When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
One of the things that I noticed about my truck is I can't see very well behind me when backing up at night. There's really not much light coming from the factory backup lights. So I figured I'd install an some relatively inexpensive LED aftermarket CREE lights. They have 6 LED's in each module. At 18w they only draw about .95A each. They were just under $35 from Amazon.
Here are the units I purchased.
I wanted the lights to come on when my backup lights came on. I decided to install a simple 12v relay for providing power to the lights and control the relay by tapping into the supply line going to the backup light. There's an intermediate connector above the rear tire that goes to the tail light assembly. It's the one closer to the rear of the vehicle and should not be mistaken for the one that connects to the trailer hitch. The release for the connector is on top of the connector and will disconnect fairly easily for access.
In this photo you can see the wire colors. The backup light is the Light Blue/White wire on the left side.
Light Blue/White - Backup
Yellow/Green - Parking Light
Purple/Brown - Right Turn
Black - Ground
Gray/Brown - Left Turn
Black - Ground
Black - Ground
I ran a wire from the fuse block under the hood powered by a 3A fuse. There was an empty position on the left side of the fuse block where I was able to insert that MiniFuse adapter. That wire goes all the way back to near the above connector and attaches to the pin #30. The output of the relay comes from pin #87. I attached the Hot/Red wires from the LED lights to that. The ground wires from the LED lights I attached to the same location that the Trailer Hitch intermediate connector attaches to on the truck frame. It's located just out of visual range of the photo above and right above the spare tire.
As for controlling the relay, Pin #85 gets attached with a splice tap connector to the Light Blue/White wire you see in the above photo. Pin #86 which is ground, I attached with a splice tap connector to the last Black wire on that connector above as well. (nothing gets attached to pin #87a)
I drilled (2) 5/16" holes into the Trailer Hitch horizontal tube to mount the lights. I've angled them down and slightly outward so the light is shining where I can see when looking in the side view mirrors. Here's how they turned out.
Feel free to ask any questions or make comments.
______________________________________
POST INSTALLATION FOLLOW-UP
As a follow up to my installation. I really didn't pay much attention to how I oriented the Relay when I zip-tied it up. It was way up under the bed above the spare tire. Well, I can tell you that if you install it upside down, and then get aggressive with the garden hose during your truck washing activities, you can short out the relay when it fills with water . DOH ! It was easy enough to fix with an air hose to blow the water out, but lesson learned. Definitely make sure you orient the relay with the connector pointed down. I know, installation 101. I knew better, but just didn't give it any thought. It's working fine now. I thought about not mentioning this little faux pas, but figured someone might just learn something from it. I mean, that's why we post things here right, to share and learn? I'll put this in my original message so users don't have to get all the way down to this post to find out.
Ya know, somehow I knew that was coming. I'm leaving for Mexico in the AM for the week. I either did it now, or next weekend. So I went out and took 2 shots. One with factory, the other with the CREE's active too. I used a tripod and no flash. (If you look closely at the top photo, the handle on the garage door has a shadow going down to the left. This is due to a light on the front of the house that is partially illuminating the door. That is why it's brighter toward the right hand side of the image.)
One of the things that I noticed about my truck is I can't see very well behind me when backing up at night. There's really not much light coming from the factory backup lights. So I figured I'd install an some relatively inexpensive LED aftermarket CREE lights. They have 6 LED's in each module. At 18w they only draw about .95A each. They were just under $35 from Amazon.
I think it loks great and your write up awsome. I only have one concern. You said you drilled into the cross tube of the trailer hitch. Are you not concerned with degrading the integrity of the tow bar itself? I personally think I would try to make a bracket that would attach to so I would not have to drill. Just my thoughts, not condeming or putting down.
Frank
I think it loks great and your write up awsome. I only have one concern. You said you drilled into the cross tube of the trailer hitch. Are you not concerned with degrading the integrity of the tow bar itself? I personally think I would try to make a bracket that would attach to so I would not have to drill. Just my thoughts, not condeming or putting down.
Frank
That's a fair question and I did think about it. It is my belief that the hole is so small that it is insignificant to the structural integrity of the hitch itself. And thanks everyone for the compliments. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
I think it loks great and your write up awsome. I only have one concern. You said you drilled into the cross tube of the trailer hitch. Are you not concerned with degrading the integrity of the tow bar itself? I personally think I would try to make a bracket that would attach to so I would not have to drill. Just my thoughts, not condeming or putting down.
Frank
Drilling a hole will not degrade the integrity of the draw bar. Some manufacturers drill and tap for the 7 pin mount on the draw bar itself. I did this on mine. 2 small holes will not have any effect on strength. Start cutting the welds or welding extra stuff to the draw bar and then you will decrease its integrity.
12-14-2014, 09:12 PM
Backup Light Upgrade
