Backup lights - Upgrade - VERY BRIGHT!!

[MichaelJ3]

Hey guys, just looked at these pics closer, if you ended up covering up the red reflective material on the back, you may have to add additional reflective material somewhere else. I believe there has to be 4 sq in of red reflective material on each side to be compliant w/ trailer marking laws of the DOT.

[RdRngR]

Thanks, got some coming too.

[mikesxpress]

Your welcome guys. Post some pictures when you get them on.

[carolinagreenhead]

Just ordered a set. Since the trailer is all plug n play how did you wire them? Did you get the connections from Ranger?

[rookyboy]

Hey guys, just looked at these pics closer, if you ended up covering up the red reflective material on the back, you may have to add additional reflective material somewhere else. I believe there has to be 4 sq in of red reflective material on each side to be compliant w/ trailer marking laws of the DOT.

Never heard of this before so I looked it up. From what I found, you only need reflective material on the back if you're over 80" wide and have a gross weight of more than 10,000 lbs.

[rookyboy]

Just ordered a set. Since the trailer is all plug n play how did you wire them? Did you get the connections from Ranger?

I just clipped the existing wires and connected the new ones. Then I used waterproof shrink tubing over the top of the splice and put a little liquid tape on top of that. The new lights actually had three wires (red, black, and white) and the old ones had a two wire connection, hot and ground. I connected the red to hot and the black to ground on the new lights and just cut the white one off. I also put a little liquid tape over the area where the wires on the light go into the housing to cover the white wire completely. Should work fine that way. Overall, it's a pretty simple job!

[mikesxpress]

Marine grade butt splice with the heat activated goo inside.

[rookyboy]

Marine grade butt splice with the heat activated goo inside.

[slaunch]

Does anyone have any after market upgrades for the older fenders with the wrap around tail lights and the back up lights are the the small round bulbs up higher on the fender?

[carolinagreenhead]

Marine grade butt splice with the heat activated goo inside.

Yeah that’s what I was thinking to. Thanks guys.

[MichaelJ3]

Never heard of this before so I looked it up. From what I found, you only need reflective material on the back if you're over 80" wide and have a gross weight of more than 10,000 lbs.

Not true, all trailers require reflectors on the rear (At least 2 of them, red). Trailers of longer lengths require more than that...
In addition, I would venture to say all of our boat trailers are wider than 80", I know mine is...which is why it has to have clearance lights.

This is a pretty good write up of the requirements and locations: https://www.championtrailers.com/fed...and-locations/

There are also some min and some max brightness specifications for reverse lights on vehicles. The max has more to do with how bright it is above the horizontal line...think like a headlight cutoff, to reduce glare to other vehicles.

This thread gets into it a bit, but I haven't checked to see if it applies to trailers the same as to Motor Vehicles: http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...ackup-lighting

Here is a pic of my boat, with purple arrows pointing to the factory applied reflective material, on the port side. Same locations are used on the starboard side.

[Drami04]

Just add lights today nite and day difference

[gabes1]

Mine came in today. Where did you get the marine grade butt splice? (Never heard of it). Also, what size screw did you go with.?

Thanks

[RdRngR]

Mine arrived yesterday too. I stopped by Auto Zone, they had some of the connectors.

[rookyboy]

Mine came in today. Where did you get the marine grade butt splice? (Never heard of it). Also, what size screw did you go with.?

Thanks

Some hardware or auto parts stores will carry them. These are the type I used:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/ancor...09_275_004_003

[rookyboy]

Just add lights today nite and day difference

SWEET!! You should be able to see a whole lot better now!

[mikesxpress]

Note: These butt splices work very well with the melting adhesive but I do suggest applying heat shrink tube over them as past experiences show the plastic sleeve itself has a tendency to degrade over time. Maybe John can add this to the Ranger tips section as the backup light issue comes up frequently.

[got_musky]

Might I add to Mikes post - heat shrink tubing that is heat activated adhesive lined on the inside.....

[Spanky06]

I got my lights installed (same ones the poster installed), tried them out this morning on a trip to Orange Lochloosa and they are MONEY!!, Helen Keller could back the trailer now....


Spanky

[rookyboy]

All waterproof and sealed. Various brands available on ebay. Just search "clear backup lights" or "clear reverse lights" etc. You'll see all the different choices available. Some are more expensive than others. Optronics has them, but they only have 6 diodes. The ones I purchased are below and are slightly different than those pictured by Mikesxpress. Mounting was a breeze! 4 holes with stainless screws and connect the wires. Hardest part of the job was removing the OEM lights. Had to take a grinder to the lense and cut it off to remove them as I couldn't get the plastic nut loose.

One things for certain, you'll love the fact that you'll be able to see the rear end of your trailer from now on! Nice and BRIGHT!!!!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Trailer-C...72.m2749.l2649

UPDATE - These lights are leaking water!!

Been to the lake about a 1/2 doz times and just noticed there is a little condensation under the lense. I'm keeping a close eye, but might be ordering some of the Optronics lights. They have a lifetime warranty and are submersible! The ones from the ebay link above are just waterproof.

Sorry to those folks who may have ordered a set. Hope you have better luck than I did!! Watch them closely.

On a side note about the ebay seller above...they want to charge me a restocking fee to return the lights even though they are not working as advertised. That's garbage if you ask me (or maybe just another ebay pro).