lights on my trailer. I'm not sure what I'm going to use the other two holes for. Maybe one for onboard air and the other to switch my radio from the starting battery to the aux battery.
__________________
John

Gnarvan 1992 E350 Clubwagon
Advanced 4WD Systems Conversion

Sotar Legend 12.5' X 22" Cataraft
2003 BMW R1150GS-Adventure
2013 BMW R1200GS-Adventure
Gnarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2012, 09:37 PM   #7
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Back up lights

Are they legal backup lights? I got the bird one time when some people passed me by. The Hella's were on and the sun was setting. I had kicked them on with my knee and it sure made em mad. If it was a cop, I'd probably have been pulled over. I wish I had a bright indicator...maybe one of these days. I don't know if I'd want them too much brighter but if I did there would be a dissable switch on them for backing in traffic. I have LED's in the back on top that supplement my Hella's in the bumper but they are on a single switch up on the headliner. Between the two sets, I'm satisfied but the more light the better.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2012, 04:02 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Gnarvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Washougal, Wa
Posts: 1,047
Re: Back up lights

If I'm going backward they should be legal. I don't think having any white lights switched on that are facing rearward on a vehicle are legal if the vehicle is moving forward. With the exception of a license plate light.

I haven't checked the regs on rear facing lights but there may be a wiring requirement that could give me grief if some trooper wants to get technical with me.
__________________
John

Gnarvan 1992 E350 Clubwagon
Advanced 4WD Systems Conversion

Sotar Legend 12.5' X 22" Cataraft
2003 BMW R1150GS-Adventure
2013 BMW R1200GS-Adventure
Gnarvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2012, 09:50 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
BIGVANS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Up In The Mountains
Posts: 427
Re: Back up lights

They don’t say much about reverse lights in these pages but it seems to be a good source info on general Pacific Northwest laws. The second link “Forbidden Devices” seems to imply lighting from a vehicle on the side of the road too.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=204-21-230

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=47.36.180

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.050


Check the “Projections” section about “Rear Vision Mirror” at this link!

http://www.wsp.wa.gov/traveler/passequip.htm#lights
__________________
2003 Ford E-350SD 4x4
V10 / 4R100 / NV271
Front Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/King Pin/Open Knuckle/High Steer
Rear Axle - 1 Ton Spec Dana 60/Full Floating
Eaton E-Lockers Front And Rear/4:10 Gears
ARB Differential Covers - Nodular Iron With Dipstick And Drain Plug
Leaf Spring Suspension Front And Rear
46 Gal Transfer-Flow Fuel Tank
ExtremeAire Magnum Air Compressor
Reunel Rear Bumper
On And On ...
BIGVANS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2012, 03:24 PM   #10
Site Team
 
daveb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Turlock Ca
Posts: 10,407
Garage
Re: Back up lights

Ca's law:
24606. (a) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, of a type
subject to registration and manufactured on and after January 1,
1969, shall be equipped with one or more backup lamps either
separately or in combination with another lamp. Any vehicle may be
equipped with backup lamps.
(b) Backup lamps shall be so directed as to project a white light
illuminating the highway to the rear of the vehicle for a distance
not to exceed 75 feet. A backup lamp may project incidental red,
amber, or white light through reflectors or lenses that are adjacent
or close to, or a part of, the lamp assembly.
(c) Backup lamps shall not be lighted except when the vehicle is
about to be or is backing or except in conjunction with a lighting
system which activates the lights for a temporary period after the
ignition system is turned off.
(d) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a lamp emitting white
light on each side near or on the rear of the vehicle which is
designed to provide supplemental illumination in an area to the side
and rear not lighted by the backup lamps. These lamps shall be
lighted only with the backup lamps.


Looks like I can get a ticket.
__________________
2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer

Sportsmobile 4X4 Adventures..........On and off road adventures
daveb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.