Comprehensive source for trailer lighting requirements, please?

[eggsalad]

Hi all!

I've recently purchased a used trailer. It is approximately 11' long and 5.5' wide. It was sold to me as a flatbed/bare frame, and all the lighting that came on it was S/T/T lights at the back end, with a built-in side marker.

I will be building a cargo box onto it, approximately 4' high and 4' wide. I'd like to learn what, if any, additional lighting would be required with my modifications, i.e. clearance lights, front corner markers, etc.

Can anyone provide me with a comprehensive web source showing me what sort of requirements come with what trailer dimensions?

TIA,

eggsalad

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Hi all!

I've recently purchased a used trailer. It is approximately 11' long and 5.5' wide. It was sold to me as a flatbed/bare frame, and all the lighting that came on it was S/T/T lights at the back end, with a built-in side marker.

I will be building a cargo box onto it, approximately 4' high and 4' wide. I'd like to learn what, if any, additional lighting would be required with my modifications, i.e. clearance lights, front corner markers, etc.

It's less than 80" wide, so the requirements are a little less stringent. Did you look at our Sticky?
Here's info from the NHTSA: Conspicuity
And information about trailer wiring and color-coding: http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wc...lp/RegSpecsWiring.jsp&storeId=10001&langId=-1

 

[Lightdoctor]

It's less than 80' wide, so the requirements are a little less stringent. Did you look at our Sticky?
Here's info from the NHTSA: Conspicuity
And information about trailer wiring and color-coding: http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wc...lp/RegSpecsWiring.jsp&storeId=10001&langId=-1

An 80' wide trailer? I'm staying off the highway when you're driving. :)

 

[eggsalad]

It's less than 80' wide, so the requirements are a little less stringent. Did you look at our Sticky?
Here's info from the NHTSA: Conspicuity
And information about trailer wiring and color-coding: http://www.truck-lite.com/webapp/wc...lp/RegSpecsWiring.jsp&storeId=10001&langId=-1

Thanks. It looks like all I need to add are amber side markers at the front. This trailer didn't have them, but was built in '86, so maybe they weren't required then.

 

[-Virgil-]

The side markers were required in '86, sounds like they got left off.

The additional requirements for 80" or wider apply to all vehicles and trailers at least 80" wide at their widest point.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

An 80' wide trailer? I'm staying off the highway when you're driving. :)

The side markers were required in '86, sounds like they got left off.

The additional requirements for 80" or wider apply to all vehicles and trailers at least 80" wide at their widest point.

80" wide, not 80' wide, as I had accidentally posted. But in my brain it was 80", and it was measured at the widest point (usually outer edge of fenders, I would imagine. Or a really wide bumper.).

I don't think even the Toyota CrewMax 4x4 could tow an 80' wide trailer, even if it COULD tow the Space Shuttle!

 

[eggsalad]

80" wide, not 80' wide, as I had accidentally posted. But in my brain it was 80", and it was measured at the widest point (usually outer edge of fenders, I would imagine. Or a really wide bumper.).

I don't think even the Toyota CrewMax 4x4 could tow an 80' wide trailer, even if it COULD tow the Space Shuttle!

I would suspect the Space Shuttle is 80' wide across its wingspan. So there :P

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I would suspect the Space Shuttle is 80' wide across its wingspan. So there :P

NASA says 78', so it's still exempt from the requirement to have a minimum of 20 rear clearance lamps. :)

 

[Cheropair]

If you're like me, pictures help
http://www.jwspeaker.com/reference/trailers
and I love these on each corner, top and bottom, front and back, don't forget the sides - helps to see a parked trailer after dark
http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=6&fId=26
added bonus on the Spitfires is that they are extremely thin, so they don't get knocked off - you can scratch right through them and they still work

 

[eggsalad]

Interesting. I took a look at those pictures. My trailer has a tapered nose, much like the boat trailer pictures. From what I can tell, the front "corner" lights just go on either side of the tongue? That seems odd.

 

[Cheropair]

Unless it is a really long taper, most of the time they are mounted at the widest point(where the "nose" joins the "body"). Boat trailer is often "special", in that the tongue is a significant part of the overall trailer length. Tow dollies are another "special" trailer.

 

[eggsalad]

Boat trailer is often "special", in that the tongue is a significant part of the overall trailer length.

To dig up a dead horse, I'm still not clear on where to mount these lights. In my case, the tongue is indeed a significant portion of the trailer. The trailer is ~11.5 feet long. From the coupler back, the trailer frame doesn't achieve full width until 7.5 feet back from the coupler, or 4' from the tail. I think I'm allowed to hotlink a photo here - this was taken during the refurb stage, but maybe it will help explain.



So should I mount my front markers where the frame achieves full width, all the way up at the coupler, or somewhere in between?

thanks

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I think I'm allowed to hotlink a photo here - this was taken during the refurb stage, but maybe it will help explain.

Actually, noöne is allowed to hotlink, but if that pic is from your own flickr account, it's not "hotlinking". Hotlinking is using a link to an image hosted on another site without permission, like if I pointed a URL to toyota.com for some image on their own site.

 

[eggsalad]

Actually, noöne is allowed to hotlink, but if that pic is from your own flickr account, it's not "hotlinking". Hotlinking is using a link to an image hosted on another site without permission, like if I pointed a URL to toyota.com for some image on their own site.

Sorry I misunderstood the term. Thank you for helping me understand.

 

[Marcturus]

This is more helpful because it includes "display"
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotlinking

 

[Cheropair]

Solid box is light, lined box is reflector. This is how I would do it, if it isn't corrrect, maybe someone else may chime in with suggestions.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12943700@N02/10483624835/ if pics don't work.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

The pic worked!

Be sure to mount and light the registration plate in accordance with your State's laws. Right now, it looks like it could result in warnings or tickets.

http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/equipreqtr.pdf might be helpful for the lighting requirements.

 

[eggsalad]

The pic worked!

Be sure to mount and light the registration plate in accordance with your State's laws. Right now, it looks like it could result in warnings or tickets.

It is mounted properly now. That was just a temporary "something" I stuck the plate to during the refurbishment. In my town, even when parked on private property, a vehicle must display valid registration.

It's moved to the proper place now, and properly lit by the license plate function in the tail lights:

 

[eggsalad]

Solid box is light, lined box is reflector. This is how I would do it, if it isn't corrrect, maybe someone else may chime in with suggestions.

I do appreciate your drawing; I found it somewhat helpful. I think the red reflectors on the rear of the fenders will be overkill. The perspective of the photo may make it difficult to see, but a reflector in that spot would be totally obscured by the actual tail light!

 

[eggsalad]

http://www.dmvnv.com/pdfforms/equipreqtr.pdf might be helpful for the lighting requirements.

Quite the opposite, Alaric. It has done nothing but confuse me more! Help me out here - it seems the FEDERAL standard calls for the amber markers on the forward portion of the trailer, but I see *absolutely no mention* of forward marker lights in the state standard. Yet the Nevada standard calls for forward TURN SIGNALS!

It feels like a game I can't win!