Adding Yellow side turn signals to RV

[richardcoxid]

Hi Everybody!



I am thinking of adding a Yellow turn signal light to each side (approximately ½ way from the front) of our 5th wheel.



The easiest way to wire them would be to piggyback them onto the Left and Right individual stop/turn feed wires. The problem is that since the filament for the Stop and Turn is the same, the side Yellow turn signals would come on continuous when the brakes are applied.



I haven’t checked with the DMV yet to see if that is a problem (legal) or not. What do you as a fellow traveler think? Would you object to the RV side Yellow turn signal lights coming on continuously when the driver applies the brakes to the RV that is along side you? Any other thoughts?



The alternative would be to go into the TV wiring and try to pick up the Left/Right individual wires from the steering column switch itself. This would require running two extra wires to the RV and a two-conductor connector at the RV/TV interface. In my estimation that would be a lot of extra work for nothing. Comments?



Thank you in advance for your thoughts and ideas!



Richard

 

[RustyJC]

The center markers flash with the turn signals and come on with the brake lights on our current 5th wheel (see signature). They did the same with our previous Jayco Designer XL 3610RLTS.



Rusty

 

[MLee]

Richard;

It must not be a problem, The 18 wheel trucks have the side markers half way down the trailer that lite when the breaks are applied and flash with the turn signals. The tracktors are wired so that there side turn signals lite with the turn signals.

A single filament will lite and do the duty of turn signal if the ground is interrupted and wired to the turn wire. that is how the newer cars have a lite that will flash opposite the regular turn lites. Ever notice a bad ground on a lite, flashes opposite as the rest.

Marv.

 

[The Vetterfarm]

Turn signal only

Most big trucks use seperate lamp module for turn and brake.

I accomplished this by splicing into front turn signal leads

behind the headlights hot side only, you then need 2 additional

leads at trailer connector. . Chris

 

[surfbeetle]

If the light were to be an amber lens, then I think that some cop somewhere could ticket you for that, but if it were to be red, then it would most likely be okay. To stop that light from coming on solid when the brakes are applied, you would have to wire it separately from the tow vehicle. You could just tap into the wires going up to the rear turn signals as long as the tow vehicle doesn't share the same filament for turn and brake lamps.

 

[RustyJC]

If the light were to be an amber lens, then I think that some cop somewhere could ticket you for that, but if it were to be red, then it would most likely be okay.

As I stated, 5th wheel manufacturers have been building them for years with amber lenses on the mid-side lights, and the lights illuminate both on turn and stop conditions. I've been pulling 5th wheels in this configuration for 5 years and have never been stopped - I've never heard of any other RVer being stopped for it, either.



Rusty

 

[surfbeetle]

Rusty, I agree with you. I am merely pointing out the fact that the law wants brake lights to be red. Yes, a running light can be red or amber. You know it just takes one cop in a bad mood to give you a ticket, I guess it will depend on the jurisdiction you're in. My fifth wheel has both amber and red running lights, but only turn signals on the rear. Again, I just wanted to make sure that Richard was aware of all of the possiblitlies before he does his install.

 

[Chasweaver]

Side Turn Signals

I see no problem with the amber lights on the side. The more vitiable you are the safer you are. I am not aware of any CA law agist doing so. . Charlie

 

[Thomas]

... I am not aware of any CA law agist doing so...

California Vehicle Code 24603e: Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1979, shall emit a red light...

 

[RustyJC]

California Vehicle Code 60403e: Stoplamps on vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 1979, shall emit a red light...

OK, but stoplamps are affixed to the REAR of the vehicle, right? I believe you'll find that the law is silent about an amber light that is mounted amidships that just happens to illuminate simultaneously with the existing red, rear-mounted CVC60403e stoplamps. In other words, the side markers ain't stoplamps.



Rusty

 

[Thomas]

CVC 24603g seems to address stop lamps at positions other than the rear of the vehicle. I probably should have cited the entire section in my original post.

 

[RustyJC]

As a Moderator on iRV2.com, I can guarantee that our California members would be screaming bloody murder if they were getting stopped due to having these center lamps on their RVs. They aren't. It isn't happening. That's fact.



My point is, the California law enforcement officers, courts, etc. either are not interpreting the law such that these center lamps are considered stop lamps, they aren't aware what the law is in this regard, or they choose not to waste their time enforcing it. Not being a California resident, I don't know which of the above is the case, but apparently one (or more) is.



Rusty

 

[Thomas]

Agreed.



My only reason for posting it was in response to I am not aware of any CA law agist doing so