Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I was looking at the wiring diagram on my Toyota 7-pin connector, and I noticed that the center pin is for backup lights. Now my question is, how many people put backup lights on their trailers? I just read the post on the usefulness of backup cameras, and the need for light if using them at night. I still have time to incorporate them into my design, but I am just curious how many people added them into their builds.

Tom

I wish I had them! I have a couple magnetic LED lights I stick onto the frame but it would be nice to have it built in.

I added them to our second trailer after I tried to backup at night the first time. I really needed them as its wide enough it totally blocks the TV backup lights. The 4' wide teardrop wasn't as big of a problem so I never added them to it.

Bruce

Ok, thanks guys. At this point it is just one more wire to run. Lights it is.

Tom

My back up light is my wife with a flashlight.
The backup camera has low light capability and both fenders have lights so I can see where they are. My concern was hooking a wheel on a post and driving through a toll plaza at night.

I have two of those magnetic LED lights from Harbor Freight. I set them on the rear frame and hook the included hooks to the rings I have back there on the chassis.
However, last year, when I had to back into a tight spot at night, between two fence posts, I discovered that the best thing to do was to put the lights facing me, on each side of the fence posts. That way, I could see all the way from the fence posts, that I had to fit through, to my vehicle without shining light on other campers. It worked like a charm. I could see exactly where I had to navigate.

My back up light is my wife with a flashlight.

Tony

Shadow Catcher wrote:My back up light is my wife with a flashlight.
The backup camera has low light capability and both fenders have lights so I can see where they are. My concern was hooking a wheel on a post and driving through a toll plaza at night.

Well, that just demonstrates my need for the lights more than ever. I love my wife dearly, but her idea of camping is a hotel with no room service. I might occasionally have a grown son with me, but for the most part I will be solo. So I am going to need all the help I can get. And I found some nice looking ones on Amazon that match the tail lights I was planning to use. Cool

Tom

Shadow Catcher wrote:My back up light is my wife with a flashlight.

LOL

And you get an added advantage in that a light mounted on the back of the TT won't scream "STOP!!!" at you if you need it

You mean like this? They're nice to have, but it takes a little planning to get them in place & have the wiring work out in the hatch. If you're building & have a 7 pin connector, it makes sense to use them on a build.

noseoil wrote:They're nice to have, but it takes a little planning to get them in place & have the wiring work out in the hatch. If you're building & have a 7 pin connector, it makes sense to use them on a build.

With a 4 pin connector you could wire backup lights with a switched leg parallel with your marker/tail light circuit. In normal conditions leave the switch off. When you get to campsite, turn on the switch to light both the backup lights along with the marker / tail lights.

aggie79 wrote:With a 4 pin connector you could wire backup lights with a switched leg parallel with your marker/tail light circuit. In normal conditions leave the switch off. When you get to campsite, turn on the switch to light both the backup lights along with the marker / tail lights.

That would be very easy to do as a add on. Maybe a pair of under trailer lights. Sometimes the simple things escapes a person.
Thanks for the ideal. Will have to look at doing that.