High Tail/Stop Lights

Topic: High Tail/Stop Lights (Read 1221 times) previous topic - next topic

High Tail/Stop Lights

March 30, 2014, 11:56:24 am

The top of the rear tail/stop/turn lights on our coach are about shoulder height on me. With our Wrangler in tow they are probably not all that easily seen from behind. I was thinking about another set of lights up higher, maybe at about 7-8 ft from the ground. Even without a tow anything to give more visibility to those behind would be nice.

Anyone done this? I don't see any options like this at Xtreme. I want to get headlights done maybe they can do these as well.

Thanks for your ideas.

Roger

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #1 – March 30, 2014, 12:31:37 pm

X2 on the rear LED from Xtreme, not a big change, looks newer, makes me smile.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #2 – March 30, 2014, 08:08:41 pm

Quote

Anyone done this? I don't see any options like this at Xtreme

How about this Roger? Extreme did it. (Not mine

)

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #3 – March 30, 2014, 08:31:54 pm

I think it needs a few more!

Richard B

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #4 – March 30, 2014, 09:32:14 pm

Wow! Maybe a few more than I had in mind. I have seen a few coaches with something vertical for lighting but more than just a line. If you see one ahead with high lights they really stand out.

Only a few more on the back of this one and the photon emissions alone will propel the thing down the road.

Thanks for the ideas.

Roger

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #5 – March 30, 2014, 09:38:35 pm

Okay, now you've gotten me curious. Do I have a center brake light? I don't think so, but I don't remember. I'd go out to check, but the sun as gone down and I have a cat curled up on my lap, so I'm not moving. I'll check tomorrow. We're getting the tow stuff for the Jeep next week, so I'll ask whether the Jeep lights work with the coach lights. That would take care of the issue of not being able to see the center brake light with the toad.

We're talking about when we can get down to Nac, and we're starting to get quite a list of stuff to take care of there. Wonder how much that trip will cost.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #6 – March 30, 2014, 11:34:51 pm

That lighting mod is ugly.
JohnH

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #7 – March 31, 2014, 01:33:27 am

Quote from: Home2fromHastings – March 30, 2014, 09:32:14 pm

Wow! Maybe a few more than I had in mind. I have seen a few coaches with something vertical for lighting but more than just a line. If you see one ahead with high lights they really stand out.

Only a few more on the back of this one and the photon emissions alone will propel the thing down the road.

Thanks for the ideas.

Roger

Saw this one at HWH a few years back

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #8 – March 31, 2014, 02:54:27 am

Looks like a Spanish bus out of the '70s. Just needs a twin set of steer wheels to complete the look.

Pierce

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #9 – March 31, 2014, 11:14:08 am

Same coach, Barry. John, I didn't want to say it, but I think I agree with you. Looks like they are of the "if a little is good, more is better" school.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #10 – March 31, 2014, 01:16:27 pm

Are there any rules on rear lighting?

Horizontal vs verticle?
What about the strip LED pre wired?

OR is everyone thinking molded into fiberglass only?

How is the access to that area? Behind the headboard or up through the engine compartmend?

If regular lighting is used, will voltage need supplemented?
Just thinking

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #11 – March 31, 2014, 03:51:29 pm

This is a good example of "just because it CAN de done doesn't mean it SHOULD be done!"

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #12 – March 31, 2014, 05:25:39 pm

My coach does not have a center brake light, so I did a little checking. Didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but got some ideas. One J C Whitney idea is a pickup truck tailgate light bar that has tail light, brake light, and turn signal light functions built in. It just plugs into a standard 4-pin trailer connector. Another idea was an LED three-light marker light bar. Surely, though, someone has something that would be pretty easy to install.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #13 – March 31, 2014, 05:39:45 pm

I'm more of a minimalist sort. What is necessary and sufficient to to the intended job. Xtreme puts in three round lights (red, amber and white) on each side. Maybe another red and amber pair on each side at 7-8 ft off the ground. I don't know if they would have to change the angle a bit since the upper section has a slope to it.

Inside of the rear corners is accessible from the engine compartment. Electrical loads and wiring shouldn't be an issue with LED lighting.

I would rather not ever hear "I couldn't see your lights" from anyone.

I have seen some aftermarket lights that are surface mount. They would work but look a bit tacky.

In have seen the pickup tailgate light bar installed between the lift up engine cover and the body. From Barry's web site links to Dick Mason ...

LED Brake/Turn Light Strip

Adds impact but it is not high enough for what I want.

Roger

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #14 – March 31, 2014, 06:43:29 pm

That looks interesting. I'll have to look at how I could mount something like that.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #15 – March 31, 2014, 08:37:47 pm

Go into any truck parts store or a chrome shop and you will find tail lights of all kinds, round, teardrop, square, LED etc. Some surface mount some FRENCHED ( long time since I used that term )
Gary B

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #16 – March 31, 2014, 08:51:01 pm

Gary,

Do you have any idea how to get to the above bend on the GV style?

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #17 – March 31, 2014, 08:59:31 pm

I have a photo somewhere on the forum but can't find it.
What I did to reach the clearance lights on the front of my 280 was park my pickup close in front and then put a 20 ladder with standoffs on it in the bed of the pickup and then I laid ( layed ? ) on the ladder to replace the lights with LEDs.
Clearance Lights
Gary B

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #18 – March 31, 2014, 10:32:49 pm

Gary, that's part of the reason why I haven't changed the clearance lights yet. It sure is a long way up there.

After Easter Sunday things will finally slow down enough that maybe I can think about a center brake light. Until then, though, it is almost nonstop go here, go there, do this, do that.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #19 – March 31, 2014, 11:24:40 pm

You think the back side is bad - just wait til you get to the fronts!!! The U225 and U240 are really easy when doing that conversion! Not as high!!!

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #20 – April 03, 2014, 10:00:21 am

Any idea how to get between fiberglass an interior to run wires for a big mounted light?

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #21 – April 03, 2014, 10:40:24 am

I'm not sure what you mean, John. On my 1993 U300 there are already extra wires running from the engine area up to the driver's area. You could use some of those if you wanted to. I'm looking at something like http://www.jcwhitney.com/pacer-outback-led-tailgate-light-bars/p2009923.jcwx?skuId=316128&filterid=u0j1 for my coach. I think I'll be able to just stick it on (right side up, I hope) just above the engine access area. We're going to have the tow kit installed on the coach and Jeep next week, and if there isn't already a flat 4-wire connection there I'll have them put one in. Then I can just plug it in.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #22 – April 03, 2014, 10:56:23 am

My thought, was kiss.

Hook into the existing tail light wiring with higher lights just before the bend @7'.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #23 – April 03, 2014, 11:02:09 am

David,
I like that too, but you will still need to connect through a hole in the fiberglass for the wires to connect at the rear lights, we have a u280.

Re: High Tail/Stop Lights

Reply #24 – April 03, 2014, 11:32:53 am

I found the best way to work on clearance lights on GV front was to lay a ladder with foam or? under it just above the top of windscreen and tie the bottom of it to the frame of coach with rope. have done this a few times and was good and safe. You do have to move it of course to get to all of them.
JohnH

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