LED Light show off ! Got em ? Let see em !

[Addicted2fishing]

Alrighty. I want to start off by apologizing if something like this is done. I used the search on tapatalk and couldn’t find much. I also debated wether I should post this in audio/electronics or exterior. Mods please move if you feel this is in the wrong category.

I am toying with the idea of rear LED lights to help me when launching my boat early in the mornings and taking off after a long day in the dark. Sometimes it’s downright unsafe when I’m on certain launches.

Anyways, I am not the most knowledgeable when it comes to electronics and wiring. It’s a very hard thing to wrap my head around LOL. I’d love to see the creativity some of you have come up with!!!


***What am personally interested in is having the lights under my truck facing back obviously with maybe a more spread pattern to the sides. I want a wide coverage area for the sides as I’m backing up so I don’t hit trees, Rocks or people. I also need to light up the boat area as well. So I’m thinking of mounting them on an angle. I just don’t know where would be a good mounting place. I also dont want them to stick out like a sore thumb and drilling my bumper is NOT an option***.

Let’s see them folks!!! I love the ingenuity on these forums


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[JB1]

here's a thread with a few ideas

http://www.ramforum.com/threads/simple-rear-aux-lighting.114257/

 

[MarshRam]

Something like this will give you the flexibility to angle them however you want. These are mounted to my tow hitch with exhaust clamps.

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Wow! My searching skills are weak LOL. Awesome stuff !


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[Addicted2fishing]

Something like this will give you the flexibility to angle them however you want. These are mounted to my tow hitch with exhaust clamps.View attachment 123267

That’s brilliant! How did you secure them ? Aside from using the clamps



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[S0CAL]

Here is what I did. Lights were about $20, I tapped into my trailer harness reverse light, and cut some angle iron to make brackets. Bright as day now when I put it into reverse. When I swap my bumpers out, I will be putting diffused floods (Rigid) cubes in my bumper. These will remain backup lights.

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Here is what I did. Lights were about $20, I tapped into my trailer harness reverse light, and cut some angle iron to make brackets. Bright as day now when I put it into reverse. When I swap my bumpers out, I will be putting diffused floods (Rigid) cubes in my bumper. These will remain backup lights.

View attachment 123272

View attachment 123273

View attachment 123274

View attachment 123275

Holy crap those are bright!! See ! I love that simple mounting system ya got. Lovin it !




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[Addicted2fishing]

Question for you guys.....

How would I wire these up if I don’t want the switch or switches to have constant power? I would maybe get some rocker switches if I can find a clean look but don’t want the switch lights on while it’s sitting in the driveway.

If I get a controller module like one member posted would it have constant 12v power supply?

For those that ran wires from the battery to the rear how long of a harness did you use ? I see most of them are 14 foot and I’d assume I’ll need at least 20 feet or more to reach the bumper/hitch. I posted in another thread how to wire a bull bar light and I may as well make it whole system now with options of front lights and rear lights.

I honestly feel like if I had more knowledge of how this stuff works my truck would be one giant LED light ha ha ha ha




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[MarshRam]

That’s brilliant! How did you secure them ? Aside from using the clamps



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You cant really see the exhaust clamp in this pic, but get a clamp that fits the size of your hitch, I believe I used 3 inch clamps, could have been 5", I don't remember. Once those are on, there is enough thread coming off the exhaust clamp to bolt on the lights. You can move them left/right/up/down as you desire.

I wired mine into my driver side reverse light, so they only work when in reverse. You will see a small single light attached to the top of the cube, those are hooked to my bed light switch and are for light needed when loading up in the dark and truck is off and in park.

 

[2010 Infantry Vet]

Which ever lights you choose, make sure you coat all of the sealed edges, and lense edge with clear waterproof silicon cocking so water doesnt get in. Save your money by buying chinese LED reverse lights. Just make sure they have cree led bulbs. I paid $120 for my 50" curved chinese light bar, and $20 for my led reverse cube lights (same as rigid). Sealed them with the clear silicon, and ran them for 3 years with no problems. Ran an unsealed 20" light bar in my front bumper, and once submerged in mud/water, some leaked in and burnt out a few of the led's on the sides of the light bar. Hence why i seal them with silicon now when i install them.
Yours will be submerged in water since you will be using the lights to bavk your boat in the water. As long as you seal them, you will be fine.

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Which ever lights you choose, make sure you coat all of the sealed edges, and lense edge with clear waterproof silicon cocking so water doesnt get in. Save your money by buying chinese LED reverse lights. Just make sure they have cree led bulbs. I paid $120 for my 50" curved chinese light bar, and $20 for my led reverse cube lights (same as rigid). Sealed them with the clear silicon, and ran them for 3 years with no problems. Ran an unsealed 20" light bar in my front bumper, and once submerged in mud/water, some leaked in and burnt out a few of the led's on the sides of the light bar. Hence why i seal them with silicon now when i install them.
Yours will be submerged in water since you will be using the lights to bavk your boat in the water. As long as you seal them, you will be fine.

Awesome tip! I’m looking at these ones.....

Lightfox 2Pcs 4Inch 18W Flood Cree LED Light Bar Offroad Pods Lights 4wd LED Driving Lamp Work Light Bulb Fog Lights for Truck Pickup Jeep SUV ATV UTV Waterproof, 1 Year Warranty https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01N0AXK4C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_cvwSAbA29RFKG

Says cree and flood so the light pattern will be more spread right? As for the hitch and clamp I’m really liking that assuming I can find those in Canada. You’d be amazed how hard crap is to find here sometimes. Also the lights I’m looking at are adjustable. I’m excited !

Now if if I can only find out how to wire these up lol


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[2010 Infantry Vet]

Yes flood is what you want, not spot. Just wire them into your reverse lights in your trailer wiring before the plug. That way they will only turn on when you have your truck in reverse. Im sure if you google, you can find out which wire is positive, and which is negative for reverse lights.
If that doesnt work for you, hook them up to your reverse light wire in your tail lights. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[bjohnston0624]

Holy crap those are bright!! See ! I love that simple mounting system ya got. Lovin it !




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What’d ya use to tint your tails?


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[Addicted2fishing]

What’d ya use to tint your tails?


2010-2017 Ram 1500/2500/3500, 2009 Ram 1500 Black Smoke Light-Bar LED Tail Lights + LED 3rd Brake Lamp 2010 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WMW46X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VPxSAbVBFF3DA

 

[S0CAL]

What’d ya use to tint your tails?


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Me? Those are smoked Recon tails.

 

[Addicted2fishing]

One of the reasons I don’t want them wired into my reverse lights is when I’m at a boat launch hooking up my boat the exhaust fumes seem to attract a crap load of bitting and blood sucking flies. So I turn off my truck while I’m unloading the boat, turning off electronics and putting away fishing rods etc.... I’d be nice to still have lights while it’s in accessory instead of running.

Ive googled it but seems as though wiring for a rocker switch or switches with ignition as power source is harder to find than I thought.

I ordered those cree floods, mictuning wire harness with two leads and some cool rocker switches. One says “rear LED’s” other one says “zombie light”. I had to ha ha ha. I’m a nerd. I’ll have to extend the wires with some 14 AWG wire because I couldn’t find longer than 14 feet. Instead of tracking down the length I need I’ll make it myself and save myself the headache

I’m gonna go to princess auto which has a lot of weird stuff and see if I can find exhaust clamps or those metal brackets and cut them up. I’ll look under to make sure my hitch is a frame mount and not bumper mount. I paid for a class IV but ya never know with these dealers






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[Ramm5.7]

Addicted, when i installed my bed lights from that remote doodad i ran electrical 4 wire s/o 14 guage in frame from under hood to bed. Not sure if its cheaper for you but that cord is tough, can get any length you want and comes in 3 or 4 wire. Kind of a bear to fish it thru frame holes but real secure and the outer insulation will protect it alot! Plus, alot cleaner hidden in frame ( no tywraps). Also that remote would work for you, hit button say #2 and rear pods come on with truck not running

 

[MarshRam]

One of the reasons I don’t want them wired into my reverse lights is when I’m at a boat launch hooking up my boat the exhaust fumes seem to attract a crap load of bitting and blood sucking flies. So I turn off my truck while I’m unloading the boat, turning off electronics and putting away fishing rods etc.... I’d be nice to still have lights while it’s in accessory instead of running.

Ive googled it but seems as though wiring for a rocker switch or switches with ignition as power source is harder to find than I thought.

I ordered those cree floods, mictuning wire harness with two leads and some cool rocker switches. One says “rear LED’s” other one says “zombie light”. I had to ha ha ha. I’m a nerd. I’ll have to extend the wires with some 14 AWG wire because I couldn’t find longer than 14 feet. Instead of tracking down the length I need I’ll make it myself and save myself the headache

I’m gonna go to princess auto which has a lot of weird stuff and see if I can find exhaust clamps or those metal brackets and cut them up. I’ll look under to make sure my hitch is a frame mount and not bumper mount. I paid for a class IV but ya never know with these dealers






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Yes, extend the wiring yourself! There are many ways you can hook this up. I don't think you need to go as far as tapping into the ignition. You can easily hook to reverse lights or use a switch and tap into your trailer harness power wire. You could actually do both options if you wanted to. I've asked about how to do that with a relay or diodes but never got an answer that I could understand. Lol...

 

[MarshRam]

Meant to include a shot that better depicts the exhaust clamp hookup. Here you go!

And paint those exhaust clamps if you go that route, which I did not do yet. They get rust dust on them real quick

 

[Addicted2fishing]

Addicted, when i installed my bed lights from that remote doodad i ran electrical 4 wire s/o 14 guage in frame from under hood to bed. Not sure if its cheaper for you but that cord is tough, can get any length you want and comes in 3 or 4 wire. Kind of a bear to fish it thru frame holes but real secure and the outer insulation will protect it alot! Plus, alot cleaner hidden in frame ( no tywraps). Also that remote would work for you, hit button say #2 and rear pods come on with truck not running

It’s funny you mention that! I was thinking of running my wires in the frame because I’m a gluten for punishment . Also, I know my OCD will get the better of me having wires exposed under the body ha ha ha.


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