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simplest way to add a "real" backup light

February 21, 2016, 02:59:02 pm

If you're like me (hopefully you're not) you sometimes arrive at your campsite after dark and really hate backing in blind with the inadequate backup lights on the back of your coach. The simplest solution I've found is to hose clamp one of those rubber tractor lights onto the vertical tube of the ladder. Mount the light just high enough so the back door won't hit it when it swings open. Run the wires in through the grates in the back door. You don't need to drill any holes in your coach or risk creating any leaks. You can easily remove the light when you sell your coach and the buyer won't be able to tell it was ever there. According to the drawings for my coach the backup lights get their power from the ATEC computer. I didn't want to risk overloading the expensive computer so I powered the new light from a relay connected to the trunk light, which is mounted right above the dipstick inside the back door of my coach. On my coach the black wire going to the tail lights powers the backup lights, so I used that as the signal to turn the relay on when I put the transmission in reverse. To be completely honest, I haven't yet backed into a campsite in total darkness with this new backup light but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't make things a lot safer. I can stick my head out the window and see behind me as I'm backing in, and I can kinda see with the backup camera too even in total darkness. I can install a much more powerful bulb in the rubber light if needed because I used a relay. When the bright light comes on it attracts attention from pedestrians and drivers so they'll notice the coach is about to back up. I did experiment briefly with an invisible infrared illuminator but it only works with the camera, not when I stick my head out the window to look where I'm going, and it wouldn't alert others that I'm backing up. I'm sure there are a lot of other ways to get a decent backup light but this method doesn't require drilling new holes in your coach. I can post photos if needed. Hope this helps someone who hates backing up blind in the dark.

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Re: simplest way to add a "real" backup light

Reply #1 – February 21, 2016, 05:14:05 pm

There are some very cheap 12 volt high intensity LED tractor/work/ATV lights out there.  Some showed one at a club meeting I went to, you do not want to look directly at the light.  Amazon has this one for $9.09:
27W Round LED Work Light Lamp Off Road High Power ATV Jeep 4x4 Tractor 30 Degree Spot Light

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Re: simplest way to add a "real" backup light

Reply #2 – February 21, 2016, 07:04:48 pm

Our '89 came with (from PO also) the backup lites in the Isuzu tail lights (useless), the side--front & rear--docking lites, and two 12V sealed beam tractor lights mounted below the rear bumper but inboard of the stone guard.
Illumination I was told is "almost like airplane landing lights".

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Re: simplest way to add a "real" backup light

Reply #3 – February 28, 2016, 09:37:41 pm

I did back into a campsite and into a parking space at a truck stop with this light. I replaced the standard 35 watt incandescent bulb with a 50 watt halogen bulb. I have an adequate view of the trailer through the camera and I can see it well enough to back up in a straight line in total darkness. I need to make a major redesign of the useless docking lights though. Once I make those work I'll be able to back into campsites safely in total darkness. I'll write another post about the docking light modification after I test it.

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Re: simplest way to add a "real" backup light

Reply #4 – February 29, 2016, 07:20:01 am

There was a coach I saw that had four halogen docking lights across the back right above the door. It was very bright.

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