$20.00 Reverse Lights

[Outback_Joe]

Okay don't laugh. I built some backup lights out of mostly scraps in the shop. The new lights put out much more light compared to the OEM lights and were under $20.00 all in. They are built around some MR11 GU4 Small reflector LED spot lights 5500K color. I bought these lights thru Amazon but they are available from a almost any hardware store. I do have a small lathe and mill in the shop but they could be made with a drill press. If anyone wants the measurements it all starts by removing the OEM red reflectors and making a pattern out of that to mount the lights in. I used some 3/16 clear acrylic, painted black. The mounting holes for the lights are 46mm or 1 13/16". I made retainer rings for the lights out of black 1 1/2” PVC pipe and a few small screws. The lights drop out the front of the mount so they will be easy if needed.

I soldered wires to the pins on the back of the lights then covered everything in shrink tube filled with black hot melt glue. Black hot melt works great for water proofing wiring joints. I tapped into the trailer plug for the power. The lights held up well in the snow and slush this past winter, so I am happy to save a few $$ and have some fun in the process.

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[mrmo]

Good job and fab skills. Appreciate the info

 

[dcmdon]

Nicely done.
Tell me more about the wiring.

Do they come on automatically or with a switch?
You mentioned tapping into trailer lights. I didn't think trailer lights had a reverse light lead?

I was thinking of something like this but planning to use a scotch lock on one of the existing reverse light wires.

 

[Outback_Joe]

Nicely done.
Tell me more about the wiring.

Do they come on automatically or with a switch?
You mentioned tapping into trailer lights. I didn't think trailer lights had a reverse light lead?

I was thinking of something like this but planning to use a scotch lock on one of the existing reverse light wires.

The lights come on with the reverse lights. I can see the need / want for a switch but I can also see me using the lights at the wrong time (tailgaters)!

I used a blue "ScotchLoc T-Tap" as a temp hookup. I will be soldering the connections all together and waterproofing them soon. I finished up by running the wires from the trailer plug thru a piece of 3/8" black split loom to protect them. I used the white wire with a orange stripe that goes into the round trailer plug as my power source . At least that's the wire on my 2022 Gladiator. Yours may be different.

 

[Mr._Bill]

Curt has a harness that goes into the connector behind the bumper and provides a 5 pin connector with a reverse line. That is how I connected mine. It prevents damage to the factory harness.

CURT 56584 Replacement Vehicle-Side Custom USCAR 5-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness , Black https://a.co/d/hYqsLdL

 

[dcmdon]

Curt has a harness that goes into the connector behind the bumper and provides a 5 pin connector with a reverse line. That is how I connected mine. It prevents damage to the factory harness.

CURT 56584 Replacement Vehicle-Side Custom USCAR 5-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness , Black https://a.co/d/hYqsLdL

I'm clearly missing something.

How do you get reverse lights off of a trailer connector? Don't trailer connectors just provide
tail/running, signal, brake lights?

 

[Mr._Bill]

I'm clearly missing something.

How do you get reverse lights off of a trailer connector? Don't trailer connectors just provide
tail/running, signal, brake lights?

No, they don't. That is the minimum provided, and what is available in a four pin connector. The seven pin connector includes power, reverse, and trailer brake. The Gladiator connector on the bumper includes a four pin and seven pin connector. The Curt harness taps into the factory wiring and provides an additional five pin connector, which includes the reverse line.

 

[dcmdon]

No, they don't. That is the minimum provided, and what is available in a four pin connector. The seven pin connector includes power, reverse, and trailer brake. The Gladiator connector on the bumper includes a four pin and seven pin connector. The Curt harness taps into the factory wiring and provides an additional five pin connector, which includes the reverse line.

Thank you. I didn't know that.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

Amazon user made this. Much cleaner than the one I made. Going to redo mine. Haha. But maybe I'll do the 5 pin instead of that 1 pin.

 

[Kevin_D]

As discussed previously regarding this mod., you’ve eliminated the federally-required rear reflectors.
Nothing a bit of reflective tape can’t fix.

Kevin

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