Flatbed/trailer lighting upgrade?

[opposite locker]

Have a 10 ft flatbed on my 2nd gen Cummins Dodge...the tail/brake lights that came with the bed are barely adequate and the reverse lights are inexplicably dim, to the point that I cant even tell they're on when reversing! The tail/brake light assemblies are some generic trailer light, while the reverse lights are an odd round (4"?) housing with a single tiny light source at the middle.

Would defintely like to upgrade to make this beast of a truck more visible at night, especially with the enormous blind spot created by the stake sides when installed. Not sure which brand/make to choose and cost is a factor (under $200 in parts would be ideal). LED would be great, but I'd rather have quality incandescent housings/bulbs than crappy LED's. Amber turn signals would be nice too, but not sure what making that work would entail. Any ideas?

Here's the only picture I could find:

 

[Alaric Darconville]

There's a wide variety of lights from Peterson Manufacturing here: http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=1&fId=57

And a number of units that look like direct replacements for the existing lamps: http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=1&fId=57&pId=3817

And reverse lights: http://www.pmlights.com/products.cfm?cId=1&fId=66

One problem I note is that for many of the items, only ECE and ADR compliance is listed.

As far as going from incorporated stop, turn, and tail lamps to separated stop and turn lamps, I believe Daniel Stern (www.danielsternlighting.com) can tell you how to do it-- I tried to find the story of the '74 Valiant that was modified to amber turn signals (by using the reverse lamps) on AllPar.com but can't find it. (Of course, rather than use the reverse lamps, just use the lamps built in to one of the new LED modules).

Separate amber turn signals are a great idea, btw.

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

That is indeed a beast of a truck.

When you upgrade your lighting, make sure you add rear side markers, rear side reflectors, and identification lights(if over 80" wide) - these items are legally required. I'm fairly certain your existing stop/turn/tail lights have rear reflectors built in, make sure that whatever lighting system you replace them with has reflectors as well.

I really like Peterson Manufacturing, and Grote and Truck Lite make great products as well. Peterson at least makes reflectors as well, I'd be surprised of the other two don't. Lots of other manufacturers available, and there is absolutely as much junk and garbage in truck lighting as there is in any other kind of automotive lighting. Sticking with major manufacturers is a good idea.

Identification lights are the three lights you see in the middle of semi trucks and other vehicles 80" wide or wider. There are ID light bars with legal light spacing available, or you can buy individual marker lights and mount them in a legally compliant manner. Going off of memory, but I believe ID lights should be at least 6" apart center to center and not more than 8" apart center to center.

Next, amber turn signals. Find your brake light switch under the dash. There will be power on one side at all times and of course power on the other only when the brake pedal is pushed. The output side should run up into the steering column to the turn signal switch. Clip the output side before it goes up to the column, and run it directly to the back of your truck. This is your new brake light wire. The existing brake light wires are now turn signal/hazard flashers only. Connect them up to the new lighting of your choice, provided it's legally compliant. Cap the open end of the wire that ran from the brake light switch up to the steering column.

Good luck, ask any other questions you need, and let us know how it turns out.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Speaking of Grote, they've got a handy-dandy page outlining the lighting requirements: http://www.grote.com/tech/fmvss/

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Thank you A-D! That's a great resource, I've bookmarked it.

 

[opposite locker]

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize the extra lighting was necessary for my 3/4-ton, which is 84" wide at the flatbed and 78" wide at the cab. Current taillights have reflectors built in, and I plan for the replacements to have the same. Will look into adding amber turns, rear side markers, and ID lights when we have a bit of down time (if it ever rains this winter). Until that time arrives, just gonna swap in LED tail & reverse lights in a similar style to what's already installed.

Went by the local NAPA, and they want ~$85 per taillight for the LED version (made by Trucklite)...seems a bit high, doesn't it? Also wanted ~$55 ea for 4" round backup LED lights. Can you guys recommend a good source for these lights made by any of the aforementioned manufacturers?

 

[Diesel_Bomber]

Go to the Truck Lite site and find the part number, then search that part number in google shopping or similar.

The white LED backup lights will be more expensive than their red/amber stop/turn/tail/marker counterparts.

 

[opposite locker]

Thanks...will do.

New idea: going to purchase & install the LED combination lamps, and hook up the reverse lights in those. If they are sufficient, may go ahead and replace the current reverse lamps with amber 4" LED lights and wire them up as turns.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Thanks...will do.

New idea: going to purchase & install the LED combination lamps, and hook up the reverse lights in those. If they are sufficient, may go ahead and replace the current reverse lamps with amber 4" LED lights and wire them up as turns.

As *additional* turn signals? Some of the units available have separate amber turn signals already (although the ones that mimic the OE form factor may not).

 

[-Virgil-]

The vehicle shown does not have a legal complete lighting system. It's missing side marker lights and side marker reflectors. Staying with the "box light" type of stop/tail/reverse unit might be easiest since the diamondplate body panel is already cut for them. The LED version can be bought at somewhat lower cost than you found, see for example here, or you can get the equally good Peterson item for substantially less, see here. From Grote there is also a similar one (see here) and a nice one with (much) lower parts count (see here, buy here).

There are other options, too. The type of box light used commonly instead of the red/white variety in Europe including on Jeep Wranglers up through 2006 (see picture 1, picture 2) is also used in the USA in some Ford medium-duty truck applications. You can get 'em for $25 apiece here (search page for "Euro").

Then there's this option, which is kind of interesting. I don't know who makes them.

If you stick with the box lights that don't have an amber turn signal, it would be better to cut new holes and mount something like this vertically or diagonally outboard of the box lights, rather than having the turn signal inboard of the stop lights.

4" round reversing lamps that work well are costly, because white LEDs that work well are costly. If you do go for LED units, pick them carefully -- page through the Truck-Lite, Peterson, and Grote catalogues and avoid the ones that say they meet the standard "when mounted in pairs". Those are half as bright as the ones that simply "meet the standard".

 

[-Virgil-]

The vehicle shown does not have a legal complete lighting system. It's missing identification lamps, side marker lamps, and side marker reflectors. Staying with the "box light" type of stop/tail/reverse unit might be easiest since the diamondplate body panel is already cut for them. The LED version can be bought at somewhat lower cost than you found, see for example here, or you can get the equally good Peterson item for substantially less, see here. From Grote there is also a similar one (see here) and a nice one with (much) lower parts count (see here, buy here).

There are other options, too. The type of box light used commonly instead of the red/white variety in Europe including on Jeep Wranglers up through 2006 (see picture 1, picture 2) is also used in the USA in some Ford medium-duty truck applications. You can get 'em for $25 apiece here (search page for "Euro").

Then there's this option, which is kind of interesting. I don't know who makes them.

If you stick with the box lights that don't have an amber turn signal, it would be better to cut new holes and mount something like this vertically or diagonally outboard of the box lights, rather than having the turn signal inboard of the stop lights.

4" round reversing lamps that work well are costly, because white LEDs that work well are costly. If you do go for LED units, pick them carefully -- page through the Truck-Lite, Peterson, and Grote catalogues and avoid the ones that say they meet the standard "when mounted in pairs". Those are half as bright as the ones that simply "meet the standard".

There are lots and lots of options for ID lamps and for side marker lights and reflectors (sometimes referred to as "reflex"). Peruse pages like this one. The side marker light and reflex functions do not have to be combined; you can put in a round light and affix a self-adhesive reflex such as these if you prefer.

 

[opposite locker]

Ok, now I really don't know what I want. After staring at the truck for several minutes, I came to the conclusion that there is no place a new light can be added to the current configuration without looking silly. Was ready to order the Peterson LED box lights from Fox until I read the last post. I see your point about mounting turn signals outboard...makes sense.

Now I really like the amber/red LED box lights you posted, but they don't ship to the US, and even if they did, it would likely cost too much. Can't seem to find anything similar sold in NA.

New tentative plan (still open to debate) - install the Peterson LED box lamps and make those built-in LED reverse lights functional. Then replace the current reverse lights with a set of 4" round red lights to serve as additional running/brake/turn lamps. Thoughts?

I like the idea of the euro incandescent Jeep taillights (especially at $25 ea), but can't help thinking that they would be more difficult to see with such a seemingly small area dedicated to each function.

Guess I'll go ahead and order some ID lights, sidemarkers, and reflectors when I decide on and order the tails.

 

[-Virgil-]

there is no place a new light can be added to the current configuration without looking silly.

It's a work truck. Who cares what the lights look like as long as they work correctly? :-)

replace the current reverse lights with a set of 4" round red lights to serve as additional running/brake/turn lamps. Thoughts?

Why? (although if you were going to use them as auxiliary and not primary ones, and you lived elsewhere or could get your hands on a pair, there'd be these)

I like the idea of the euro incandescent Jeep taillights (especially at $25 ea), but can't help thinking that they would be more difficult to see with such a seemingly small area dedicated to each function

;-) )

They're not at all difficult to see -- the smaller area increases luminance, which makes the signal appear brighter to observers. And you can easily upgrade the bulbs, as well.

 

[opposite locker]

It's a work truck. Who cares what the lights look like as long as they work correctly? :-)

True, but I don't want to cringe every time I look at it either...

They're not at all difficult to see -- the smaller area increases luminance, which makes the signal appear brighter to observers. And you can easily upgrade the bulbs, as well.

In that case, this is likely the direction I'll go: install the euro Jeep tails and render all functions operational (running, brake, amber turn, reverse). Depending on which function is the most "lacking", I'll either install brighter 4" reverse lights or additional 4" running/brake lights in place of the current reverse lights.

 

[-Virgil-]

The "Euro" box lights are slightly larger than the all-red items, IIRC; you may need to slightly enlarge the holes in the diamondplate.

The upgrade bulbs to use are from a Honda dealer. Single-filament for the turn signal is Honda #34903-SF1-A01. Double-filament for the brake/tail is 34906-SL0-A01. Insist on real Honda bulbs which are made in Japan by Stanley -- you can only get them through Honda; if you search on the part numbers you should find decent prices online. Double-check with whoever you buy them from, though; some Honda dealers are known to pawn off cheap generic junk.

For the reverse light section of the box lights, you'd probably be happiest with a #796 bulb.

 

[opposite locker]

Thanks! Will give them a try to see if the upgrade bulbs are necessary. I've tried to order 3 times already, but keep forgetting to call before they close at 2pm pst (5pm est). Mint even pick up a second pair for a YJ wrangler I'll be purchasing in the next week or so!

 

[irsa76]

One of my customers redid the lights on his F350 flatbed which had a similar looking setup to your current one orginally, except it had amber turn signals in the boxlights.
He simply cut the hole larger and inserted one of these, horizontal. His old backup lights were replaced by a pair of similar sized halogen flood lights, although both the halogen flood lights and the back up lights in the tail light unit are both wired together.

 

[-Virgil-]

Interesting--I was aware of Truck-Lite's combi-housed Model 45 units like this, but I hadn't seen what looks like a new high-power LED reversing lamp. H'mm...and their catalog page still shows a sealed incandescent reversing lamp. Where'd you find this?

 

[Alaric Darconville]

Interesting--I was aware of Truck-Lite's combi-housed Model 45 units like this, but I hadn't seen what looks like a new high-power LED reversing lamp. H'mm...and their catalog page still shows a sealed incandescent reversing lamp. Where'd you find this?

I can't find THAT specifically, but check this out: Part No./Description 94618

I suppose if it's modular, one can swap in that LED module.

Is Truck-Lite a Narva subsidiary?

 

[Mr.Beam]

Narva is Australian spec lighting, not sure they would be approved for North American use
http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/model-46