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    Quick Links: Off brand factory headlights (05-11) Auxiliary switch Wiring and switches. Converting a Cigarette Lighter plug to 12v Installing lighting soon, entire headliner is carpeted, any good ideas with attaching LED strips? Led light bar mounting help Multi conductor wiring for rooftop lighting...

Anyone have a tow hitch light?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by beavis87, Dec 11, 2015.

  1. Dec 11, 2015 at 5:26 PM
    #1
    beavis87

    #1
    beavis87 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    One day I saw this truck (think it was a Chevy) with this towing hitch light. Thought oh that's neat, but its kind of pointless since the output seemed too low. Forgot about it but then I saw this same truck on the side of the road (its halogen taillights were brighter) and I wondered what if you could replace the bulb in it with a LED to make it brighter? So I searched for it and found the hitch light:
    Bully CR-007A Black Finish ABS Plastic Universal Fit Truck LED Brake Light Hitch Cover Fits 2" Hitch Receivers for Trucks from Chevy (Chevrolet), Ford, Toyota, GMC, Dodge RAM, Jeep
    Bully CR-007A Tail and Brake Light
    Found the brighest LED bulb I could find:
    JDM ASTAR Super Bright 5730 Chipsets 1157 2057 2357 7528 LED Bulbs with Projector,Brilliant Red
    JDM ASTAR Super Bright 5730 Chipsets 1157 LED Bulbs
    Then I realized I needed a 4 wire adapter for the trailer harness, so I bought this:
    $10 Hopkins 7 Blade to 4 Wire Flat Vehicle To Trailer Connector Adapter Plug, Universal Fit for Vehicles with 7 Blade Adapters (47345)
    Hopkins 47345 4 Wire Flat Adapter
    Then realized I should protect this in case of theft so I got this:
    $24 TRIMAX T-3BLACK Premium 5/8" Key Receiver Lock Rugged Black epoxy Powder Coat
    Trimax T-3BLACK Premium 5/8" Key Receiver Lock

    Wasn't that expensive and I could use the 4 wire adapter and hitch lock for other things. I didn't like that the hitch was plastic. Other than that, great buy to add visibility to your truck, especially in that dense fog you people on the coasts get. I'm thinking whether I should put reflective tape on the inside, but I feel that might just melt. Maybe silver spray paint would be better.

    Halogen it came with
    LED!
    Gonna tape the wires
     
    beavis87, Dec 11, 2015
    #1
    DirtJumper14 likes this.
  2. Dec 11, 2015 at 7:25 PM
    #2
    Sicyota04

    #2
    Sicyota04 Slowly but surely.

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    I saw this the other day. A little pricey but you'll have plenty of light!

    image.jpg
     
    Sicyota04, Dec 11, 2015
    #2
  3. Dec 11, 2015 at 7:28 PM
    #3
    jmaack

    #3
    jmaack Well-Known Member

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    Ome, Sqeak free dakars, arms, skids, sliders.
    4th 5th brake light ffw.
     
    jmaack, Dec 11, 2015
    #3
  4. Dec 11, 2015 at 7:57 PM
    #4
    beavis87

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    beavis87 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I saw that and my lil mod is more a poor mans fourth brake light. Only thing I didn't skimp on was the LED. Those hitch lights look like they should be attached to a switch or the reverse wires as either rock lights/party lights or if you need to reverse for a real long time. Mine was strictly from a visibility perspective. Also, I can't imagine those lights on while driving, it looks like it would blind people.
     
    beavis87, Dec 11, 2015
    #4
    Sicyota04[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Dec 18, 2015 at 8:22 PM
    #5
    beavis87

    #5
    beavis87 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    beavis87, Dec 18, 2015
    #5
  6. Dec 18, 2015 at 9:58 PM
    #6
    Z50king

    #6
    Z50king DCLBOR4X4FTW

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    Stock and loving it
    Does it only run as a brake light? Does it run as a running light, as well?
     
    Z50king, Dec 18, 2015
    #6
  7. Dec 18, 2015 at 10:08 PM
    #7
    beavis87

    #7
    beavis87 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Its a running light, as well as a brake light. It comes out of the trailer harness so it has all the functions as if a trailer was attached to it except turn signals/hazards.
     
    beavis87, Dec 18, 2015
    #7
  8. Sep 7, 2019 at 9:40 PM
    #8
    skierd

    #8
    skierd Well-Known Member

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    Did a search and found this old thread. I’ve got the same light, but instead of an LED I swapped in a 2357 bulb in place of the stock 1157. It’s higher wattage and significantly brighter. Not sure how it compares to LEDs but I wanted this setup for winter driving so for me the heat from an incandescent is useful to keep the light clear of snow. My wife had followed me home and said the extra light makes me a lot more visible when snow is blowing around.

    I also just added a curt trailer T harness so I could wire the hitch light independent of the bumper plugs for a cleaner install.

    CURT 55384 Replacement Vehicle-Side Custom USCAR 4-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness
    $31 CURT 55384 Replacement Vehicle-Side Custom USCAR 4-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness, Black, 6 x 3 x 9"es
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009FJ38Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TziDDb21BDMHM

    EE323AB5-1357-48E8-A322-4B149710F3D7.jpg 6DF7E597-6786-41A3-BF07-DBA205231539.jpg
     
    skierd, Sep 7, 2019
    #8
  9. Sep 7, 2019 at 10:14 PM
    #9
    Tullie D

    #9
    Tullie D Well-Known Member

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    I've had one of those in the past, with an 1157 bulb in it. It was OK.

    This is what I'm using now... :)

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/auxiliary-tail-turn-stop-lights.604250/
     
    Tullie D, Sep 7, 2019
    #9
    skierd[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Sep 9, 2019 at 2:44 AM
    #10
    Tullie D

    #10
    Tullie D Well-Known Member

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    Tullie D, Sep 9, 2019
    #10
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