PIAA 1500 Backup Lamps

[GMueller]

Has anyone added PIAA 1500 Backup lamps to their 3rd gen?

I am in desparate need of better back-up lighting especially when backing my boat at 0-dark-thirty. Have considered a rear bumper with lights like a Buckstop (heck they are just over the hill from me), not sure that is the way I want to go.

If you have used/seen PIAA 1500's, how well do they light?



How were they mounted? Pictures?



Thanks

GEM

 

[JCrockett]

This is what I did before my new rear bumper, welded a piece of flat iron to the back of the reciever, then mounted the lights of that. More details in RR on mounting and wiring

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With the new bumper

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[OHale]

Has anyone added PIAA 1500 Backup lamps to their 3rd gen?

I am in desparate need of better back-up lighting especially when backing my boat at 0-dark-thirty. Have considered a rear bumper with lights like a Buckstop (heck they are just over the hill from me), not sure that is the way I want to go.

If you have used/seen PIAA 1500's, how well do they light?



How were they mounted? Pictures?



Thanks

GEM

FWIW, I shopped around quite a while for after-market backup lights. The PIAAs are high quality but the price (~$150) I thought was too much. KC also makes a BU kit that is also nice and runs around $70 if you shop around. The list for the KCs is around $100. All seem similar and mount the same way. They have 55w bulbs and glass lenses.



I ultimately ordered a set from Cabelas. $30 for a pair of 55w glass-lensed lights with a switch and relay. The dealership installed a set of these on my wife's 2500 and the work fine. Cabelas is also a company I trust when it comes to returns, etc.

 

[silverram03]

I've had a set of KC Back-up lights on my last two trucks and they work great.

 

[GTani]

I have the 1500's on my truck. The kit is complete with switch,relay and harness. Works fine for me. You might have to extend the harness though. I had to on my longbed ,Quadcab.

 

[OHale]

I installed a pair of these http://www.rallylights.com/Optilux/optilux_built-in_work_lamp.asp into my back bumper with 55-watt bulbs and they work GREAT. Very easy to drill hole using a $13 1-3/4 inch hole saw bit from Home Depot. I wired the reverse to the trailer harness plug. . a piece of cake! No one ever sees the lights until I back up.

What a great idea! I never cease to be amazed at the cleverness of TDR members.



Do you have any pics by any chance?

 

[TowPro]

Can you see a difference over your stock lights with these backups? I might by a set for my RV as well as the truck! (price is right)

 

[BNakamura]

I installed a pair of these http://www.rallylights.com/Optilux/optilux_built-in_work_lamp.asp into my back bumper with 55-watt bulbs and they work GREAT. Very easy to drill hole using a $13 1-3/4 inch hole saw bit from Home Depot. I wired the reverse to the trailer harness plug. . a piece of cake! No one ever sees the lights until I back up.

How long have you had those lights? Do you have tint? I have the factory tint and 5% tint over the factory tint and I can't see anything at night. Hope those lights can do the job.

 

[testraub]

Silly me I just picked up a cheap set of driving lights at Advance Auto Parts and tied them into the backup lights 55w each work fine and only cost about $17 and the time to find the backup light wire. Sure as heck lights up the rear end.

 

[Matt400]

I installed a pair of these Optilux Build-in Worklamp into my back bumper with 55-watt bulbs and they work GREAT. Very easy to drill hole using a $13 1-3/4 inch hole saw bit from Home Depot. I wired the reverse to the trailer harness plug. . a piece of cake! No one ever sees the lights until I back up.

Excellent idea!! I would be tempted to put 2 facing rear and 2 to the side on the corner of the bumper for more area lighting while maneuvering in unfamiliar areas.



The vendor is questionable though, I spent allot of money with these guys in the past few years and recently their customer service took a major dive so I won't be using them anymore, too bad.

 

[Tony T.]

These are the lights from Cabela's 55w bulbs and around $30. 00 bucks as OHale spoke about. Been on the truck about 2 years and work fine for me.



Tony

 

[Matt400]

Those are nice and thin Tony. . looks good too. Do I read your gallery correct that you are not using a relay with yours, or you have one and trip it with the OEM back up lamps?

 

[Tony T.]

Those are nice and thin Tony. . looks good too. Do I read your gallery correct that you are not using a relay with yours, or you have one and trip it with the OEM back up lamps?



Upgrade back ups are on my list of to-do's and I was looking at these Hella's

Each lamp has 2- 55w bulbs.

Thanks Matt, and yes no relay, found the wire for the back-ups I believe it was purple color wire on the 03, I tied in, solder'd, and sealed the lights into it. So anytime I throw it in reverse the lights come on. Have not had any problems with them.



Yes! I also was going for the thin and kinda out-of-the way look, but after looking at some of the other pics on this thread I've seen some nice light mods IMO.



Those Hella's are nice looking lights also.



Tony

 

[Lips]

You'll wanna put a relay in there. You may never have a problem, but if you're reverse lights are on for any length of time, you may find out the hard way that the factory reverse light harness is not up to the task of two additional lights. A relay is cheap, easy insurance.

 

[Matt400]

JCrockett- where did you find the nice looking rocker switches?

 

[Matt400]

Since were on the back up lamp subject. . anyone tried a pair of 50w halogen bulbs in the OEM spot?



The OEM number is 3057 and I believe these will fit that socket.



As for those PIAA 1500's, I was looking on eBay and saw where the seller listed the bulb as- 55W=85W.

So I asked them what was up with that and this was the reply-

They draw 55W but has as much output as other 85W bulbs, that's why Piaa has them listed as 55W=85W.

Is that true, will these 55w PIAA's be brighter than another quality lamp like a 55w Hella?

 

[JCrockett]

JCrockett- where did you find the nice looking rocker switches?

Contact TDR member Slinse to get ahold of those switches, he has actuators for just about anything you need from fog/driving/backup lights, to engine fan, rack lights, heated mirror, engine brake, etc. He also has switches available in single pole, double pole, and momentary.

Best part is the lights on the switches match the dash



Another option to wire backup lights is to use a relay and a double pole double throw switch. That way in one postion the lights will come on when you throw it in reverse, and in the other postion they will always stay on, like for hooking up a trailer, or turn them off so they do not come on at all. I just like lots of options Plus you can do it all with 1 switch

Just my . 02

 

[Lips]

Another option to wire backup lights is to use a relay and a double pole double throw switch. That way in one postion the lights will come on when you throw it in reverse, and in the other postion they will always stay on, like for hooking up a trailer, or turn them off so they do not come on at all. I just like lots of options Plus you can do it all with 1 switch

Just my . 02

That's how I ran mine. It's handy that way since they come on automatically, but can be turned on manually for tailgaters.

 

[Matt400]

I installed a pair of these http://www.rallylights.com/Optilux/optilux_built-in_work_lamp.asp into my back bumper with 55-watt bulbs

I did a little research on those and see they take #893 bulbs at 37. 5W. The only other bulb I could find that might fit is an #885 at 50W. Is this the bulb you are using? Anyone else know if a #893 and #885 have the same base & dimensions?

 

[TowPro]

GoCarGo, got a picture of your install?