Light on tailgate? Some do, some don't?

[Nickaru]

I'm looking at upgrading to a 3rd gen truck and upon looking at what's for sale, some trucks have the extra tail light on the tailgate and others don't. At first I thought it would have to be the better option packages, such as the Laramie with leather seats. Just as I thought that was the case, I'm looking at a Laramie with leather and it doesn't have the tailgate light.



It's no big thing, but I was just trying to figure out the reason or option.

 

[AlaskanCummins]

I think those only come on the dually trucks.

 

[Nickaru]

I'm only looking at dually's of 2006 and some do and some don't.

 

[sabersix]

I believe the light was moved down between the tailgate and the bumper. That is where it is located on my dually.

 

[HBarlow]

DOT regulations require the three light bar on all duallies. It may be on the tailgate or below but must be installed.

The three light bar is an identification light to tell other motorists approaching from the rear in darkness the vehicle is wider than normal vehicle width.

 

[Grizzly]

DOT regulations require the three light bar on all duallies. It may be on the tailgate or below but must be installed.



The three light bar is an identification light to tell other motorists approaching from the rear in darkness the vehicle is wider than normal vehicle width.

For the same reason DOT requires lights on the front and rear of the extended dually fenders and on the top of the cab.



What I don't understand is why do some people order the option of lights on top of the cab when they have a 2500 or a single wheel 3500, which are not required by DOT!

 

[mwilson]

'Cause we like them... ... ... :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[MVenditti]

For the same reason DOT requires lights on the front and rear of the extended dually fenders and on the top of the cab.



What I don't understand is why do some people order the option of lights on top of the cab when they have a 2500 or a single wheel 3500, which are not required by DOT!

They are required on vehicles of 10,000 pounds gross and over.

 

[steved]

Something being forgotten is that some of the 3rd gen dually trucks were delivered (from the factory) WITHOUT the width lights (its the "over 80-inch wide" light)... right or wrong, but some 3500 dually's did not have them.



There was a discussion regarding this a long time ago.

 

[cojhl2]

I've been wondering about this myself so I looked it up in FMCS pocketbook.

It turns out the requirement is related to width. If 80in or more width then both front and rear must have 3 lamps centered about the vertical centerline one on the centerline and the others not less than 6in nor more than 12in from the center.

So how does that require my W250?? Cause I like em!!!!

I also have 3 vertical just behind the cab on the Headache rack.

 

[mwilson]

Western Star trucks had a recall last year pertaining to class 8 trucks that had been special ordered with cab lights all the way across the top. Western Star was in violation of federal law building the trucks with extra cab lights. You can add them after, but they can not be built that way at the factory.

 

[rbattelle]

What I don't understand is why do some people order the option of lights on top of the cab when they have a 2500 or a single wheel 3500, which are not required by DOT!

I have them and don't want them. Never did from the beginning. Unfortunately, Dodge in it's infinite wisdom didn't offer the clearance light delete option for SRW 3500s until 2004.



Ryan

 

[Grizzly]

I have them and don't want them. Never did from the beginning. Unfortunately, Dodge in it's infinite wisdom didn't offer the clearance light delete option for SRW 3500s until 2004.



Ryan

My brother-in-law calls the top of cab lights on his F250 'macho' lights.

 

[rbattelle]

My brother-in-law calls the top of cab lights on his F250 'macho' lights.

That's why I wish I didn't have them. It's a light duty truck, what possible purpose is there to having clearance lights up top? Yeah, ok, DOT requirement, but why?

I understand some people like "the look", but for me they're just "flashy" accessories. By and large, I'm not a flashy kind of guy. Besides, I really wish I didn't have 5 huge holes in my roof.

Ryan

 

[cojhl2]

Can't wait until I get my genuine "Air Brake Sound Simulator" Installed!!:-laf

 

[mwilson]

Don't forget the "No Lot Lizards" sticker for the side window.....

 

[steved]

That's why I wish I didn't have them. It's a light duty truck, what possible purpose is there to having clearance lights up top? Yeah, ok, DOT requirement, but why?



I understand some people like "the look", but for me they're just "flashy" accessories. By and large, I'm not a flashy kind of guy. Besides, I really wish I didn't have 5 huge holes in my roof.



Ryan

In some instances, owners have received tickets while towing for not having those clearance lights... they were considered "commercial" by a DOT and cited for not having required lighting/equipment. This was a gray area ticket at that time... the DOT considered said owner "commercial" because the guy was "paid" for winning a competition with his towed vehicle. This supposedly happened to a guy on Pirate4x4.



Most of us towing 5vrs don't need to worry about it since the 5vr has those lights, but a bumper-pull flatbed doesn't have those lights so the truck should.



And before we get all up in arms about commercial/non-commercial/RV exempt; if its over 80"s wide it should have the lights for the consideration of the OTHER motorists' safety. While we can nit-pick regulations all day long, the fact is more lights are better for visibility.

 

[cojhl2]

In some instances, owners have received tickets while towing for not having those clearance lights... they were considered "commercial" by a DOT and cited for not having required lighting/equipment. This was a gray area ticket at that time... the DOT considered said owner "commercial" because the guy was "paid" for winning a competition with his towed vehicle. This supposedly happened to a guy on Pirate4x4.



Most of us towing 5vrs don't need to worry about it since the 5vr has those lights, but a bumper-pull flatbed doesn't have those lights so the truck should.



And before we get all up in arms about commercial/non-commercial/RV exempt; if its over 80"s wide it should have the lights for the consideration of the OTHER motorists' safety. While we can nit-pick regulations all day long, the fact is more lights are better for visibility.

I agree, DOT says 80" or over and I don't see where they specify commercial rules only, so one has to assume the rules apply to those of us on the hiway regardless why we are there.



I purchased two flatbed bumper pulls over the past 5 years and they both came with all the regulation clearance lights.

 

[cojhl2]

Don't forget the "No Lot Lizards" sticker for the side window.....

That comes after twin stacks and side mount aircleaners!!!:-laf

 

[HBarlow]

The clearance light requirement has nothing to do with commercial or private use and if a DOT officer was ticketing srw trucks w/o lights he was uninformed. I would guess that was an unfounded rumor not fact.

Clearance lights are for the purpose of warning other motorists approaching in darkness that the vehicle is wider (or taller) than normal. Note clearance lights are used at the top rear and top front of trailers or tall box trucks as well.

I think dealer sales managers in snow country sometimes order 4wd srw trucks with clearance lights because they anticipate many of their trucks will end up with wide snow plows mounted.

Some just like the bright lights. Apparently it is a "trucker thing. "