Rear door storage box tail light obstruction?

[seal]

Has anyone had issues either passing safety inspection and/or gotten a ticket related to their storage box(alumness type)? One could if a motorist in the lane opposite to the mounting side would only see one tail light, aka if you have a drivers side box and a car is just behind you to your right.

[1der]

Never an issue with any of the vans we have had or have. On the other hand, California does not have 'safety' checks. Just smog.

[Twoxentrix]

Are you saying you received a citation (or a ticket) for this? We’ve never had an issue, and can’t imagine it would be much different than having a large rear bike rack (with several bikes loaded on it).
You should also have a third brake light mounted above the rear doors - serves as an added “visible” precaution to other drivers. If you are simply worried about others, you could add additional tail lights to the rear bumper.

[pjpvi]

Never cited, but my friends used to always comment that they couldn't see my tail lights when traveling behind me. A couple years ago I put a second set of tail lights on my bumper to solve the problem.

[jage]

I added LED lights on the bumper for additional braking visibility. Never had an issue however. Most motorists are below the sight line of the box and spare. Also frankly the spare is way more of an issue as it partially covers my stock tail light even from directly behind.

[Gravytrain]

My son got pulled in outer banks for speeding. Trooper wrote him improper equipment. Actually got him out of speeding ticket. You dont get pulled in Dare county without getting a citation so I guess it worked in his favor! I have since put Chris's new ujoint bumpers on so no longer an issue as his has plate relocated on bumper. Bike rack is one thing but here if its permanently mounted they can write you up for it

[MikeChapelHill]

We recently got a Sprinter SMB with the tire and box mounted on the rear doors, and I have concerns about the tail ights being visible. The other day I followed my wife as she drove around, and I had trouble seeing the lights and turn signals. Purely from my personal view, accident prevention is important. We have decided to add LED lights that hook into the trailer hitch connection and mount to either the bumper or on back doors.


Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Mega-Racer-Tr...s%2C204&sr=8-3


Mike

[ShuttlePilot]

I don't have a bumper box but I do have various bike racks and cargao baskets that when in use do block the rear tail lights. As such I have installed cheap LED trailer light kits on all of them that plug into the trailer socket. My concern isn't so much law enforcement but when someone rear ends the van I don't want them to have a possible excuse to reduce their liability in the accident. I also want to emphasize the when in the last sentence, those living on along the front range may agree.

Photo of rack swing out for a different thread but it is a good view of the lights I installed on all the accessories.

- Eric

[Charliesmom]

I saw this post and went out to check our Transit which has an Aluminess rear bumper with both a spare tire mount and a deluxe box, as I hadn’t really considered whether this light blockade was an issue. Fortunately, the tire and the box are both inboard of the tail lights TG.
Looking at the vans in question above, are they are all Ford E350s?

[eddyturn]

Hey Scott... you have to think from a driver's point of view. They are sitting on the left side of the lane driving and they may not see your right side tail light. Blocked from viewing from a driver's perspective by the box. Just a thought.