I'm a little paranoid about someone slamming into the rear of my truck/camper. Anyone find a decent rear brake light (LED) that does not look like you-know-what and plugs into the trailer wiring receptacle? I did a search and didn't find anything. Thanks!
Rear brake light
- Thread starter BlueSky
- Start date
Edgewood
Senior Member
I have a LED strip that runs above the rear door. It also functions as a turn signal. Nice to have anytime but especially when bikes have a cover on the rear rack. The bike cover obscured the tail lights. Someone on here recommended the site but I don't remember the name of it.
SkyP
Senior Member
The problem is most "trailer wiring receptacles" have no way to properly operate a third brake light.
On my 20 F150 I had to wire from the back, with a separate connecion all the way to a wire under the hood that is a "brake light" activation circuit.
I originally did this for my RSi Smart Cap shell as it comes with a nice LED third brakelight already mounted.
BTW RSi has been unable figure out an easy means to connect it to existing wiring for turn signals etc. They've sent out multiple harnesses that don't work right.
On my ATC I just finished mounting a rear view camera at the top of the lower box, just above the door, but not on the roof portion.
That kind of leaves me with no good spot for a third brakelight. If I mount it right under the camera it probably will blind the camera at night. Don't want it on the raisable top as wiring would be a PITA.
My ATC came with side amber and red markers. It also had 2 red rear LEDs I assumed were markers but they are actually tied to the turn signals- so they sort of work as brake lights.
They don't appear to be very bright though.
The ATC has a traditional 4 wire trailer pigtail to plug in- but unfortunately it won't work for me since Ford saw fit to mount the receptacle in the bumper step well- guaranteeing it will get stepped on and broken at some point.
On my 20 F150 I had to wire from the back, with a separate connecion all the way to a wire under the hood that is a "brake light" activation circuit.
I originally did this for my RSi Smart Cap shell as it comes with a nice LED third brakelight already mounted.
BTW RSi has been unable figure out an easy means to connect it to existing wiring for turn signals etc. They've sent out multiple harnesses that don't work right.
On my ATC I just finished mounting a rear view camera at the top of the lower box, just above the door, but not on the roof portion.
That kind of leaves me with no good spot for a third brakelight. If I mount it right under the camera it probably will blind the camera at night. Don't want it on the raisable top as wiring would be a PITA.
My ATC came with side amber and red markers. It also had 2 red rear LEDs I assumed were markers but they are actually tied to the turn signals- so they sort of work as brake lights.
They don't appear to be very bright though.
The ATC has a traditional 4 wire trailer pigtail to plug in- but unfortunately it won't work for me since Ford saw fit to mount the receptacle in the bumper step well- guaranteeing it will get stepped on and broken at some point.
All American vehicles that I am aware of split the rear tail light circuits in front, so there is no easy way to split the brake activation from turn signal in the back.
The solutions are:
- resign yourself to the 3rd brake light flashing with one turn signal.
- add two lights (turn + brake) to the camper.
- add two lights to a bike rack.
- wire back from the brake activation circuit at the firewall.
Dodge also puts the 4/7 pin connector in the step well. My only suggestion is to build some kind of protector for the plug if that is a concern.
The solutions are:
- resign yourself to the 3rd brake light flashing with one turn signal.
- add two lights (turn + brake) to the camper.
- add two lights to a bike rack.
- wire back from the brake activation circuit at the firewall.
Dodge also puts the 4/7 pin connector in the step well. My only suggestion is to build some kind of protector for the plug if that is a concern.
ntsqd
Custom User Title
I've always assumed that there was a small electronics board in the CHMSL that operated the light based on brake light inputs. In later trucks it's probably an output function of a CAN-BUS module.
I've never really thought about it, could possibly use some relay logic to get it working right. Maybe in conjunction with some strategically placed diodes and/or capacitors.
As for the light itself, I bought one of these to be a rear facing red fog light: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RLQ4L62 Light output is reportedly reduced to 70% when set for constant output, but based on seeing two of these in amber being used as rear facing flashing dust lights two weekends ago on the Mojave Road I don't think "only" 70% is a concern. Easy to see them in midday daylight, thru a dust cloud at more than a mile away. They were more than bright at that distance. Setting it to be constant on is simple, or could choose one of the 17 different flashing modes if desired. I'm impressed by the die cast housing, it is not plastic.
I'd move the trailer light socket out of the bumper to some place more protected.
I've never really thought about it, could possibly use some relay logic to get it working right. Maybe in conjunction with some strategically placed diodes and/or capacitors.
As for the light itself, I bought one of these to be a rear facing red fog light: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RLQ4L62 Light output is reportedly reduced to 70% when set for constant output, but based on seeing two of these in amber being used as rear facing flashing dust lights two weekends ago on the Mojave Road I don't think "only" 70% is a concern. Easy to see them in midday daylight, thru a dust cloud at more than a mile away. They were more than bright at that distance. Setting it to be constant on is simple, or could choose one of the 17 different flashing modes if desired. I'm impressed by the die cast housing, it is not plastic.
I'd move the trailer light socket out of the bumper to some place more protected.
Same with the bikes covering the 05 Tundra tailights. I got two trailer lights, make a wiring harness that goes in the trailer receptacle and mount the turn/brake lights to the jack brackets. Probably cost about $40 and works fine. I used two trailer (four flat) plugs to make it easy to mount and dismount.
My 02 Tundra ,like most other trucks has the "extra" break light
on the center rear of the cab.
Can you run a wire to a new light on the rear of the camper?
Since the one on the truck is a break light that seems like it would work.
Frank
on the center rear of the cab.
Can you run a wire to a new light on the rear of the camper?
Since the one on the truck is a break light that seems like it would work.
Frank
buckland
Senior Member
I hooked up a LED brake light above the camper door with the wire running down left door jamb and plugs into my trailer (2 wires only) hitch plug. It works fine. I have a Chevy.
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