Rigid SRM Back up / Reverse light kit - pic heavy
04-12-2014, 05:02 PM
#1
Installed: Rigid SRM Back up / Reverse light kit - pic heavy
Ever since I've tinted the fronts to 35% I've been having issues seeing the edges of my driveway when backing in. Reason I need light...the 18" deep culvert could be very hazardous if missed.
Rigid seems to be the "go-to" company for LEDs, and everyone raves of their products. I know know why. These little SRMs are very well built. Fit in the palm of your hand and put out a claimed 880 lumens per light. I went with the SRMs as I felt the Duallys would be overkill. I just need light, not daytime
The kit itself is inclusive of everything you'll need aside from zipties and a quick splice. Here's a photo of what was in the box:
The harness is quite nice, and fully wired ready to go. The long white wire is the optional "auto on" setting for you to tap into the reverse signal. I took my signal from the center pin (gray wire) on the 7pin trailer connection.
Here's a close up of the lights:
The install was pretty straight forward, albeit a little tedious. Rigid wants you to put their relay under the dash. To do so you need to push the factory grommet (above and to the left of the brake pedal) out from the inside, into the engine bay. I cut a slit in the top of this grommet so that I could then lay all of the wires down through and re-installed the grommet. Rigid's provided switch is 3-way. Off, On, or Auto (reverse signal). I wanted to mount the switch in the least expensive panel to replace. It requires a 3/4" hole and there is just enough space in the knockout that houses the dimmer.
Pics of switch location:
I fed the white wire into Rigid's loom and everything went down through the wheel well following the large factory wire bundle. I zip tied the loom to the top side of this factory bundle, following it beneath the cab, over the frame under the bed, along the inside of the frame near the tank and to the back between the frame and the spare tire. Rigid's kit is long enough for you SCrew guys with the 6.5' bed, as I had about two extra feet of wiring harness to bundle and tuck up and out of the way.
I mounted the lights to the top side of the leaf spring shackles. They are pointed ever so slightly down and out, as opposed to down and directly behind me. I did this to hopefully throw some light behind the tires rather than behind the truck.
Pics of the mounting:
Here's a shot of the lights from the back. You'd have to be under the truck to know they exist:
I should be able to get some output shots tonight once this sunny day takes a break for the night.
Overall my first impressions of this kit are high. The lights are well built and look great (it's a shame they are tucked away). The wiring harness is of good quality and very easy to work with. Thanks to the guys [MENTION=118767]TAP Auto[/MENTION] for the hookup and the great pricing on the kit.
Hopefully this review will help others in their journey for more light.
Rigid seems to be the "go-to" company for LEDs, and everyone raves of their products. I know know why. These little SRMs are very well built. Fit in the palm of your hand and put out a claimed 880 lumens per light. I went with the SRMs as I felt the Duallys would be overkill. I just need light, not daytime
The kit itself is inclusive of everything you'll need aside from zipties and a quick splice. Here's a photo of what was in the box:
The harness is quite nice, and fully wired ready to go. The long white wire is the optional "auto on" setting for you to tap into the reverse signal. I took my signal from the center pin (gray wire) on the 7pin trailer connection.
Here's a close up of the lights:
The install was pretty straight forward, albeit a little tedious. Rigid wants you to put their relay under the dash. To do so you need to push the factory grommet (above and to the left of the brake pedal) out from the inside, into the engine bay. I cut a slit in the top of this grommet so that I could then lay all of the wires down through and re-installed the grommet. Rigid's provided switch is 3-way. Off, On, or Auto (reverse signal). I wanted to mount the switch in the least expensive panel to replace. It requires a 3/4" hole and there is just enough space in the knockout that houses the dimmer.
Pics of switch location:
I fed the white wire into Rigid's loom and everything went down through the wheel well following the large factory wire bundle. I zip tied the loom to the top side of this factory bundle, following it beneath the cab, over the frame under the bed, along the inside of the frame near the tank and to the back between the frame and the spare tire. Rigid's kit is long enough for you SCrew guys with the 6.5' bed, as I had about two extra feet of wiring harness to bundle and tuck up and out of the way.
I mounted the lights to the top side of the leaf spring shackles. They are pointed ever so slightly down and out, as opposed to down and directly behind me. I did this to hopefully throw some light behind the tires rather than behind the truck.
Pics of the mounting:
Here's a shot of the lights from the back. You'd have to be under the truck to know they exist:
I should be able to get some output shots tonight once this sunny day takes a break for the night.
Overall my first impressions of this kit are high. The lights are well built and look great (it's a shame they are tucked away). The wiring harness is of good quality and very easy to work with. Thanks to the guys [MENTION=118767]TAP Auto[/MENTION] for the hookup and the great pricing on the kit.
Hopefully this review will help others in their journey for more light.
Last edited by MCDavis; 04-13-2014 at 08:55 PM.
The following 3 users liked this post by MCDavis:
The following users liked this post:
MCDavis (04-12-2014)
04-12-2014, 07:43 PM
#3
One Clean Machine
iTrader: (5)
Don't forget Output Pics at nite!
04-12-2014, 09:10 PM
#4
Ok, so the sun has set and I have some output lights. It's good and not so good.
Here's the not so good. The light in the foreground completely washes out the backup cam.
Here's what I mean.
Stock reverse lights and brake lights on:
Same, except with the Rigid's turned on:
So with the Rigid's on the cam shows foreground light as intense and you lose the detail on things further out. Not a big deal really as the switch is selectable. I just didn't expect this.
Now, for the good.
Driver window down...mind you this is NOT through the tint. These are pictures as you te driver would see them. These pics are of the driver's side mirror.
Stock reverse lights only:
Stock lights and brake lights:
Rigids on:
Rigids and brake lights:
I didn't take pics of me standing behind the truck, etc, because honestly that does me no good as the need I have is from the driver's seat. I'm really liking how this kit throws diffused light down and out. I don't really need to see what's 100' behind me...how is that really useful? For me, it's not. My main concern was illuminating what was directly behind and to the sides and this kit nailed that objective.
What is also cool is that this wiring harness will plug directly into Duallys. So if I get the itch to swap then all I'll have to do is buy a pair, bolt 'em up, and plug 'em in.
For the price I paid for this kit I'm pretty pleased.
Here's the not so good. The light in the foreground completely washes out the backup cam.
Here's what I mean.
Stock reverse lights and brake lights on:
Same, except with the Rigid's turned on:
So with the Rigid's on the cam shows foreground light as intense and you lose the detail on things further out. Not a big deal really as the switch is selectable. I just didn't expect this.
Now, for the good.
Driver window down...mind you this is NOT through the tint. These are pictures as you te driver would see them. These pics are of the driver's side mirror.
Stock reverse lights only:
Stock lights and brake lights:
Rigids on:
Rigids and brake lights:
I didn't take pics of me standing behind the truck, etc, because honestly that does me no good as the need I have is from the driver's seat. I'm really liking how this kit throws diffused light down and out. I don't really need to see what's 100' behind me...how is that really useful? For me, it's not. My main concern was illuminating what was directly behind and to the sides and this kit nailed that objective.
What is also cool is that this wiring harness will plug directly into Duallys. So if I get the itch to swap then all I'll have to do is buy a pair, bolt 'em up, and plug 'em in.
For the price I paid for this kit I'm pretty pleased.
04-12-2014, 09:31 PM
#5
One Clean Machine
iTrader: (5)
Definitly no Improvement if mainly using backup cam! But lights up nice using mirrors! I can imagine mounted to a bumper bolt would be a Huge Improvement!
I understand the Hidden part, just Hides Too Much Light output!
I understand the Hidden part, just Hides Too Much Light output!
Last edited by Toddman38; 04-12-2014 at 09:34 PM.
04-12-2014, 10:11 PM
#6
Agreed to an extent.
I have enough wiring slack to flip the lights to the underside of the shackle if I so choose. I think I'll leave it as it is for now. I really like the light they provide in the mirrors, and honestly that was my main objective. Time will tell.
I have enough wiring slack to flip the lights to the underside of the shackle if I so choose. I think I'll leave it as it is for now. I really like the light they provide in the mirrors, and honestly that was my main objective. Time will tell.
You could also mount them to the side of your hitch mound and they would still be hidden.
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04-13-2014, 09:58 AM
#8
To the OP, this kit looks great, might have to upgrade mine.
I used some cheap tractor utility lights and bolted them to the differential cover bolts, one facing out wards on each side.
You may consider trying yours there as well, I think it would reduce the lighting "hot spot" right behind your tires, as the lighting can them be pushed further out the rear as opposed to directly down.
This would also help with your camera view, but the down side is that the lights are slightly more visible.
I will try to get a pic of mine today to shout you.
I have mine wired through a relay so it requires 2 inputs. They will only turn on when in reverse, and only if the headlights are on....... After all, that's the only time they are needed.
I used some cheap tractor utility lights and bolted them to the differential cover bolts, one facing out wards on each side.
You may consider trying yours there as well, I think it would reduce the lighting "hot spot" right behind your tires, as the lighting can them be pushed further out the rear as opposed to directly down.
This would also help with your camera view, but the down side is that the lights are slightly more visible.
I will try to get a pic of mine today to shout you.
I have mine wired through a relay so it requires 2 inputs. They will only turn on when in reverse, and only if the headlights are on....... After all, that's the only time they are needed.
04-13-2014, 02:43 PM
#9
While on my mtn bike trail ride today I got to thinking about the placement more. Decided that I did need to bring them down some. Got the drill & bit back out and placed a new hole about as low as I could on the shackle mount. I mounted these with bracket in the typical arrangement. I'll see how they are tonight as far as output. If needed I can flip the light over to drop the height of the light about 1/2-3/4" further. This is already much lower.
Pics
Before:
After:
And still after:
Now. Time to eat some food. Grab an adult beverage or 12 and watch the Masters unfold. I'll get some output shots tonight.
Pics
Before:
After:
And still after:
Now. Time to eat some food. Grab an adult beverage or 12 and watch the Masters unfold. I'll get some output shots tonight.
04-13-2014, 08:43 PM
#10
The slight drop in mounting height made a noticeable difference.
Tonight's new lower mount:
Last night's higher mount:
Here's tonight's pic of the driver's mirror:
The light is now wider and further. I'm actually considering flipping the lights over to see what difference another 3/4" makes. For now though this is a drastic improvement over the stock bulbs.
Here's stock:
Here's tonight:
Here's a video...this is while in reverse, parking brake set (if you cannot already hear the obnoxious warning tones)
Tonight's new lower mount:
Last night's higher mount:
Here's tonight's pic of the driver's mirror:
The light is now wider and further. I'm actually considering flipping the lights over to see what difference another 3/4" makes. For now though this is a drastic improvement over the stock bulbs.
Here's stock:
Here's tonight:
Here's a video...this is while in reverse, parking brake set (if you cannot already hear the obnoxious warning tones)
