Reverse lights in bumper

[LittlePearl13]

Hi y'all. So a while back I was doing some trout fishing in a lake I had never been to, and my dumb ass backed the truck into a bright yellow safety pole while I was about to pull the boat out of the water. Anyway, I'm going to be picking up a new bumper from a junkyard soon enough, and I was thinking that I'd like to cut out some holes in it and rig up some recessed reverse lights. Couple of questions though:

1) I'm thinking of using the same set of fog lights that I bought in a kit at autozone for $30 (see pic of lights on grille guard), but I'm wondering if they'll be large enough for me to get ticketed for having rear-facing uncovered lights?

2) which leads to my next question; do you guys think I should wire them to come on when I shift into reverse? Or have them toggleable? I can't decide. I can wire them to a switch no prob, but if I were to splice them into the reverse, I have no idea how to do that.

3) I have never pulled a rear bumper off, and I have a hitch reciever underneath, is that going to interfere with taking it off? How would I even go about removing it?

4) What would you guys recommend I use to cut into the bumper?

 

[95BlackTahoe]

Actually, I saw a set of hitch mounted back up lights at the parts store. 55 watt, almost looked like driving lights. That's what I plan on using, and I am planning on splicing right into the backup light wiring at the taillights. Although, hooking them up separately is nice if you are just needing light back there.

They should go real well with the 55 watt ones already in the backup lights...

Shawn

 

[Gzes]

Yes to remove the bumper you need to take the hitch off and if you have custom exaust u might run into problems.... My pipes used to be over the bolts and I could never get it off but now I've dumped em so no problem no more. Also I'm putting a custom bumper with reverse lights on it if u look in my album you should see it. I would do both switch and reverse but the reverse wire is in the back going toward the tail lights and its a green wire

 

[_Dylan_]

I had a set on an old truck of mine. I removed the taillight and added a wire to the reverse lights and ran that to a relay. Then I ran 12V power from the battery all the way back to the relay.

I set it up like fog lights with a relay, except instead of a switch its wires to the reverse lights for a signal. They will always come on with the reverse though...

 

[98 2-DOOR]

i tapped into the trailer wiring harness for the reverse LED's in my rear bumper, very simple...

 

[LittlePearl13]

Ok. Well, now that I know it's easy to wire either way, I still can't decide which one to do. Or the best way to cut out the spots for them in the bumper.

 

[Gzes]

Damn dude if u lived closer u could have had my custom bumper for 150 lol. I might intall it but idk

 

[noJeepshere]

I would go the led route, the stock wiring isn't known to be capable of much more than the stock bulbs require. I installed led lights from a truck shop for about $60 in parts. That was here in Alaska so your price will likely be less.

 

[the big blue bus]

first bumper comes off without removing hitch. 4 18mm bolts on frame and the outside brace bolts. i want to out some oval leds like those^ in my bumper but all ive read is the output isnt that wide of a spread. right nw ive got 2 under my bumper. use em as reverse and aux lights. they are mounted below the plate pretty much. had em on outside edges of bumper but kept getting coverd in mud. now theres a harness in frame and the light green wire is reverse signal. you can do it a few ways. my buddy just added a relay out back for em. light green is trigger. get power from the trailer harness and ground to the factory ground on drivers side as well on frame.

mine are wired as i have a relay under hood. i got taped into the reverse wire right below the brake booster in harness and ran that to relay signal with diode. also have a signal wire with diode from my switch in overhead console into relay too. now when i go into reverse they come on auto or when i flip the switch. some wire it to a 3 way so its auto off and on but i liek it how i have it now. it sucks not having em hooked up right now lol.

if i can find some good oval trailer lights im finding a better rear bumper and cutting holes out. im gonna use a hole saw on edges and sawzaw to connect the holes. would look ****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMdNc-t4dew&list=FLQunZ3grT8a5X8J8Vni4MFw&index=35&feature=plpp_video

 

[dsltrc]

i personally like this set up.... super easy and super sexy... goes right over your factory hitch and even has a toggle switch...

found here http://www.addoway.com/viewad/White...aign=feed&utm_medium=shopping&utm_source=bing