Over 80" light setup

[madprinter]

I've got an over 80" trailer so extra lights are required. I'd love to see some pics of your tailight layout. I'm trying to deside on a style and spacing of the lights and tag. Thanks. William

[48Rob]

William,

Installing lights to your liking may or may not meet the federal requirements (if you are concerned about them...)


http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/sta ... rpstr.html


Rob

[madprinter]

Thanks for the info Rob. Yes , I guess I'd better stay somewhat within the guidelines. But would like to see some of the light options as in different styles of lights. Love the tailights on the Rocketeer.

[wlooper89]

I am trying to decide between two rear ID lamp arangements. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. The two options are pictured and described below.

I purchased two light bars but have been going back and forth about which to install. In the first photo the three lamps are on 7.5" centers. The required spacing is a minimum of 6" and a maximum of 12". This design is unusual in that a single lens covers the whole bar. I like the rounded corners for the place I would install it.



I may put the first three-light bar between the two sets of tail lights, where the license plate bracket is now. Then mount the license plate a little lower, just below the light bar. In this location we will brush up against the light bar using the galley so the rounded corners will feel better than sharp angles.

The regulation in the link from Rob calls for a location of these lamps (area 7) on the "rear - center, facing rearward". Regarding height it says “as high as practicable”. A little bit of a conflict between the two requirements for most teardrops, but I decided that having the rear ID lamps on or near rearmost point was more important than their being on top of the trailer. I have seen a number of trucks and trailers with the three lights mounted low. Boat trailers usually have them on the trailer frame below the boat. My front and rear clearance lamps (areas 8 & 6) are on top of the fenders. I am not sure why, but the factory installed 80" wide clearance lamps but not the rear ID lamps.



The other option I am considering is to mount a light bar down on the trailer frame below the license plate. Aluminum trim covers the trailer frame rear cross piece as shown in the photo. My trailer does not have the hitch attachment. The first light bar is a little too wide to go in this location, but the one in the next photo would work. On this bar the lamps are on 6" centers. The light bar I do not use will probably go for sale on eBay. I would really appreciate any comments regarding this decision. I am now leaning toward putting the light bar on the trailer frame, based mostly on how it would look and partly on ease of installation.

Thanks! Bill

[48Rob]

I really like the one piece light!

It looks very nice compared to the cheap strip light.

While having all your lights in a straight row across the back would probably look okay, if you mounted the new light a few inches above, or below the center line of the tail lights, you'd create a triangular shape.
That shape would catch peoples eye, as it is not a common configuration.
Just my opinion though...

If I were considering what you're doing, I'd remove the license plate, and run some temporary wiring to a portable battery, then use tape or whatever to attach both lights in different positions and try them out to provide a realistic idea of what it/they would look like.

While the new bar light loooks cool now, when lit, against the current tail lights, it may or may not "go together" with them.

Rob

[wlooper89]

Rob,

Thank you very much for your comments. Your last thought was also on my mind, as to how the light bar would go together with the tail lights. I like your idea of possibly having the light bar higher or lower instead of in a straight line with the tail lights. Perhaps the light bar could cover the Little Guy sticker and leave the license plate where it is. The bar just needs to be mounted nearly vertical and if the license plate is moved, I would want the bar to cover the holes where plate is attached now.

After reading your post Patricia announced a preference for the single lens bar, so I believe that is the way we will go. As to the exact placement an experiment with temporary mounting as you suggested should help.

Bill

[wlooper89]

I have never heard of anyone in a TTT being stopped or cited about wide trailer lights. Also I want to be careful not to spoil the clean arrangement of lights at the back of the trailer. To me the front and rear clearance lamps on the fenders are more important for 80" wide teardrop trailer than the rear ID lights. In case another driver does not see the wheel sticking out at night.

I did contact Little Guy and they had gotten an opinion from someone at NHTSA that the three lights in the rear center is more of a tall vehicle thing, as in tractor trailer. These usually have the three lights in the middle at the top of the trailer and clearance lights at the corners, a five across arrangement.

But then most 80" wide boat trailers do have the three lights, down low on the frame below the boat. And more confusing they often lack the front and rear clearance lamps at the widest point on the fenders. I admit to being totally confused. I find myself looking at trucks and trailers for the lights. There was a tow truck recently, the kind with a tilting platform to carry a car. It had the three rear ID lamps below the platform, but I did not see any rear clearance lamps.

I imagine that commercial vehicles generally need to be more careful about having the 80" lights done correctly, while there seems to be little if any enforcement for privately owned teardrop and boat trailers.

If I can add the rear ID lamps in a way that looks alright, I may do that but am still not sure. If I do put them on I will add a photo in this thread.

In an earlier topic Nitetimes posted a link to a photo of his light arrangement.
http://www.teardroptrailers.us/TDbuild/slides/TD05.html

And this one is by MacGyver with the three lights on top.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=45893

These are the only two of which I am aware. A 5' wide teardrop would be just under 80" at the wheels so it may be that most do not need the lights. My trailer is 6' wide and 90" at the wheels.

Bill

[Frog]

Loper89.

My 6 X 10 "Big Tex" brand utility trailer has the three light bar such as your second picture, mounted low on the frame under the hinge down 4' high mesh gate about 16" above the ground.

Frog

[wlooper89]

Thanks Frog, that is interesting. Does your utility trailer also have the front and rear clearance lamps at the widest point? LG put those on the fenders. There is a single housing on top of the fender with red lens facing rearward and amber lens facing forward. Dually pickups have two separate lamps lower on the front and rear of the fender. Most boat trailers appear to have the three rear ID lamps but lack the front and rear clearance lamps. With LG it is the opposite. This link is to a photo in my album showing the clearance lamps on the fender.
http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=49101

Bill

[Frog]

looper89:I'm going to have to defer a complete answer until I can go out and look at it again.  I know is does not have clearance lights on top of the fenders.  The fenders are the widest part so I guess your answer is no.  There are yellow clearance lights on the side of the frame ahead of the fenders and I believe there is a red clearance light mounted on the rear of the fender.  One of those things you don't notice until someone asks.Frog.

[wlooper89]

I know what you mean. Fortunately I have photos for reference. The lamps on the side of your trailer may be front and rear side marker lamps, areas 3 and 4 in Rob's chart.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/sta ... rpstr.html
I believe the side reflex reflectors required are usually incorporated into those lamp housings.

Bill

[Frog]

I believe you are right on.

Frog

[wlooper89]

This photo shows the rear ID light bar temporarily attached in a possible location. This would certainly be the easiest way to do it. The bar just covers the Little Guy logo so I would not need to remove it. The actual position would be about 1/2" lower. Perhaps I can get another logo sticker to put somewhere else.

I was wondering if this location would be near enough to vertical. It would be nice not to have to move the license plate mount. I will very much appreciate any thoughts or comments on how this would look, or if you think another position would be better. This link shows the back of my trailer without the light bar for comparison. http://tnttt.com/album_ ... c_id=49101

Bill

[Esteban]

The placement of the bar light looks good to me. When you stand back in the dark how well does the bar light illuminate to warn someone who'd be following you? BTW, does your new light have a braking warning function?

[wlooper89]

Steve,

Thank you for your comments. This 3-light bar is just for 80" wide trailer ID and it is on continuously when the running lights are on. Not connected with the brake lights. The lamps do seem a bit dim to me. The basic function is to let another dirver know this is a wide vehicle. While the front and rear clearance lamps on the fenders indicate the widest point. These lamps are only required for trailers 80" or more wide. The third high mount brake light is not required on a trailer but might be a good idea. This 3-lamp bar is just to make me legal with my 90" wide trailer.

Bill