Auxiliary back up lights for hooking up trailers at night.

[NotBabb]

I got tired of backing up in the middle of the night with my weak back up lights to either a trailer or just around town.

So I found round 7" wide flush mount LED bars that were rounded and I like the way they looked. Mounted on the rear bumper between my back up sensors.

First was figuring out the wiring which was super simple since all I needed to do was hook them to the trailer plug wire that goes to the trailer reverse light.

But I didn't want to just have reverse lights, I wanted a way so I could have light on the back of the truck while I'm hooking up the trailer or for whatever reason. So I bought a waterproof push button and a programmable small on/cycle delay that can be programmed multiple ways and from .01 seconds to 9999 seconds.

I also bought some diodes like you would buy for hauling a car behind a RV so that not voltage would go back to the car.

So with the switch, diode, and programmable electronic I am now able to turn on just auxiliary reverse lights at the push of a button and I have them to go off at exactly 3 minutes automatically unless I turn them off manually before the 3 minutes is up.

If you have any questions feel free to ask away. I can link all the hardware I used and I think I still have the wiring diagram I used on my truck if you need it

 

[kbuskill]

I got tired of backing up in the middle of the night with my weak back up lights to either a trailer or just around town.

So I found round 7" wide flush mount LED bars that were rounded and I like the way they looked. Mounted on the rear bumper between my back up sensors.

First was figuring out the wiring which was super simple since all I needed to do was hook them to the trailer plug wire that goes to the trailer reverse light.

But I didn't want to just have reverse lights, I wanted a way so I could have light on the back of the truck while I'm hooking up the trailer or for whatever reason. So I bought a waterproof push button and a programmable small on/cycle delay that can be programmed multiple ways and from .01 seconds to 9999 seconds.

I also bought some diodes like you would buy for hauling a car behind a RV so that not voltage would go back to the car.

So with the switch, diode, and programmable electronic I am now able to turn on just auxiliary reverse lights at the push of a button and I have them to go off at exactly 3 minutes automatically unless I turn them off manually before the 3 minutes is up.

If you have any questions feel free to ask away. I can link all the hardware I used and I think I still have the wiring diagram I used on my truck if you need itView attachment 201592 View attachment 201593

I would like to see some pics with them off, during the day.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Cool. I just have one of those flashlight looking ones that plug into the 7 pin outlet. It's 1000 lumens and works well until you have to unplug it to plug the trailer wiring in. Costs about $20

2001 Yukon SLT
2011 Yukon Denali

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[992dr]

That's pretty slick. Nicely done.
I was just thinking about some bright reverse lights.

 

[NotBabb]

I would like to see some pics with them off, during the day.

That's pretty slick. Nicely done.
I was just thinking about some bright reverse lights.

Thank you sir. I specifically kept the button as far away from where I could reach it while I was driving so I wouldn't be tempted to bright light tailgaters. Lol

 

[NotBabb]

I would like to see some pics with them off, during the day.

 

[992dr]

Thank you sir. I specifically kept the button as far away from where I could reach it while I was driving so I wouldn't be tempted to bright light tailgaters. Lol

Hahaha, I'm sure the urge tempts you to find that button though I know I'd be all over it some times.
Where did you put it?

View attachment 201725

Not to change the subject but I Like the exhaust. You happen to have a shot form underneath?

 

[NotBabb]

Hahaha, I'm sure the urge tempts you to find that button though I know I'd be all over it some times.
Where did you put it?

It's attached to the right side bottom of the receiver hitch. There is just enough room to put your finger in and push it and I wanted to keep it kinda hidden.

Not to change the subject but I Like the exhaust. You happen to have a shot form underneath?

Thanks, its a funny story actually. My neighbor has a fence next to my driveway and I wasn't paying attention so I backed into it and it put a bunch of scratches where the exhaust comes out. So I've had this 3" in to 4" out small fart can muffler that had the dump on the end that I was gonna put on my s13. But never did so i just said screw it and welded up a bend so it would face the right way.

Other than the cats it's all 3" pipe to the small muffler and it actually sounds pretty good when you get on it. And doesn't drone on the highway at all.

 

[2591tdj]

I got tired of backing up in the middle of the night with my weak back up lights to either a trailer or just around town.

So I found round 7" wide flush mount LED bars that were rounded and I like the way they looked. Mounted on the rear bumper between my back up sensors.

First was figuring out the wiring which was super simple since all I needed to do was hook them to the trailer plug wire that goes to the trailer reverse light.

But I didn't want to just have reverse lights, I wanted a way so I could have light on the back of the truck while I'm hooking up the trailer or for whatever reason. So I bought a waterproof push button and a programmable small on/cycle delay that can be programmed multiple ways and from .01 seconds to 9999 seconds.

I also bought some diodes like you would buy for hauling a car behind a RV so that not voltage would go back to the car.

So with the switch, diode, and programmable electronic I am now able to turn on just auxiliary reverse lights at the push of a button and I have them to go off at exactly 3 minutes automatically unless I turn them off manually before the 3 minutes is up.

If you have any questions feel free to ask away. I can link all the hardware I used and I think I still have the wiring diagram I used on my truck if you need itView attachment 201592 View attachment 201593

Can you provide the details and part numbers? It sounds like a great idea.

 

[NotBabb]

Can you provide the details and part numbers? It sounds like a great idea.

These were all the parts I used which I got straight from Amazon. Other than the wire and connectors which I always have on handy since I'm an electrician.

I'll see if I can find the little diagram I made for how I wired it. The most confusing part was programming the electronic timer. But if you go to their website they have videos that help alot.

 

[NotBabb]

Can you provide the details and part numbers? It sounds like a great idea.

I found a crap picture of the diagram so sorry for my terrible handwriting.

I got the reverse light power from the 7pin plug on the truck and there is constant power wire that might not be hooked up from the factory that goes to the trailer plug as well. You just have to hook it up in the engine compartment.

And you have to have a diode between the power coming from the timer and the reverse light power so that it won't back feed into the truck wiring.

http://imgur.com/gallery/pWA5xg5

 

[NotBabb]

Also I cut out some thin metal back plates (like the ones here) so the screws which are super tiny have something to hold onto when they go through the plastic of the bumper.

I did it without taking the bumper off but it was the absolute biggest pain in the ass even with someone holding out on the bumper so I could reach my hand up to the light to fit the nuts on the screws. So If you're able to take the bumper off I would suggest it.

I used a Dremel to cut out the plastic holes after taping off all around and then marking the hole on the tape, but be careful because the wires for the back up sensors run pretty close to where the lights are.

And the metal of the lights even when sitting between them doesn't affect the sensors.

 

[2591tdj]

View attachment 201908 View attachment 201909 Also I cut out some thin metal back plates (like the ones here) so the screws which are super tiny have something to hold onto when they go through the plastic of the bumper.

I did it without taking the bumper off but it was the absolute biggest pain in the ass even with someone holding out on the bumper so I could reach my hand up to the light to fit the nuts on the screws. So If you're able to take the bumper off I would suggest it.

I used a Dremel to cut out the plastic holes after taping off all around and then marking the hole on the tape, but be careful because the wires for the back up sensors run pretty close to where the lights are.

And the metal of the lights even when sitting between them doesn't affect the sensors.

 

[2591tdj]

My wife saw the LED lights I had saved on Amazon and bought them for me for Christmas. These are the 60 degree floods, not spots. I mounted them under the bumper on each side of the trailer hitch on my 2005 Tahoe. I also replaced the OEM backup bulbs with Sylvania LEDs from WalMart. The add-on lights are super bright! The combination with the Sylvanias looks great. I simply connected the hot wire directly into the back-up light wire in one of the tail light assemblies using a wire tap, which made for an easy install.

I like your idea of a rear switch but would really like to add a dash switch to turn them on without having to put it in reverse or hit unlock. Any idea where to connect a switch to the back-up light circuit under the dash? How do I identify the back-up light circuit? Is a diode necessary?

I added similar halogen lights years ago on my 1997 Tahoe. I ran wires from the lights to the dash mounted switch, but want to find a simpler way to wire a switch in this latest install.