Auxiliary LED Reverse Lights (Integrated Rear Bumper)

[ShadowsPapa]

I am sure you will do an excellent job wiring your lights. The best way to route the wires in my opinion is through the frame. I have not done it on the gladiator, but I have on other trucks. If not, you run the risk of snagging the wire or damaging it while off roading. A simple solution is to put the truck in reverse and leave the door open. The truck won't move. I'm not saying this is the safest way to have lights to facilitate loading, but I will say I did it once. Lastly, thanks ShadowsPapa for all your contributions. I always enjoy reading your posts!

Is that a Comanche I see???

..., thanks.
One of my things about wiring is that where I live, certain times of year, you find chunks of ice and snow tossed up from the road clinging to anything that hangs down or that it can grip onto. I've done repairs for people where the wiring was obviously pulled down and out by weight - likely packed snow. Then of course - snagging on stuff - even if I drove through a corn field after harvest, there's stubble sticking up just waiting to grab anything it can and tug it loose.
And finally, critters. I had to fully rewire a camper I had - went out one spring to see something hanging down under it. Critters, likely chipmunks and squirrels, had chewed up almost every single wire under that thing - individual wires and bundles. There wasn't a wire that didn't have at least one set of tooth marks on it. I suppose could have been mice, but tall ones. I spent hours on that. I even had to repair the wiring on a trailer I used to have - they ran the wires in a way that they were not protected or even strapped very often.
So if in the frame is an option, I'd consider that. Otherwise it would be tied up close with a wire bundle, away from the lower edge of things for sure.

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[garychique]

Dude, you have to post a pic of your kit or a link. That’s the best way to get help.

Ups. It was all my ignorance. The reverse light will not turn on, unless their is a person on the brakes. I suggest a mirror be used to verify the lights. After involving a second person to look while I shifted into reverse to verify the lights worked

 

[am1978]

Ups. It was all my ignorance. The reverse light will not turn on, unless their is a person on the brakes. I suggest a mirror be used to verify the lights. After involving a second person to look while I shifted into reverse to verify the lights worked

No problem. I set my phone upright behind the truck and put the camera app on video to record it for verification of function because it was daytime when I installed them.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I use two of the gray plastic ammo boxes from Harbor Freight. They are the right size to wedge between the seat base and the brake pedal and hold it down.

 

[Erievon]

Latch the seat belt pull the emergency brake and put it in reverse. *At your own risk of course

 

[WILDHOBO]

Latch the seat belt pull the emergency brake and put it in reverse. *At your own risk of course

Jesus. I used my phone’s video as well.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I started my truck, put it in reverse and looked back - the lights were shining back on my car in the back of the garage. The garage isn't all that well lit so these could be seen even in the day.

It would be more of a hassle to set the phone in video/record and prop it up and aimed at the back of the truck than to look back and see the light shining on my car in the garage.

 

[txGlad]

I've got an extra Oracle reverse light harness. You pay shipping and It's free to a good home. Or you can pick up if you happen to be in the Dallas area.

 

[mrmo]

I installed this kit, the one with reflectors, used their harness to tie it to the truck, and I really like this upgrade.. When I go in reverse and the camera comes on the whole area is lit up back maybe 150 ft (guessing) definitely makes the stock ones look like they dont even come on. Its a good kit, fit perfect, solid quality, the harness has plugs that screw together with an O-ring to seal them, very good set up and recommend it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've got an extra Oracle reverse light harness. You pay shipping and It's free to a good home. Or you can pick up if you happen to be in the Dallas area.

If you still have it, I'll take it............

 

[Kevin_D]

Latch the seat belt pull the emergency brake and put it in reverse. *At your own risk of course

Why not put the transfer case in neutral and not worry about being run over?

Kevin

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why not put the transfer case in neutral and not worry about being run over?

Kevin

Because these are Jeep people. If it's simple, it's not worth doing.

 

[txGlad]

If you still have it, I'll take it............

Sorry, shipped it to another forum member the day after the post.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sorry, shipped it to another forum member the day after the post.

That's cool. Didn't have the plans that I have now back then.

 

[Gladiator_92]

In my case, I already have and have been using the stock Oracle plug n play harness for these backup lights so don't need another feed. The curt piece is an option if you didn't want to use the Oracle part - or used other backup lights besides theirs. It's a good way to get 12v, ground, or feed for any of the lights back there, and - those feeds are fused as "trailer lights", each with their own fuse. I see why you might have gone that route.

They've been working great as bright backup lights - but, I want to add the ability to turn them on when not in reverse - such as when in park, engine on or engine off, such as when hooking up my trailer, strapping the car onto the trailer, locking the tilt bed down (don't dare miss that!!) or doing the reverse - unstrapping, unlocking the bed so it will tilt, disconnecting all the trailer stuff from the truck, etc.
I MAY consider a way to disable them when in reverse in town - maybe - because if there is someone right behind you in parallel parking and you put it in reverse, you have just blinded them for the next 2 months LOL

As the new truck will have aux switches, I won't have need for another switch or another harness or connection. I will be using one of the aux switches like a couple of others here have done.
I do not have a 110 volt outlet in the bed, and prefer to have the switch in the cab anyway. I don't have a place for a switch back there, and don't want to mess with cutting or drilling or finding a mounting place and then being concerned with it when I'll have 4 inside to choose from.
IF things were different, and I were to put a switch in the rear - I'd want it powered from the trailer connector as that's fused. I would not run a hot wire back there that wasn't either fused, or otherwise "off".

The Oracle harness gives me everything I need right there behind the tail light, in a nice recess where the diodes will be. That will mean all connections, the diodes, everything, will be tucked up into a dry, relatively clean recess out of the way of any damage.

At least 2 others have done it this way, my only question was the best route for the wire from the aux switch connection in the engine bay back to the rear. I'll take the wire up into the tail light pocket, following the Oracle wires that lead to the LED backup lights once back there.

I will likely move their plug n play pigtail into the right tail light area to shorten the run from the aux switch and keep all of that wiring on the right side. Also, unless I am mistaken, there is no cylinder on the right side. Could be wrong, but I believe there is only one tailgate cylinder.
So IF I am correct, there's more room on the right side. The tail light connections should be identical, so moving the Oracle inline harness should be simple.

All you do is unplug the tail light wiring, put the Oracle harness in between the two connectors you just disconnected, snap it back together.

IF they end up being different, I'll run the feed from the aux switch across the back along with the bumper backup light wiring and leave the Oracle harness on the left.

This is the Oracle harness and inline adapter - with my wrap on it for extra protection from Iowa chunks of ice and snow. I'll feed into the white wire on the left in their pigtail, and use diodes there to prevent any back-feed into the factory backup light feed.
When done - being in reverse will turn on the wimpy factory backup lights and the Oracle bumper mounted lights, or, turning on an aux switch will turn them all on, and a diode will prevent back-feeding into the system

This will be a part of the Oracle harness, where the parallel white wires are in the pic above.
The diodes don't have to carry a lot of current - it's all LED in my case, all lights are.
The feed to the Oracle lights is maybe a whopping 24 gauge, or even lighter.
24 gauge is rated about 3.5 amps.
26 gauge is a max of 2.2
So the wires from Oracle are likely not carrying even an amp if they were 26 gauge.
The diodes can be very light-weight as far as current capacity but you want low loss - no appreciable voltage drop.

/
did you consider a 5 pin relay vs diodes for this application? I am about to wire mine in the same way with dual power sources. Currently compiling parts and seeing what my options are.

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