My 2nd Gen Aux Reverse Lights

Hey Everyone. Thought I'd do a simple and quick post to show how I did my auxiliary reverse lights.

The lights I used are here:

$28 KAWELL 18W LED Light Bar Floodlight LED Fog Light Bar Super Bright Driving Light LED Work Light for Off Road Motorcycle ATV UTV 4X4 SUV Truck Tractor Boat

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NPQV06O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00


I bought 2 of them. Cheap enough so if you bust them on a rock off roading it won't hurt the bank. There are 2 sizes. I got the largest and I also got the flood beam.


Next, I went to Home Depot and picked up 2 of these:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sioux-Ch...RV-_-rv_gm_pip_rr-_-205227224-_-202274013-_-N

I chose these because they are insanely cheap and pretty strong, yet still malleable. I did cut them down a bit, and drill holes in them. I sanded them down, and removed the sharp edges with a bench grinder. Wiped clean with acetone then coated in plasti-dip. I chose plasti-dip instead of spray paint because I feel like it sticks easier, and when I needed to mount the lights, it was easy to remove the plasti-dip. You'll see what I mean by that later on.

The lights are mounted to the plate.

I had to go to Ace Hardware and get better hardware than the stuff that came with the light.



I mounted them to by tow package bar. I did not feel comfortable drilling into it, nor do I think my drill has enough power to do so. Instead I sanded the paint off the beam, wiped clean with acetone, and JB-Welded the plate to the beam. Here you can see where I just used a razor blade to remove the plasti-dip, and sanded the plate to make sure the JB-Weld can "grip" it.

Then, clamped the plate down and let it cure overnight.


While they were curing, I made the electrical connections. For now, I have them tapped into my reverse lights. Soon, I will add a separate relay for them so they can come on whenever I want from a switch in the cab. The switch I plan on using is this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261948345284
But for now, it is just tapped into the reverse lights. I tapped into the lights in the split loom wire next to the driver side light.

The green and black wire run down to the first light, then through the tow beam and out the other side to the other light.

The light next to the RV connector on my tow package barely was far enough away to allow these lights. If the lights were not angled at the ends, I'd be forced to get the smaller length light but it fit perfectly.

(before I attached them)


I'll post some light output pics later on tonight.

Over all, I am pleased with the way this came out.
Night time pictures on post #19.

 

Me likey

 

Did you have to install a resister in the positive wire ?

 

Any pics of the whole back end? I'm curious to see how hidden these are. Good work OP!

 

I did not, should I?

And yes, I will get some pics tonight when I can take the clamp off.

 

Only when you install a relay to turn them on independently. That way if you switch them on, power doesn't go to your reverse lights as well and light those up.


At least I'm pretty sure that's why you'd need a resistor...

EDIT: Nevermind. I'm thinking of a diode.

 

Ah yes. Also you would use a diode somewhere else so if you turn the aux lights on they do not trick the tranny into thinking it's in reverse and lighting up the R in your dash.

 

I don't see the need for a resistor like the other guy mentioned, but once you put the relay in I'd throw a diode in there. Never personally used them before (never needed too) so I'm of no help there.

 

Resistor prevents overload on that circuit so you dont blow fuses . But if you can light it up without blowing a fuse which i see you have done you should be good to go . Only reason I ask is cuz I have a single light like yours laying around im not using so You just might have given me an idea . Thanks Ethan

 

More pics coming soon.

 

Oh man I like how low profile those are. I may just have to do this. I'm curious to see how well the JB Weld holds up over time and how bright they are at night.

 

I think with proper sanding and prep, the JB-Weld should be pretty dang strong. And with how much I used. If not, looks like I will be drilling into the tow bar.

 

I'm too lazy to walk outside and look at my own truck so I'll just ask here. Couldn't you just drill a couple more holes in the sheet and get some heavy duty zip ties and zip tie them to the hitch? Or maybe a large hose clamp?

EDIT: As long as they're not visible of course. Can't remember off the top of my head if that portion of the hitch is visible.

 

I did think about that, and I might do it on top of the JB Weld. Especially if you used black zip ties, it shouldn't be visible. I can only see my lights if I crouch.

 

That'll definitely be the route I go then when I decide to do it. A little cheaper than JB weld and less work because there's no time waiting for it to set up.

 

Let me know when you do it, can't wait to see it.

 

I'll definitely post it up. Probably won't be for at least a few weeks unfortunately. While I'm back there I might as well throw in one of those big rig reverse alarms for those crowded parking lots

 

They look pretty safe up in there

 

Alright everyone, here are some night shots. Crazy bright.

 

Hot damn those are bright!!!