Added Reverse Lights

[JohnHaggerty]

I'm thinking of adding some reverse lights to the truck. This is to help me back-up the 5er at night. Anybody got a system that they like? Thanks!



Drive it like you stole it!

 

[surfbeetle]

The center wire (yellow) on the 7 wire trailer plug is the backup wire. I ran that to a relay that comes from the battery in the fifth wheel trailer. I also ran a wire from a switch on the trailer itself.



I then mounted two off road lights at the front of the trailer by the landing jacks. When I put the truck into reverse, the lights come on and I can see where I am going. I also can have the lights on when unhooked from the truck by turning on the switch. This helps when setting up camp in the dark.



There are times I have found that I want those lights on when I jockeying the trailer backwards and forwards so I plan to add a switch in the truck to turn those on even when not in reverse. Works great.

 

[Radshooter]

So... ... . if I tap into the reverse wire circuit on my truck and run the other end to the 7-way plug (center post) in the bed of the truck, will the back-up lights on the trailer work then? My trailer reverse lights have never worked. But, I don't think there is a wire hooked to the center plug in the plug-in either.

Thanks.

 

[surfbeetle]

My truck had the factory tow package at the rear bumper with the 7 wire. When I added the in bed connector, I jumpered off of receptacle at the bumper to the in bed. The center was already set as the backup lights.



Your best place to start is with a test lamp. You can have the truck in reverse, engine off, key on, so that the backup lights on the truck are on.

Use the test lamp and check the center of your 7 pin receptacle on the truck and see if the test lamp lights up.



Then if your trailer already has lights, you can check the trailer's wiring. The wire for the backup lights is usually yellow if I am not mistaken.

 

[georgej]

I just bought a couple of cheap driving lights . Mounted them below the bumper and ran a fused line from the battery to a relay. I tapped into the wire behind the rear tail light feeding the backup light. and that powers the relay. Then run a wire to the new lights.

 

[GSchlegel]

I did the same as georgej did except I used 2 50 watt tractor work (flood) lights I got from Tractor Supply.

 

[GAmes]

I mounted a light behind the mud flap and wired it thru a toggle switch. Also works on the morons who pass you with their high beams on. :-laf

 

[jelag]

The pigtail for the trailer has a reverse wire and a 12v hot wire...

We opened up that circuit, and tied into the 12v hot wire, installed (2) 12V tractor type floods and used the reverse wire in the harness to trigger a relay...

Out of the trailer plug with wire and fuse, through the relay to the lights... .

When the transmission goes into reverse it flips the relay and turns on the lights...

We have the same set up on the back of all our trailers as well for back up lights. .

 

[wcjp]

Mine are relayed/fused to a switch in the cab. Sometimes I use the lights when setting up camp with the truck in neutral. I've also recently added lights on the side and front(pointing down). This makes camp setup and leveling alot easier. I use cheap $5 50watt halogen lights.

 

[seafish]

The pigtail for the trailer has a reverse wire and a 12v hot wire...



We opened up that circuit, and tied into the 12v hot wire, installed (2) 12V tractor type floods and used the reverse wire in the harness to trigger a relay...



Out of the trailer plug with wire and fuse, through the relay to the lights... .



When the transmission goes into reverse it flips the relay and turns on the lights...



We have the same set up on the back of all our trailers as well for back up lights. .

Jelag, this is exactly what i have been wanting to do on my 2005, but was unsure of whether it would work. Also, I was hoping to add an in cab switch and was wondering if this would still work. Could you explain where you mounted the relays. Got wiring diagram?? Thanks.

 

[surfbeetle]

The pigtail for the trailer has a reverse wire and a 12v hot wire...



We opened up that circuit, and tied into the 12v hot wire, installed (2) 12V tractor type floods and used the reverse wire in the harness to trigger a relay...



Out of the trailer plug with wire and fuse, through the relay to the lights... .



When the transmission goes into reverse it flips the relay and turns on the lights...



We have the same set up on the back of all our trailers as well for back up lights. .

Which is what I said in the first place... when the the truck is in reverse or I flip a switch, the relay that goes from the battery in the trailer send power to the reverse lights on my trailer. I can be disconnected completely from the truck and still turn on the lights if necessary or I can put the truck in reverse when connected and have the lights on.

 

[seafish]

Which is what I said in the first place... when the the truck is in reverse or I flip a switch, the relay that goes from the battery in the trailer send power to the reverse lights on my trailer. I can be disconnected completely from the truck and still turn on the lights if necessary or I can put the truck in reverse when connected and have the lights on.

OK, Surfbeetle, so YOU have done exactly what I want to do, just didn't quite follow your original quote reagrding the 12v hot wire in the trailer wiring. I would love to be able to turn on from by the bumper AND in the cab. I have four 50 watt lights on my camper shell and bumper, will the 12 v Hot wire on the trailer plug handle that??



Got wiring diagram to help out a fool like me?:-laf



TIA!

 

[Chief USA]

I installed a set of these:



0004198 White Night Rear Lighting for 2 Inch Hitch Inserts



If you buy the 7 pin plug adapter, and relocation plate, it is a plug and play installation.



These backup lights look good and light up the area behind my truck like a set of conventional head lights.

 

[surfbeetle]

Here's a diagram of what I did. The wire that comes from the relay to the switch splits into two and one goes to the 7 wire male plug on the trailer and connects to the center yellow wire, the other end goes to the switch that is mounted on trailer.



All of this is mounted on the trailer, attached to the trailer's battery and not on the truck. When I connect to the trailer, the putting the truck into reverse turns on the lights. Otherwise, I can just use the separate switch when the truck is not running or connected to the truck.



For those of you that want to have lights mounted on your truck, it is still a good idea to use a relay so that you don't risk burning out the reverse switch or wiring.

 

[big61fourby]

#ad


A piece of 2" angle fits perfectly on the back side of the receiver hitch; makes great place to mount a couple of lights. Provides great protection from stray rocks, and is very sturdy. I wired mine to a toggle separate from the reverse circuit.

 

[SOLER]

I did this with my headache rack. I believe my pics of the diagram is still there in my profile.

 

[Pavemen]

i use a relay to the lights direct wire to the battery. the relay is triggered via a DPDT switch in the cab.

One throw gets constant 12v, the other gets it from the backup light circuit under the hood.

The other poles are used to power LED lights to indicate the current config.

i have lights anytime, running or not. or anytime the truck is in reverse. or i can turn them off totally

 

[SOLER]

i use a relay to the lights direct wire to the battery. the relay is triggered via a DPDT switch in the cab.



One throw gets constant 12v, the other gets it from the backup light circuit under the hood.



The other poles are used to power LED lights to indicate the current config.



i have lights anytime, running or not. or anytime the truck is in reverse. or i can turn them off totally

My wiring diagram shows how to do just what Pavemen has. I have tractor lights and reverse lights on my headache rack. I can turn on the tractor lights whenever I want, I can turn them completely off, or I can flip the switch so they come on with the reverse lights.

 

[seafish]

Thanks for all the help guys. Definitely like your ideas and diagrams.

 

[dclassens]

This is the same diagram as posted above. I printed this page and keep it in my tool box. It is very nicely drawn up. I often use this same princaple and apply to other aftermarket circiuts, such as fog lights that I want to turn on with factory head lights or by them selves. Good luck.

Dave