Let there be light! In reverse!

[JLibert]

very clean install. Nice work

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Great thread! Now I know what to do with that set of brand new fog lights I never installed and my 2nd gen CTD. Good project for this weekend.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Patrick, make sure you switch the bulbs to the 885 so you will get a nicer flood. The stock bulbs work of course but they really limit the rearward throw. I think they were close to 6 bucks each and it leaves you with spares for the front.

 

[DLBurns]

Nice install Dave!!!

I have my Hella 110's wired up so that I can turn them on manually as well as in conjunction with the reverse lights, Helps when someone wants to get a little to close.

 

[RJOL]

... I was also thinking of putting a relay in, so it would work automatic for the back up light. then a switch to override the relay.

The relay you are looking for is a standard auto 30 amp relay that you can get at Radio Shack or most auto parts stores. You can mount and wire the relay under the hood on the firewall. The selector switch is a standard "single pole / double throw" switch (sizes vary) and you can mount this switch inside the cab on the knee panel. The "reverse" wire comes from the reverse relay off the transmission. Once you find the right wire, you can usually trace it back to under the hood. Here is a picture of the hookup:

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Patrick, make sure you switch the bulbs to the 885 so you will get a nicer flood. The stock bulbs work of course but they really limit the rearward throw. I think they were close to 6 bucks each and it leaves you with spares for the front.

10-4 on the bulbs.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Hey Dave, I almost did my lights the way you did and had it wired for a while, but I wanted to try something that mounted in the bumper like this. Yours throws a lot more light at 210 watts but mine works great for me.

Rick, thanks for the wiring diagram, I know I wired mine differently but I'll have to look for the paper to see. Yours is a simple way to do it, I think I may have over-complicated mine!

 

[Tomscreek]

Can person just splice into the backup light wiring and add two aux. lights that come on only when in reverse, no relay or switch?

 

[WDixon27]

it's possible but would most likely overload something

Can person just splice into the backup light wiring and add two aux. lights that come on only when in reverse, no relay or switch?

 

[Matt400]

Can person just splice into the backup light wiring and add two aux. lights that come on only when in reverse, no relay or switch?

If you use the back up circuit that is for trailer back up lamps it would probably be ok but I wouldn't do that on the trucks regular back up lamp circuit.

 

[Tomscreek]

I think I got it. I did a search on this subject and used a relay as suggested to power the aux. lamps with a more adequate circut.

 

[Allnew2Me]

I'm sure you can use either the stock wiring or the trailer feed for adding auxiliary lights but you would have to be careful regarding the amperage they pull. Anything that is powerful enough to really do any good should be run through a relay and another wire to make sure you don't overload anything and also to be certain that you have enough juice to really light them up. It really isn't that difficult to do so I would suggest doing it right and doing it once. I used the fuse block that came with the fogs and ran a 12gauge copper wire to feed mine. I ran it inside the drivers side frame where possible and along the stock harness where I couldn't and it is in plastic loom all the way.

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Just got the lights mounted in the bumper. Have to admit this was a good use of otherwise unused fog lights! Went ahead and tested the setup using the schematic from RJOL. Works great!!! Will have to finish all the wiring tomorrow (and locate the reverse wire from the transmission). Bought a three position switch, but I could not find a three position switch anywhere with LED's in the switch itself. I'll look around tomorrow and see what is available.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Patrick, take some pictures and let us see your project. You can add an LED anywhere, I used one in a mounting ring from radio shack (see my pic) that was all ready to use in a 12v situation. Just wire the hot side of the LED into the feed that goes to the backup lights. I wanted to have an indicator so when I used the manual mode I wouldn't forget to turn them off.

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Patrick, take some pictures and let us see your project. You can add an LED anywhere, I used one in a mounting ring from radio shack (see my pic) that was all ready to use in a 12v situation. Just wire the hot side of the LED into the feed that goes to the backup lights. I wanted to have an indicator so when I used the manual mode I wouldn't forget to turn them off.

I was thinking the same thing. But I went ahead and just wired in a 3 position switch. I can always put one in when I go to do my guages.



Anyway the lights are in Oo. and everything works great. Will post pictures when it's dark and the truck is clean :-laf



Thanks to everyone who had input on this topic!

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Okay, it's dark now... truck's still dirty



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[Allnew2Me]

Patrick, that looks great! I can see that you are using the 885 bulbs, the light pattern is about like mine. I wanted a manual setting for the same reason you are using yours, to hook up a trailer in the dark. I have not had the chance to do that yet and was wondering if the light would be too intense or focused up close like that. Yours seems to be okay in that regard. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your install. You will find that you can aim the lights in the grommets a little to even out the pattern, they have a bit of play without giving anything up in security. Good job.

 

[Pawpaw]

As usual, the TDR has me thinking about spending more money! :-laf



Like Allnew2Me, I have a cap on my truck. Not only is the cap's back window tinted, but so are the truck's windows. (On the up side, I never have to switch my rear-view mirror to night mode. )



The stock backup lights are pathetic, so when I bought my Ranch Hand back bumper, I went for the one with lights:



http://www.ranchhand.com/backbumpers.htm



As you can see on the web page, they use the same 6" oval lights that are on some big-rigs. They don't help much.



Now I'm thinking some Hella FF75 fog lights just might be the ticket if I can only figure out how to mount them to fit through the oval holes that are already in the bumper.



Bob

 

[hammersley]

I ose Piper Aircraft landing lights...........

for backups - if they're good enough for landing a plane - they sure the heck are goos enough for me backing up - and they do a great job - also they are great when some Freaking idiot is blinding me from behind I also can blink them at truckers... ... .

 

[fkovalski]

I realize that these are common purchased items... but for those of us who are limited on our "bombing time" alloted to our trucks and limited in parts availability (I have to order the correct oil for my truck in my area!)...



... I would really like to do this mod... any part number would be helpful!



Thanks,

-frank.