where best to put tail lights

[working on it]

{I am double posting this one; posted also in electrical stickies}I am unsure about the legal (or trooper-acceptable, at least) location for tail lighting. I had my tail lights/license plate/side markers (combo) mounted on frame outcroppings at the rear of my originally small utility trailer. To make the trailer into a 4'x8' mini-hopper platform, I elongated the rear frame 24" past the tail lights. On my carhauler, the end of the trailer is 12" past the tail lights. And I have seen other trailers, including enclosed cargo types, with their lights not on the rear-most part of their trailer. What is the acceptable practice? I'm sure that the best way is to place them on the rearmost corners, but if I can get away with just putting markers there, and leaving the lighting as-is, that's my wish. Anyone else here with offset lights?

[planovet]

The tail lights "should" be as far to the rear as possible. If they are set back a little, it should not be a problem.

Mine are about 6-8" forward of the very rearmost portion of my trailer. But, in my opinion, 24" would probably be too far.

Here is the Texas Transportation Code concerning tail lights. "On the rear of the vehicle" may be interpreted different ways by different troopers.

§ 547.322. TAILLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by
Subsection (b), a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole
trailer, or vehicle that is towed at the end of a combination of
vehicles shall be equipped with at least two taillamps.
(b) A passenger car or truck that was manufactured or
assembled before the model year 1960 shall be equipped with at least
one taillamp.
(c) Taillamps shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle:
(1) at a height from 15 to 72 inches; and
(2) at the same level and spaced as widely apart as
practicable if a vehicle is equipped with more than one lamp.
(d) A taillamp shall emit a red light plainly visible at a
distance of 1,000 feet from the rear of the vehicle.
(e) If vehicles are traveling in combination, only the
taillamps on the rearmost vehicle are required to emit a light for
the distance specified in Subsection (d).
(f) A taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and
mounted to emit a white light that:
(1) illuminates the rear license plate; and
(2) makes the plate clearly legible at a distance of 50
feet from the rear.
(g) A taillamp, including a separate lamp used to illuminate
a rear license plate, must emit a light when a headlamp or auxiliary
driving lamp is lighted.

[emiller]

I put mine inline with my tow vehicle.

[Woodbutcher]

I put mine in the hatch. There are 4 LED lights right in the face of the driver behind me. As much time as I spent building my Teardrop I wanted to be sure they saw me in front of them.

[S. Heisley]

Look here:

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

[working on it]

http://www.boatersoutlet.com/trailerlightguide.aspx bobhenrysent this link on the other posting. I think that I can get by with my current set-up, and I also measured my carhauler...it's offset is actually 30", and I've used it for many years. I will supplement these lights at a future date. Thanks.

[chubbytrucker01]

Ok. I can't take it.This is my first post on here.What is everyones deal with wanting to do what will just get you by. Tail and brake lights need to be big bright and high enough to see. I drive 150,000 miles a year and have seen some of the crappiest lights out there. Put on more than you need. Sure one on each fender is legal. Argue that in court when you are dead. Not everyone drives a lowrider. Most suv's your eyes are 5 feet off the ground so don't mount them under the overhang on the bottom of the frame 6 inches off the ground. Use reflective tape. A LOT OF REFLECTIVE TAPE!! Front back and sides.Sure two crappie little lights work ok when the weather and light conditions are fine. There are always times even on pretty days that its hard to see lights like when driving into the sun. Sunday mornings on the way home when its drizzleing rain. If you camp a lot there always those times when you will be driving home in the rain,fog, dark,or whatever. Do you really want some butthole like me in a tractor trailer crash testing your family? I have seen thousands of wrecks involving homemade trailers. Thetruck driver will live to go to court and be sued by your family. You won't.

[Forrest747]

I put mine on the fenders. They are the same as on my Jeep. They are about 18 to 24 inches behind the rear edge, so we shall see if the Smokies have any issues. I do plan on a third brake light in the hatch.

[CarlLaFong]

Ok. I can't take it.This is my first post on here.What is everyones deal with wanting to do what will just get you by. Tail and brake lights need to be big bright and high enough to see. I drive 150,000 miles a year and have seen some of the crappiest lights out there. Put on more than you need. Sure one on each fender is legal. Argue that in court when you are dead. Not everyone drives a lowrider. Most suv's your eyes are 5 feet off the ground so don't mount them under the overhang on the bottom of the frame 6 inches off the ground. Use reflective tape. A LOT OF REFLECTIVE TAPE!! Front back and sides.Sure two crappie little lights work ok when the weather and light conditions are fine. There are always times even on pretty days that its hard to see lights like when driving into the sun. Sunday mornings on the way home when its drizzleing rain. If you camp a lot there always those times when you will be driving home in the rain,fog, dark,or whatever. Do you really want some butthole like me in a tractor trailer crash testing your family? I have seen thousands of wrecks involving homemade trailers. Thetruck driver will live to go to court and be sued by your family. You won't.

While I agree with the poster as far as the need for better than adequate lighting, there seems to be a great deal of blame shifting going on. If you can't see the vehicle in front of you because of the sun, clean your windshield, lower the visor and put on shades. Don't blame the vehicle because you smash into it at a red light or a stop sign because you weren't paying attention. Sorry Charlie, but it is your fault. You will be sued in court and you will lose...big time.
Thousands of wrecks involving home made trailers?!?!? Really?!?!?!

[bobhenry]

I think this is what CT is complaining about.......



While my little teardrop is a small target there is no way on God's green earth the fellow motorist can sat he didn't see me. Two seperate and redundant complete sets of tail lights. There are 6 amber side clearance and 2 red on the rear side clearance. I also placed 6 ? 8? small peel and stick reflectors low on the hatch.

However......

I was very guilty with the barn leaving the original stock lights in place making for poor rear visibility. That is the reason I added a 3rd stop light to help a bit. I didn't want to take away from the barn look. I know that is a poor reason





I hid it in the lantern.

(The little "security light" is a battery powered LED area light)

[working on it]

OK OK! I am adding more taillights on the farthest rear corners, and more reflectors on sides and rear. This thing is gonna blind bystanders! One more thing...these days anything smaller than an Abrams tank is liable to be a target for some of the idiots driving today. Present company excepted of course!!

[angib]

Extra lights can do no harm, but I'm not convinced they'll do much good. When people drive into things, one common cause in inattention blindness, or 'not paying attention' as we ordinary folk call it. Lights do nothing for that, even if we think they should.

Try this old test advert:
http://youtu.be/47LCLoidJh4

[oregonguy]

Extra lights can do no harm, but I'm not convinced they'll do much good. When people drive into things, one common cause in inattention blindness, or 'not paying attention' as we ordinary folk call it. Lights do nothing for that, even if we think they should.

Try this old test advert:
http://youtu.be/47LCLoidJh4

I love that. Totally missed the bear.

[wired]

Extra lights can do no harm, but I'm not convinced they'll do much good. When people drive into things, one common cause in inattention blindness, or 'not paying attention' as we ordinary folk call it. Lights do nothing for that, even if we think they should.

Try this old test advert:
http://youtu.be/47LCLoidJh4

I love that. Totally missed the bear.

Yep, me too. LOL