light placement ideas wanted

Anything to do with mechanical, construction etc

light placement ideas wanted

Postby looped » Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:45 am

doing a vtt cargo trailer to haul race gear (rc car racer) and camping stuff in. the profile is similar to the "new cub" that is found in the design library here. i have a good place for the STT lights but am at a bit of a crossroads on the placement of the side marker lights.

For those that have mounted their side marker lights up towards the middle of the sides did this pose any problems down the road? i see in the hall of fame that most decided to mount them down low on the sides, this got me to wondering if there was a specific reason for this..



Thanks
"face it man. It's just not possible to fry an egg with a bicycle powered hairdryer!"
- Dave Lister
User avatar
looped
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 392
Images: 31
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:03 pm
Location: dfw texas

Postby G-force » Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:18 am

Check your state regulations, it may vary, but typicaly the rear side marker lights (red) and forward marker lights (amber) are placed as rearward and as forward, respectivly, as possable. Trailers over 80" wide have more lighting requirements. Here in California, there is a minimum height for lights, 15", and there is a maximum for the brake and turn signal lights (70-something inches IIRC) but I dont believe there is a maximum for the side marker lights.
*****************************************

Mike
User avatar
G-force
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 204
Images: 22
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:42 am
Location: So. California

Postby brian_bp » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:20 pm

My 1979 Boler (a commercially made product) has both front and rear side marker lights mounted up level with the clearance lights, as high as practical (the top of the trailer is curved). Other trailers of the same brand, model, and similar vintage also have side reflectors mounted very low, but mine shows no sign of ever having had them.

To be most effective, I think they should be at the eye level of other drivers. While that varies a lot, in essentially all cases it is high on the body of a teardrop.
brian_bp
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1355
Images: 9
Joined: Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:25 pm
Location: Alberta
Top

Postby Miriam C. » Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:29 pm

I have a clearance light up high and center because mine is too high.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/sta ... rpstr.html
Here is a chart that covers most people in the US.
“Forgiveness means giving up all hope for a better past.â€
User avatar
Miriam C.
our Aunti M
 
Posts: 19675
Images: 148
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:14 pm
Location: Southwest MO
Top

Lighting

Postby Creamcracker » Sun Jun 01, 2008 4:54 pm

So besides the front side amber lights and the rear side red lights you also need amber reflectors and red reflectors? Is that right? My HF trailer came with the side marker lights but I don't believe there were any reflectors.
Philip
Image Image
3rd Annual Out of Control Shop Winner :)
User avatar
Creamcracker
Teardrop Graduate
 
Posts: 1126
Images: 142
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 7:38 am
Location: VA Culpeper
Top


Return to Teardrop Construction Tips & Techniques

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests