Let there be light! In reverse!

[PatrickMarshall]

Frank,



Here's what I did; I bought a set of fog lights off ebay for my 2nd gen truck that I traded in before I replaced the broken lights, so they were just sitting on the shelf in the garage.

Fog light kit



Just about everything comes with the kit except for the 3 position switch that you need and extra wire to run from the back of the truck to the front and split plastic wire tubing. I bought the switch from the local Checker Auto store and the wire tubing from Home Depot, you will also need a handful of wire ties to make the install look clean. The rubber light mount/holder I picked up at the local Auto Safety House (trailer parts & accessories).



I used the wiring schematic from the above post and made up my wiring harness in advance, which I decided to run my switch leg for my reverse hookup from my backup lights at the rear, so all my wiring would be in one harness. I soldered all my connections and shrink wrapped them.



One extra thing I did but it is probably not necessary was to safety wire the lights to the bumper bracket. These lights had a bracket on them for a bolt that I just attached some small braided steel cable to. The same stuff I used to safety wire my license plate to my trailer. Just in case when I'm off road and the lights jar loose, I won't loose them.

 

[Allnew2Me]

Frank, the Mopar part number is 1-82205656. That is the kit that includes the wiring harness for a truck that is not pre-wired, relay, mounting hardware, new headlight switch, lights, bumper inserts, and instructions. I think I paid around $130 for it when I bought mine. The rubber light grommets are made by Truck-lite and can be found at any trucking parts supplier. I don't know if you can buy just the lights from Dodge, I recall someone looking for a replacement at one time and they had to buy the entire kit. Patrick found a good source for the lights it seems.



Patrick, great tip on safety wiring the lights inside the bumper, protects against loss by accident or intent.

 

[dieselshu]

3 way toggle with LED

In case anyone is interested in the 3way switch with LED in the toggle here is the vendor info. I have one and it works great.



3way toggle w/ LED



Dave

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Thanks, Dave.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

This thread has alot of good information, I am getting ready to do something similar with the bumper on my 01. The difference is I am going to french in a piece of 5 inch pipe into the bumper and mount a pair of Hella Optilux Angel eye lights in there, they are a 55 watt H3 bulb, hopefully they are bright enough. I like the idea of the landing lights though :-laf

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I went to work on this after my last post, I also started a new thread to show my project. Now I need to find someone to sand blast the bumper for me. Check out my new thread Here

 

[Allnew2Me]

Hi Tim, thanks for sharing your other post and pictures, very nice. My welds always look like yours do, but only after the grinder is turned off. That is what is so great about the TDR. I have certainly learned a lot here and I'm glad some of you found my post interesting enough to try your own version of it. Keep sharing the results.

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Dave, good tip on the switch, got it installed today, finally! The cool thing about this switch is that when it is switched to reverse/on side, the light comes on only when you are in reverse, way cool! Other wise it comes on when it is switched to the manual side.



#ad

 

[Allnew2Me]

I have mine wired the same way in that when it is on, the LED only comes on when the truck is in reverse. It also comes on when I use the manual switch. At the time I wired mine I wanted to keep all the "reverse function" switches in one place and I mounted them on the airbag controller cover as shown in a previous post. I really like the 3-way lighted switch though and it looks like a simpler way of doing what I did with my seperate switches. I installed a back-up alarm at the time I ran my wires and have all three switches together.

 

[RJOL]

I like the LED switch you guys used. I just used a regular non lighted switch.



I wired mine with an accessory hot wire so that the lights would only work with the ignition switch on. The switch can still be set to come on automatically when in reverse, or manually, but they will not come on at all without the ignition switch in the on or accessory position. This may make it a little less convenient, but if you every leave them on, by mistake, you're coming back to a dead battery in a short amount of time. This isn't a problem at night, as you will see the light on, but during the day you may not notice.

 

[PatrickMarshall]

Rick, valid point about the light. It is so tiny, you really have to look to see it during the day. And honestly, from the drivers seat and the position of the steering wheel, I don't have a good view of it when I'm driving.



I also had to remove some metal from behind the knee bolster so the switch would not hit and ground out the wires as this switch was about twice as long as the 3 position switch that I had in there was.



All in all I like the setup, but I may have to take some time off from these forums. The more I see, the more I want to do!!!!!!!

 

[DPhillips]

grommet part number

I just purchased the 4" round black grommet for 4" sealed lights from the TA truck stop. The part number is 049-3342690 sold by barjan in rock island, il. cant remember who asked the for the part number that has to order his oil but here it is. hope this helps him/her.



now i need to order the lights, buy/borrow the jig saw, wire, wire loom and switch.



I was wondering if the 3rd gen factory fog lights will work??? this has been a great thread.



Thanks to Allnew2me for posting the info.

 

[Allnew2Me]

DJ, you are very welcome. I do not know if the 3rd gen lights will work but here is how you might find out. Measure them on a truck and see if they will fit in the grommet as it is or smaller. The one thing you have to check also is that the grommet, when at its final size, will fit in the bumper where you want it to without encroaching on any bends or angles in the metal. Try to keep it as high as possible to throw the light out behind as opposed to down on the ground. Post your pics so we can see them and good luck.



Patrick and Rick, I used the red LED in my airbag controller cover and it is very easy to see when it is on, no problem there. If I have my cupholder down it does cover the LED but still glows faily brightly from underneath it, making it hard to miss. It would be easy to run a wire up from the switch to an LED or pilot light on the dash in front of you anywhere that would be more easily seen if anyone is worried about leaving them on during the day. Wiring them through the key is also another way to do it but I wanted to be able to turn them on if I were out near the truck and didn't have my keys. I reserve the right to change my mind if I kill my batteries but so far that little red light is working quite well.

 

[abdiver]

I am planning to place a light or two on the top of my Camper shell. Pretty much like this setup



Reunel Extreme Heavy Duty Bumpers



I am in California Do I have to keep them covered unless I am using them??



I want a flood light or two and don't want to draw more amps than required to just provide enough to work by. I just find myself loading my dump trailer in the dark and lighting the work area for a 1/2 hr or so would be great. I do have the same shell as in that picture as in the picture mine has the rear light option but they just don't provide enough light.



Not trying to hi Jack this thread just read it and lots of go tips already just point me in the right direction



Thanks Bill

 

[Allnew2Me]

I don't know the laws regarding rear facing lights. I know that you can't exceed a certain lighting amount forward. Any backup light used while moving is most likely a violation of vehicle code but you might want to stop a local officer or a CHP and ask them if they know of any requirement to cover rear-facing lights. I have seen toy trailers and work trailers with several lights facing the back and the side, and of course an ambulance is also covered with them. Check with the local PD and let us know.

 

[Matt400]

I am in California Do I have to keep them covered unless I am using them??

The CA lighting code for rear lamps is a little vague to me but I see it like this:

Your lamps do not need to be covered as long as they only come on in reverse- see here:

V. C. Section 24606 - Backup Lamps



For your use I would bet you would like to have a switch to turn them on while in park and that switch may make them illegal if law enforcement wanted to split hairs so my suggestion would be to go for it, leave them uncovered and put a 3 way switch in a non obvious location. This way if you ever get stopped you can show they only come on in reverse.



To add to the confusion, check this:

V. C. Section 24616 - Rear-facing Auxiliary Lamps



I don't see where there is a "mounting height declared" for rear lighting:

V. C. Section 24254 - Mounting Height

 

[abdiver]

Thanks, I will check this out and report back

 

[Thomas]

24606(c) Backup lamps shall not be lighted except when the vehicle is about to be or is backing or except in conjunction with a lighting system which activates the lights for a temporary period after the ignition system is turned off.

CVC 24606(c) pretty much allows the backup lamps to be on anytime the vehicle is not moving forward. The "about to be" is fairly vague.


24606(d) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with a lamp emitting white light on each side near or on the rear of the vehicle which is designed to provide supplemental illumination in an area to the side and rear not lighted by the backup lamps. These lamps shall be lighted only with the backup lamps.

CVC 24606(d) seems to allow any second-generation Ram owners to install any rear-facing lamps they desire since there is nothing illuminated by the OEM backup lamps. I don't know how it is on newer Rams.



I'm able to turn on 295 watts of rear-facing lamps on my California-based model year 2000 Ram with no incab switches. Place the transfer case in neutral & the transmission in reverse.

 

[nickleinonen]

For your use I would bet you would like to have a switch to turn them on while in park and that switch may make them illegal if law enforcement wanted to split hairs so my suggestion would be to go for it, leave them uncovered and put a 3 way switch in a non obvious location. This way if you ever get stopped you can show they only come on in reverse.

when i need some light for work with my 6" 55w fog lights i have for reverse lights, i too just toss the transfer case in neutral then pop the trans into reverse. . no extra switch needed [although i have one, but it lets me dim my lights by routing power through a resistor bank - gonna reuse that when i find some dual filament high/low lights to swap in]

 

[Matt400]

CVC 24606(d) seems to allow any second-generation Ram owners to install any rear-facing lamps they desire since there is nothing illuminated by the OEM backup lamps.

:-laf and with that in mind while we are at it... for those of us that have added real back up lamps, what about converting the useless oem lamp to a supplemental turn and or brake lamp?



Seems to me I read where someone here did just that, added amber bulbs I think.