Additional Tail Lights

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:14 pm

Mario's clearance lights (viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2834) spurred me on to finally installing some lights I've been meaning to install for a while now. They're a bit bigger/brighter than his, but they serve essentially the same intended purpose - to increase the vehicle's visibility.

Here's a little video I took because I was curious how it looked to other drivers. Pretty cool I think...

by **Mudwheelin** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:05 pm

Hey James, I can't see a vid?

by **JCrayton99** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:39 pm

How did you wire those lights in?

by **boog2006** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:46 pm

Vid worked for me. Awesome lights!

Boog2006

by **NC_IslandRunner** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 9:48 pm

Interesting, Cool!

by **KE7WOX** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:07 pm

That is awesome. What kind of lights are those and where did you mount them? Also, do you have a manual override so that they work as strobes?

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:17 pm

They are some SHO-ME brand LED strobes that I've had sitting around from my rescue squad days. They used to be installed inside, but I took them out a while back.

They are wired into the trailer wiring with a diode so the strobe controller won't back-power trailer lights or the electronics in the truck.

I'll can get a picture of the very basic mounting bracket if anyone really wants... but it isn't anything impressive. Pure function.

by **SaltWaterDrinker** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:47 pm

I still don't get how you are able to have them strobe and function as break lights at the same time - I guess I'm confused with how they're controlled or something...I dunno.

by **KE7WOX** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 11:04 pm

SaltWaterDrinker wrote:I still don't get how you are able to have them strobe and function as break lights at the same time - I guess I'm confused with how they're controlled or something...I dunno.

My guess is that there's a connection straight to the lights power bypassing the strobe controller so you can apply a constant power. That way I do see the need for the diode to prevent the controller from turning your regular lights into strobes.

What I wasn't sure is if you found some lights that conform to the plastic thing above the window (I know they make those for the Tahoes) or if they were mounted in some other way. They definitely look at lot better than generic lights or LED strips, and they're surely much more visible.

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 12:15 am

Well done! Was playing w some lil led brakelight pods for a trailer walker tonight and had a similar idea.

by **Zapp Brannigan** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:51 am

JamesDowning wrote:They are some SHO-ME brand LED strobes that I've had sitting around from my rescue squad days. They used to be installed inside, but I took them out a while back.

They are wired into the trailer wiring with a diode so the strobe controller won't back-power trailer lights or the electronics in the truck.

I'll can get a picture of the very basic mounting bracket if anyone really wants... but it isn't anything impressive. Pure function.

Looks real great!!! Well done!!!

by **Flying Monkey** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:19 am

If you get rear ended it sure wont be because they didnt see you stopping lol. Good job bud

by **Gordinho80** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:06 am

Nice work! Very bright indeed. You're currently out lighting me... HAHA.

by **hotness** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:22 am

Very cool. I had thought of doing something similar on the end of the roof rails. Nice job.

by **sburruss7** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 9:56 am

Thats Awesome looks good

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:38 pm

KE7WOX wrote:
SaltWaterDrinker wrote:I still don't get how you are able to have them strobe and function as break lights at the same time - I guess I'm confused with how they're controlled or something...I dunno.

My guess is that there's a connection straight to the lights power bypassing the strobe controller so you can apply a constant power. That way I do see the need for the diode to prevent the controller from turning your regular lights into strobes.

What I wasn't sure is if you found some lights that conform to the plastic thing above the window (I know they make those for the Tahoes) or if they were mounted in some other way. They definitely look at lot better than generic lights or LED strips, and they're surely much more visible.

Two positive power sources to each light. One is from the strobe 'computer'. The other is a dioded line from the trailer harness. The diode is indeed to keep the strobe signal out of the rest of the vehicle.

The lights are not made to conform to anything. They are surface mount lights.
http://www.swps.com/sho-me-led-micro-lite-kits-.html

Below is a quick cell phone picture of the bracket. As I said, ugly and pure function!

: rear-LED.jpg (170.52 KiB) Viewed 13813 times

by **Flying Monkey** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:42 pm

Can you still open your rear glass with them there? Looks like it might hit them.

YouTube Videos · by **Trail X** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:53 pm

The plastic upper fairing moves with the glass. Still plenty of clearance to the RTT even.

by **HARDTRAILZ** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:56 pm

Be cool to add some amber front strobes to go w rear in case you are along a road helping someone

by **Flying Monkey** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 1:02 pm

JamesDowning wrote:The plastic upper fairing moves with the glass. Still plenty of clearance to the RTT even.

Never noticed that before. Good deal

Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys