Can I splice my marker lights w/my turn signals to blink?

[Oasis Maker]

I have not mentioned adding a double element bulb & socket (which is really the proper way to do it) because I don't think you would be able to find one that would fit, or not melt a running light fixture.

Happy Trails

Len

When it comes to building trailer(s), I would say the word "several" applies to this guy too - big time.

Thanks for collaborative effort everyone. Always the best way to solve a problem.

Scott

[48Rob]

Hey Rob, I'm curious how defined is the actual blink with one bulb constant on right next to the other that's blinking? I'm sure it's enough of a recognizable blink if you have done several trailers like this.

Scott

Hi Scott,

The blinker is as bright as the bulb in the fixture.
Nothing is lost because of the other bulb being near.
They are actually a couple inches apart, and set at different angles.

The picture that you posted is the lamp that I've used.
I don't think I have any pictures of the procedure, but I'll post them if I find some.
If needed, I think I've still got a couple new ones we can open up to give a visual.

Rob

[2bits]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking about doing something similar to my old car that my new car does. When I turn the signal on, a white light comes on and shines down to the ground, not directly just at an angle. It does not blink. This is in addition to the turn signal and market light. I thought it was always pretty helpful and alerted people that I was comin over since they never pay attention to turn signals.

[Engineer Guy]

If you can get to Trailer Wiring, putting on another connector might be the easiest way to go overall. There's an aux. Turn Signal 'bar' that mounts on the Jeep Spare, and there's another type that mounts into any 2" Receiver. If you've ever needed spare +12 VDC at the Trailer rear, wiring in a 7 pin Bargman has some growth potential via the integral 'Battery +' Pin. Hopkins now makes really slick adapters that plug into Bargmans. One adapts to 4 Pins and other pinout configurations, rectangular or round. Another one at NAPA Auto adapts AND provides a Cig. Lighter Receptacle. Too slick. Nice for a Trouble Light [nocturnal Bike repair?]. I just switched over to all-7 pin Bargmans a few days ago since they're the implicit standard, even if they are overkill for some applications:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=bargman+connector+wiring

I especially like their larger Blade/Pin surface area to carry Electric Brake current while providing a more reliable Ground. I always finish off my wiring by packing scraps of dielectric Fiberglass Insulation in both connectors to keep road grime out. Easy to remove.

If you're using a 2" Receiver-mount Bike Rack, as we have from Yakima, I believe there's a neat Receiver gizmo that lets you mount something in the Trailer Bumper [or TV] Receiver and then duplicates the female Receiver a few inches back so you can piggyback Receiver-mount items. You could mount a Receiver turn signal bar in that 2nd, rear-most TD Bumper Receiver. However, you'd still have to wire out a new Connector of some type. Not a bad thing because you then use all standard hardware...

Last, some aux. turn signal above could be stuck on the vertical of the Bike Rack with a major magnet that would hold fast no matter what. This would position the turn signals in the zone where folks expect to see one: ~3' above the ground. You'd skip any hassle this way and have legal, unobstructed rear signals and a redundant stop light.

[Tumbleweed_Tex]

Um…

After looking at the photos in your album, Scott, it seems to me the simplest solution is to just raise the bike about six inches.

[Oasis Maker]

Um…

After looking at the photos in your album, Scott, it seems to me the simplest solution is to just raise the bike about six inches.

Um, I'm not sure I agree with your assessment, but I appreciate your input anyway.

Seriously though, the bike below is covering more area of tail light than just 6 inches, and this is my small bike. My larger road bike covers even more of the tail lights with its 64cm frame and 700c tires (it's a big bike). On top of that, there's even more of an obstructed view of my tail lights from the higher viewing angles of truckers, SUV's etc.

It would be nice if a simple hitch riser adapter would completely solve the problem, but it won't. I'm actually very optimistic about Rob's idea. It doesn't seem to be a big deal to install and I will actually like the added function without the bike mounted. I ordered the dual bulb lights and will hopefully get them before the weekend.

Thanks anyhow bud. I certainly have my share of "duh moments" and it's too bad this isn't one you've pointed out here.

Scott

[Oasis Maker]

If you can get to Trailer Wiring, putting on another connector might be the easiest way to go overall. There's an aux. Turn Signal 'bar' that mounts on the Jeep Spare, and there's another type that mounts into any 2" Receiver. If you've ever needed spare +12 VDC at the Trailer rear, wiring in a 7 pin Bargman has some growth potential via the integral 'Battery +' Pin. Hopkins now makes really slick adapters that plug into Bargmans. One adapts to 4 Pins and other pinout configurations, rectangular or round. Another one at NAPA Auto adapts AND provides a Cig. Lighter Receptacle. Too slick. Nice for a Trouble Light [nocturnal Bike repair?]. I just switched over to all-7 pin Bargmans a few days ago since they're the implicit standard, even if they are overkill for some applications:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=bargman+connector+wiring

I especially like their larger Blade/Pin surface area to carry Electric Brake current while providing a more reliable Ground. I always finish off my wiring by packing scraps of dielectric Fiberglass Insulation in both connectors to keep road grime out. Easy to remove.

If you're using a 2" Receiver-mount Bike Rack, as we have from Yakima, I believe there's a neat Receiver gizmo that lets you mount something in the Trailer Bumper [or TV] Receiver and then duplicates the female Receiver a few inches back so you can piggyback Receiver-mount items. You could mount a Receiver turn signal bar in that 2nd, rear-most TD Bumper Receiver. However, you'd still have to wire out a new Connector of some type. Not a bad thing because you then use all standard hardware...

Last, some aux. turn signal above could be stuck on the vertical of the Bike Rack with a major magnet that would hold fast no matter what. This would position the turn signals in the zone where folks expect to see one: ~3' above the ground. You'd skip any hassle this way and have legal, unobstructed rear signals and a redundant stop light.

You, of course, know your stuff. I would expect nothing less coming from "Engineer Guy" (Although the guy part is not what I'm seeing in your avatar).

Anyhow, thanks for all the great ideas and I see you are very familiar with Jeeps too. I took my brake light off because I squeezed my 33" spare tire on the back and snugged it right up against the top of my rack, so there's not any wiggle room left.

I like the various tow bars with magnetic hold etc. to mount onto the bike rack. That application is always the most up front warning with added lights. So something portable in addition to the marker lights I'm doing might be a good idea down the line. Always good to be seen from behind.

If you can find a link to the receiver gizmo that you are referring to, I'd like to see that.

Thanks again,
Scott

[Larwyn]

I use the mag mount stop/turn/tail lights when using the load extender on my pick up. Sometimes I need them with a long load of lumber and the magnets are quite useless but a bit of rope or some bailing wire will attach them lights just fine. I still attach a red flag to an extended load as it is "required by State law" but I think the lights are more effective/informative to following traffic. I do not have a bike or bike rack but if I did and it blocked the standard lights I would use the mag mount set, I usually just keep them in the truck box just in case they are needed.

[Engineer Guy]

Thanks for the rear view pic above of your setup; I hadn't seen it before.

Silly expensive - due to weight bearing specs - and not the unit I'd seen before, but here's a 2x Adapter:

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/4-dual-hitch-receiver/34685

This fellow has some nice ideas, including his tricked out Receiver mounts:

http://home.comcast.net/~netboy/#ElecHeat

In his Index, see pix 'Fabricate Custom Rear Steps'; 'Build Platform For Honda EU2000i Generator'; and 'Fabricate Front Bike Rack'.

One solution that would be seen above the fully-loaded Bike Rack would be a 'T' piece of metal that slips down into the square stock above the letter 'H' with the black plastic plug there popped out. The lights would mount or stick on the horizontal part of the added 'T'.

Me and Miz Avatar of ~34 years are now on the road. We'll look at some solutions when I'm cruising the RV Shop Aisles because it's kinda fun!

[DIY-Stu]

Why not adapt a roof rack Bike rack to the Tear. They face forward and obstruct less in the rear?

[Oasis Maker]

I use the mag mount stop/turn/tail lights when using the load extender on my pick up. Sometimes I need them with a long load of lumber and the magnets are quite useless but a bit of rope or some bailing wire will attach them lights just fine. I still attach a red flag to an extended load as it is "required by State law" but I think the lights are more effective/informative to following traffic. I do not have a bike or bike rack but if I did and it blocked the standard lights I would use the mag mount set, I usually just keep them in the truck box just in case they are needed.

Which brand/model mag mount do you use Larwyn? Is it the straight tow bar type or 2 individual lights?

Scott

[Oasis Maker]

Thanks for the rear view pic above of your setup; I hadn't seen it before.

Silly expensive - due to weight bearing specs - and not the unit I'd seen before, but here's a 2x Adapter:

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/4-dual-hitch-receiver/34685

This fellow has some nice ideas, including his tricked out Receiver mounts:

http://home.comcast.net/~netboy/#ElecHeat

In his Index, see pix 'Fabricate Custom Rear Steps'; 'Build Platform For Honda EU2000i Generator'; and 'Fabricate Front Bike Rack'.

One solution that would be seen above the fully-loaded Bike Rack would be a 'T' piece of metal that slips down into the square stock above the letter 'H' with the black plastic plug there popped out. The lights would mount or stick on the horizontal part of the added 'T'.

Me and Miz Avatar of ~34 years are now on the road. We'll look at some solutions when I'm cruising the RV Shop Aisles because it's kinda fun!

I definitely wouldn't want to do a front mount with my bikes. That position would just likely switch the obstruction problem to the front lights and the road debri would be damaging to the bikes.

Some sort of additional magnetic mount tow bar like you and Larwyn have mentioned would be a good additional project. I'm assuming that the connection is 4 prong just like the front, but where do you make the actual splice at for wiring? I'll try and google some images.

Scott

[Oasis Maker]

Why not adapt a roof rack Bike rack to the Tear. They face forward and obstruct less in the rear?

You've touched on the 64 thousand dollar question . . . well at least the 400 dollar question. I already had $400 invested in the rack I have now and it is a very good rack, BUT, I have long considered putting a dedicated roof rack on top of the tear.

There are a couple of other things that I'd like to do that could even be incorporated into the structure. One are solar panels. This is something I really want (need) in the future to run a fantastic fan, etc. I'm thinking that mounting a long solar panel on one side of the roof rack and having the other side for a bike might be pretty smart.

However, I am a little concerned about the amount of weight up there and structural integrity. But therein lies my future conundrum in perhaps the not too distant future.

Scott

[Oasis Maker]

Why not adapt a roof rack Bike rack to the Tear. They face forward and obstruct less in the rear?

This is the roof rack that Little Guy carries. I do cringe a little at the thought of how it is mounted on the tear side walls, but I here this is actually the strongest mounting method and amazingly it claims a 300 pound weight capacity.

Scott

[Miriam C.]

Simpler solution might be to put on one of the wired hitch lights. Or make one that is bigger and sits out from the bike.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/hitch-cover/c2 ... 7QodVyB0oQ