Back up lights for after dark arrivals

Dalehelman

Since the seven pin on our T@Bs is wired for back up lights. It seemed like a good idea to put some on. Especially for those late  night camp site arrivals. Easy  cheap addition cost about $15 for the lights I chose plus some wire I had around the shop. Our TV was also wired for backups to the 7 bin. Difficulty scale about a 1.5 out of 5.

dragonsdofly

Awesome!

RollingLagrima

Nice!

hymie

Great idea!

Cyclonic

Nice, clean mod.

ericnliz

@Dalehelman, Nicely done, and great idea!
Ha, and I keep askin' myself, "what's he gonna come up with next?" I'm beginning to think you go in to meditation "Mod Mode" when you have your cup of coffee & sit in your lawn chair! I'm still wondering where you're going to put your 'Disco Ball'!

dinzzy

4:08 am &6:04 am?  Early birds here!

Great job dale!

marknjudy

This is a very cool idea. Book marking it!

Runtarooti

You are amazing @Dalehelman. Always thinking of improvements and executing them to perfection.

Estancio

Do you mind sharing the details of those backup LED lights?

Ratkity

ericnliz said:

@Dalehelman, Nicely done, and great idea!
Ha, and I keep askin' myself, "what's he gonna come up with next?" I'm beginning to think you go in to meditation "Mod Mode" when you have your cup of coffee & sit in your lawn chair! I'm still wondering where you're going to put your 'Disco Ball'!

This one??

https://www.amazon.com/Lightahead-degree-rotating-disco-silver/dp/B00O17QZRA/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1493756109&sr=1-2-catcorr&keywords=battery+disco+ball

We had a bunch of folks with them and had taken over a remote park loop. Corn hole (bean bags) with puck lights, disco lights going and Coleman lanterns lined like a run way from one game board to the other. Good times.

Dalehelman

Estancio said:

Do you mind sharing the details of those backup LED lights?

To make it work first check the center contact on your TV 7 pin. With your TV backup lights on take a test light clipped to a ground, touch the center terminal. If it lights than you can preceded to wire trailer. 
Step 2   On your trailer follow the 7 bin cable back to where it enters a black box that is attached to front trailer cross member. Remove the 2 screws holding cover. The first  terminal from the driver side should be your ground. The third  terminal in the box has only 1 yellow wire attached to it. That is your + or positive. Run a wire from each of those terminals to your choice of backup fixture. That's pretty much it.

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wizard1880

Before taking this project on, make sure your TV is wired for the backup light.  Like many vehicles that lack a 12v pin to power your fridge on the move, even more of them lack the reverse light wiring.

To test, you can use a 12v test light and test the vehicle side.  Here's a diagram showing which pins to test (see "7-way RV Standard" and "Outside" picture).

Put the test light on the "Ground" and "Reverse LIghts" pin.  If you get light, you're all set.

(NOTE: Before you test this, you must have someone in the car while the vehicle is in reverse, if the engine is running.  Be sure to set the parking brake and have them hold the brake petal to prevent any movement!)

db_cooper

Great mod!

Here's my low tech version,. I carry one of these in the tow vehicle and it sits perfectly in the Outback cargo rack while backing up.  Handy light to have it you use other Milwaukee cordless tools.


www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00G3T1FO2/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1493757995&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=milwaukee+lantern

dmerzbac

@Dalehelman The mod master is at it again! Great work, Dale!

Dalehelman

Just trying to uphold the rich  tradition started by Mr. Richard Lewis.

 

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Mariner459

@Dalehelman, is that a sewer hose storage tunnel in the pic?  If so, pls elaborate.  

Dalehelman

Mariner459 said:

@Dalehelman, is that a sewer hose storage tunnel in the pic?  If so, pls elaborate.  

Yes It is made from 4" drain pipe from HomeDepot plus 2 snap on end cap. 

Homebodyatheart

@Mariner459 I made one this weekend before I broke camp. 1-60" long 4" wide PVC pipe; 1 slide on end cap, 1 piece that slid over the other end that has a screw on cap included. I used a dab of gorilla glue to put both end pieces on. Then I drilled a line of holes along one side for drainage. I bungee balled it to the tongue as a temporary fix till I can either get metal hose clamps, or figure out where else I want to put it. I'm not at home so I can't add a pic. It took maybe 10 minutes to do this mod. Hope this helps!

Mariner459

We keep thinking the 4 inch won't house the Titan end fittings of the heavy duty hose...seems to measure > 4.  Curious now!  Also, it looked like you had it across the rear of the camper where there's no bumper.

ruralgoddess

How's the ground clearance?

Dalehelman

We have the Rino hose and I did file down a couple tabs to allow it fit. I just liked the look as apposed to the plan black pipe. Ground clearance is not an issue. We also still have the under mounted spare.

Mariner459

What is it leashed to under there? Can't recall a cross member of frame out to the edge there.  Maybe there is.

Dalehelman

It is bolted in 4 places through the roll pan. The first pictures were temporary mounting for proper positioning.

Homebodyatheart

@Mariner459 I did have to remove both end pieces off the Rhino hose. They have temporary housing in a plastic grocery bag hung over the propane knob in the tub. Not ideal, but it was quick. 

ericnliz

Hmmm, After attempting this mod yesterday, and before installing a 4" ABS 60" tube with caps (one side removable), I laid the pipe on the ground to "test fit" everything. I have the Rhino hose with the straight connector for the trailer end, and the 90* bend on the other dump end. The straight end "might" fit after some grinding on both the nibs, and ribs on the solid plastic pieces. The 90* end...no way.  I noticed @Homebodyatheart mentioned that she removed both these ends for hers to work. I had that thought "only briefly", and considered that this would kind of defeat the purpose of having the tube for storage. I have not at this point installed the storage tube at all. I'm now wondering how some of the other folks posting the use of these and similar storage tubes have overcome this dilemma, or, are you removing the ends as well? Comments, hints, etc. would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Dalehelman

We are drifting off topic.

Verna

@ericnliz, my Rhino hose fits inside the 64" Camping World tube with the white opaque 90* on, but I do have to remove the orange graduated part from the 90*.  I didn't have to file anything off. Yes, it is more expensive than Dale's mod, but it has worked well for me. (About $30 for the 64" tube, positioned on the passenger side of my tongue.). No, I can't measure the tube diameter right now--remember all that rain you were getting? It has already rained our monthly average this month by the 4th and it's still raining!)

ericnliz

Sorry @Dalehelman ! Just another unintentional hi-jack.

Pop-T@B

hey Dale, to get back on topic, I like this idea and am working on adding the back-up lights to my T@B. I will post pics when I am done, ( if it works out right ) Thanks for the idea, Dr. Dale T@B-en-stein.

Dalehelman

@Pop-T@B Always look forward to your approach to any mod ideas. You are sum what of a perfectionist if you don't mind me saying so.