Stealth Reverse Lights Installed

[Bear Hunter]

This was a MOD that I wanted to do on the new truck for a while now. For this install, I wanted to keep everything as stealth as possible. I had been keeping my eyes out the right set of lights for quite some time. My original plan was to run HIDs out the back (which I still want to), but in the interim these lights will fit the bill.

Ultra White 55w fogs with crystal rod lens (found at Autozone)



Pic of the light itself



This is where I mounted them (shown by the red circles). The lights were small enough to fit recessed between the hitch and the bumper....beam pattern was not affected in any way



...and this is how I wired them. Power from the battery through a 30amp relay. Primary trigger is the reverse wire which is found inside the frame (Black/green). Secondary trigger is Upfitter Switch #3 using a diode to prevent the backflow of current. (Upfitter #1 and #2 were already used for high idle, and undercarrage lights respectively):



Here is how they look lit up:




Here are the day pics...they are kind of tough to see:

[bgstew6]

real nice...no reason for HIDs now LOL...

[Fuzion]

WOW! Great post! Might have to copy when i retint my windows!

[Cool Hand Luke]

I have been thinking about the same sort of MOD. Great idea with the black lens though.

[stumo]

Very Nice! Quick question, what size/rating did you use for the diode?

-stumo

[Bear Hunter]

Thanks guys...

Coolhand .... yeah I saw the blacked out fogs and figured it would blend in nicely.

stumo... I just used a 2.5A diode from Radio Shack

[harley2199]

that is a sweet mod

[Snake]

Allright, so how'd you mount them to the receiver hitch?

And I'm assuming you had to run wire from the upfitter switches back to the lights?

--Snake

[Bear Hunter]

Thanks guys

Snake... I didn't drill any holes or use the mount that came with the lights. If you look at them they have a flat base that is pretty much the same width of the top of the hitch. I just used extra heavy duty velcro ...it takes some effort to take the light off.

I did not run the upfitter switch to the lights... I tapped the reverse wire and ran that wire to the relay (as a "trigger") which is inside my dash. I then installed a diode on that same wire and then tapped (the same wire) between the diode and the relay (all inside the dash). I ran 14 gauge wire from the relay to the lights.

[Snake]

Ahhhhhhh, velcro. Who would've thought? Awesome idea.

And I guess what I meant by running the wire for the lights was that it had to be run from inside the truck in the vicinity of the upfitter switches, in this case the relay. No way of tapping into a wire back by the tail lights.

Thanks for the answers, and I hope you don't mind if I copy this mod. Its a good one!

--Snake

[Dbl G]

Great mod and write up, Make this a how too Stew!!
I have also thught about this type of mod for the H.D.
I had done something simialr to a jeep years ago,, But frankly not as nicely done as that.

<<<Thumbs up>>>

[ezglider]

Great Mod! And An Even Better Truck!!!!!

[Diesel_Hog]

Awsome mod! Looks Great!

[Bear Hunter]

Thanks...I also switched out the 55W bulbs with 100W (because there is essentially no reflector in the housing) and ran 14 gauge wire back to the lights.

[Harley#356]

just be careful of burning up the light harness running such high watt bulbs. although you may be okay for a while since they arent on as often as headlights.

install looks great, definately some ingenous thinking going on for a nice clean install like that

i'll add a link to my how-to index