I have a very common 18 foot car hauler that gets used more by others than by me and it has come that time to replace the lights again. I don't quite understand it I have never hit a trailer light but for some reason the rest of the world sees them as bullseyes and has a pretty good aim. I have found the min requirements and understand them but I think my trailer has a few extra lights and I want to be sure they are the correct color. The three in question are along the side. Actually two on the side and one on the leading or front edge of the fender. There is a picture below. When I replaced them a few years ago with LED's one friend questioned if the coloring was correct so if it is not I would like to correct it now. There is a picture below with the areas in question circled. I am quite sure the two front lights should be amber but am wondering about the light on the front of the fender. Should that be amber or red, it was red before they got smashed? I am also thinking about putting a refelctive (conspicuious) tape on the side where I colored it in. Would this be a correct location and legal? Where else should I add tape if anywhere? Does the red go forward or toward the back?

Like I said simple questions for you guys I am sure.

 

Here you go:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/stan.../trlrpstr.html

 

I am no expert but I think on the front of the fenderwell it would be amber, on the rear of the fenderwell it would be red. Same like the marker lights on a duelly. Visually, an oncomming vehicle should only see amber, a trailing vehicle should only see red.

 

Thanks CRR. The experts say amber. (Great easy to read info - beat me by a minute)

 

I agree with this. It is against the law for a red light to be showing from the front of a vehicle.
Regarding the tape, it is commonly placed down the sides of a trailer. If you are just putting on one square of each color, as shown, the white should be toward the front. Some people will run a length of the tape all the way down the side, and just start with whatever is on the beginning of the roll. I don't believe it's a problem. If there's room, you can put a line of tape across the rear too.

 

All 3 should be amber. If the light in position 3 was at the rear of the fenders, rearward of the 2nd axle, then it would be red.

 

Great replies, thanks a ton! I was thinking only amber from the front too but for some reason the fenders were red before, and yes I was the one that put them there so it was my mistake the first time.

On the tape there isn't a whole lot of room between the hold downs and lights but I would try to get a few lengths on if possible. I was thinking one on each side of the tongue would be a decent idea. Opinions?

I like the idea of a trailer being lit up like a christmas tree. No matter what you do people seem to believe that a vehicle ends with the vehicles bumper they never look behind it. I have never had an accident but a few close calls with unattentive drivers will make me take every precaution I can.

 

Been there - done that, by the time you get some posts pecked in they are history..

turbo6justin,

Your trailers lighting / conspicuity tape requirements is grandfathered into the year it was manufactured.

However it is better to be seen than to be sorry..

I go overboard on lighting myself.

 

CRR, I did mine the same way except for the down leg but I agree, light it up like a Christmas tree. Then let them try to explain why they didn't see you.

 

I agree with the extra lighting on a flatdeck trailer. They are so low to the ground, people often don't see them if there is no load on them. I've often thought about mounting a couple of tall flags on the rear corners of mine. Overkill? I don't think it can hurt.

 

Can you put some kind of guard around or over the lights? Looks to me like just rough use is killing them.

 

I know it is all just physical dammage and I could protect them but the point is I shouldn't have to. I was just ranting a little bit about other people damaging things. To them it is magic, borrow trailer, break lights, return - next time the lights are magically working again. The problem with being the guy who fixes everything is you are always the guy fixing things.

 

Can I get an AMEN?

 

Fix them then don't let anyone else use your trailer.

 

Our motorcycle trailer had bad luck for about two years. I would replace lights and a rock from a lawn mower would wipe one out. Fix it and a baseball smashed it. Replace it and a kid on a bike runs into it. For the last few years though we have had good luck.