I have gotten so tired of guessing what's behind me at night while backing up. I'm finally going to mount some backup lights on my truck. What are you guys using?

I'm thinking LED lights might be best, since they draw less juice. But maybe halogens would be brighter. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

I found some tiny little round halogens and installed them under the bumper, to each side of the receiver. They are almost invisible from behind the truck, but are still fairly protected from rocks, etc.

 

I bought a pair of little helogen rectangular lights and mounted them on either side of the trailer hitch bracket. Worked great. Lasted one year and one burned out. Found out the bulbs weren't replaceable. What a waste of money. Be careful when looking for lights that they have replaceable bulbs. LEDs would be the way to go IMO.

 

I run the old school round sealed beams encased in a rubber cup. They spray good light and are about $20 apiece.

You will need to run them off auxilary power as the factory wiring isn't enough to run them.

 

Thanks guys. SixSlug, yep I'm not even going to bother going through any of the normal light wiring--I've got a couple of auxilliary 12V posts set up inside engine compartment, and I'll turn them off and on with a switch. And I'll run them off of a relay.

 

Sweet. Thats what I did.

If you want to save time and wire a guy posted to hook the relay up at the rear of the truck to the trailer aux. power, triggered by the factory back up light wire. This way you don't need to run another hot wire to the rear, you can use whats there.

I'm gonna convert mine over once the weather turns

 

That is what I did. I also, using a second relay, installed a switch in the dash, to activated the rear lights manually.

 

I did this back in the day, but would forget and drive home from the desert with my 10K watt facemelters on in the rear and get a ticket.

Its nice though, if you need the lighting while out of the truck and can leave it running without having it in reverse.

I think now I would put a buzzer in line also so I wouldn't forget to turn them off..

 

I used lighted rocker switches in the cab. The switches were wired so that if the switch is 'on', it is lit. If the switch is in the off position, it is not lit.

 

We used to use the old style floor mounted hi-beam switches in the race and chase trucks for the aux. lighting since they were really heavy duty and rarely ever quit. Plus you didn't have to take your mitts off the wheel to turn them on or off

I agree with Firestorm, a modern lighted switch is much better choice!

 

On mine, I found a factory switch bezel from an automatic truck that would contain an o/d lockout switch with a foglight switch beside it. I bought 2 factory fog light switches and mounted them in the bezel side-by-side in the OEM location. Wired one to run my rear spots and the other to run my front Hella driving lights. Looks just like factory, both are backlit at night, and they have an indicator lamp for when the switch is on.

 

I used what we call a tractor light mounted under the bumper. Got power from the trailer plug through a relay. Been good for years.

Floyd

 

55 watt bulbs to replace the stock backup lights work good enough for me.
Only problem is they will melt your tail light lens if you leave them on for more than ten minutes.
No big deal for me, I usually turn around and start driving forward long before that.

 

I mounted two of the utility lights ($8.99) at the rear of the truck this winter.

http://www.angelos-supplies.com/snow...ield=EAN%2cEAN

They are pretty bright. There are a few led lights listed there as well.

I had a hard time finding a place to mount any switches inside the cab on the dash. Where did you guys mount your aux switches? thanks

 

On my 01, I removed the plastic trim/cover on the floor, below the cup holder (2 screws). I then cut the whole in that cover for the switch to fit. On my 03 I got a 'project' box from Radio Shack. It is mounted under the steering wheel, next to the brake controller.