Exterior lighting

Jay · 10-15-2012, 06:39 PM

I have a couple lighting ideas, not sure if anyone has tried them yet.
After taking the sunny out this past weekend trying to back into my site I quickly found I couldn't see a thing behind me. My wife was out there with the flash light but that was no help.
I was thinking about mounting some type of lights under on the frame or on top of the bumper wired into my spare 12v opening with its own switch for occasions like that.
The other is a saw trailer one night with all it's running lights on. I think that would be cool mod. I could also wire that into another free spot I have in my 12v openings.
I know that I could do both. Just not sure if it's a good idea or just me not able to leave something alone.

Gene · 10-15-2012, 07:06 PM

I never pull into a campground after dark but for those thad do, I think some kind if backup light would be a real help.

The running lights can be put on by plugging a short jumper wire into your 7 pin plug. Put the wire from the 12 volt battery hole to the running lights hole. Maybe a jumper with an inline fuse would be safer.

EMD_Driver · 10-15-2012, 07:17 PM

Kitty modified her '06 T-2499, to give it backup lights...

HERE is that thread...

Jay · 10-15-2012, 07:18 PM

I was thinking about taking the power off of my panel in the trailer with it's own switch. That way I could light up the area if ever needed I.e. taking the pup out at night.

EMD_Driver · 10-15-2012, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay

I was thinking about taking the power off of my panel in the trailer with it's own switch. That way I could light up the area if ever needed I.e. taking the pup out at night.

Wouldn't be that difficult to wire up a switch, that would allow you to run the backup lights off the 12v system... Just don't leave it on while towing!!

Jay · 10-15-2012, 07:21 PM

Perfect that's another option!

Jay · 10-15-2012, 07:23 PM

Lol I always check my lights before I head out

**JohnB** · 10-15-2012, 07:37 PM

When fall and winter come, we are always getting into camp Friday night and it is solid black out... I generally only do this at parks I know.

Backing up can be a time of great stress until you have created a "method" that works with your better half. And it is harder backing on your blind side... but the same method applies. We have come up with the following;

Stop at the site before pulling in. Get out, walk the site and move the picnic table or other obstructions way out of the way. Now you have a mental image of the site at least and know how much distance is between the tree or power post and the site pad.

DW needs to help me do 2 things for me to get in. Start with rolling down both windows in the truck so you can hear from both sides. Then use a good sized flash light that has a side shield. Meaning one that when the beam is pointing down to the ground you can see the side of the light. I need a marker that I can see to head towards.

1st DW points the light straight down at the intersection of the site pad and the camp road. Knowing that spot I can predict where the edge of the camper needs to be as I turn. With a 157" wheel base TV and 32 foot camper I need to start turning a good 8 plus feet before the site to end up in the right spot.

Once the camper wheels are heading into the site, DW moves to the very back edge of the site and again points the light straight down. I can see my next marker. Now I have a spot to aim to. If I hear any sound from her, I stop. She makes sure I do not hit anything. Once the truck is swung around I can see the pad and the light at the end of the pad. I go right in then.

A trick to help light things up, is a very gentle tap on the brakes. The brake lights coming on does help as at least a spot check. I do not ride them, just light up, see and then start moving again.

And yes, adding back up lights to the rear of the camper helps too. Some have wired a relay off the camper battery and energize it with the reserve light pin on the 7 wire cord. The center pin in Gene's diag. is the reverse pin in some cases. You can also add a switch on the camper to turn the relay on when ever you want light back there.

Backing in at night adds a whole new set of dynamics, however once your create a method, it goes pretty easy. It took a bit to come up with one that works for us, but now we have it.

Hope this helps

John

Jay · 10-15-2012, 07:55 PM

Yea the dump trailer, flat bed car hauler, and the old Popup I've had no problems.
Yea early spring and fall its dark here early. Yea she tries to help the best she can, but I think after I move the table and survey the site I still need a little more light. Just looking at the back of the camper and seeing the openings in the panel I think it would be a good mod.

mainah · 10-16-2012, 06:19 AM

Interesting, I have a 2011 Tacoma with a factory tow package it has reverse light wiring on the connector. When I bought the camper I just plugged it in and the tail light assembles had reverse lights in them all ready wired and every thing. It's a 1990 T1700. Check your center pin on your truck and see if it has power in reverse I think it's also used to release surge brakes in reverse. As I say my old T1700 was factory wired with reverse lights.

**JohnB** · 10-16-2012, 10:48 AM

Mainah,

Now that you mention it, yes some of the older Sunlines had the factory reverse lights built into the stop light.

I cannot rememeber what year they stopped doing that. Wish they did not stop it, it is handy to have.

Sunline Fan may remember the date they stopped adding them.

mainah · 10-16-2012, 03:39 PM

That's kind of dumb you would think they would be more likely to have them in newer campers. Any way his TV may all ready have reverse wiring on the center pin that would be a plus.

Jay · 10-16-2012, 04:17 PM

It does. But what I'm looking to do is more along the lines of when it dark out I.e. this past weekend I would have liked light my area a little bit better. Also so if we pull in late like that I don't have to turn the truck around for light when hooking everything up, but will and can be used for back up lights when needed.
I'm going to wire the lights off the panel so I can use when needed.

**Sunline Fan** · 10-16-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

Mainah,

Now that you mention it, yes some of the older Sunlines had the factory reverse lights built into the stop light.

I cannot rememeber what year they stopped doing that. Wish they did not stop it, it is handy to have.

Sunline Fan may remember the date they stopped adding them.

1992 was the last year with them.

mainah · 10-17-2012, 05:54 AM

I seem to forget my porch lights all the time maybe a switch with a light in it.

Jay · 10-17-2012, 10:10 AM

Hmm yes. Wonder if I could pull my power wires right to that switch, build a new box for them. Both lit but in different colors.

MACK C-85 · 10-17-2012, 11:48 AM

Wow, I guess I'm spoiled. Our sunny has the porch light on the door side, two lights over the hitch (one on the trailer, one on the jack), and one over the connections behind the slide on the off door side, that does a fair job to the rear.

Mack

Gene · 10-17-2012, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainah

I seem to forget my porch lights all the time maybe a switch with a light in it.

... and I thought I was the only one that did that.

Jay · 10-17-2012, 03:03 PM

Yea just the porch light. That's why I was asking if anyone had added more exterior lights to their trailers.

jim44646 · 10-18-2012, 01:17 PM

a head band head light helps allot. You can position it to where you look the light followes