Which cab lights

[cdyt7717]

So I want to install cab lights on my truck. I am having trouble choosing which lights. it's between the stock Amber lights and the clear lights with Amber LEDs. Which do you guys think would look better? I don't have many pics of the truck, so I found a similar truck on Google. It's a 2007 1500 slt inferno red, with the thunder road package.

 

[Core-Lokt]

When I did it, I chose the amber lenses simply because it was correct for the year. Something else to consider is if you have mirrors with auxiliary turn signals. I would match the clearance light lenses to that.

 

[chedched]

I went clear with amber LED from Recon. The housings have turned a bit yellow which I'm not too happy with. I have a flame red truck and I think the amber housing looks like crap. I wanted to put smoked lenses on it but I had no intention of installing smoked headlamp/tail lamps.

 

[justin13703]

I'm not trying to be an ass here it's a legitimate question lol, but what is the point of cab lights on anything other than a semi?

 

[Padilen]

It's for alerting others of a wider vehicle. Examples : a plow on front, or trailer or dually.

 

[justin13703]

It's for alerting others of a wider vehicle. Examples : a plow on front, or trailer or dually.

Yeah but if they're going on the roof, your headlights are wider apart than cab lights

 

[Ixxblitzxx]

I think cab lights look good. Love the way they look on my fathers 2500.

 

[chedched]

I always liked the way they looked, ever since I was a kid...

 

[Core-Lokt]

Justin, that's a good question. I am sure there is a valid reason that probably has roots in commercial use-and that's why you only see them offered on 3/4 ton+ trucks.

But you mentioned other than on a semi, what is their use. And then mentioned that the headlights on a pickup are wider apart than the headlights, negating their use for indicating width. That is also true for conventional-cab semi trucks, because their fenders are wider than the cab. The only ones that would be applicable to are cabovers. And nobody really sells a cabover in the USA anymore. Only Freightliner offers one, and it's only a glider-they don't sell a complete truck. I'm not sure why even a conventional-cab semi needs them since most seem to have stacks well above the cab.

 

[Padilen]

Yeah but if they're going on the roof, your headlights are wider apart than cab lights

Clearance is for width and height has nothing to do with headlights. It's for opposing traffic and those on a trailer are a reminder your load is taller.

 

[justin13703]

Justin, that's a good question. I am sure there is a valid reason that probably has roots in commercial use-and that's why you only see them offered on 3/4 ton+ trucks.

But you mentioned other than on a semi, what is their use. And then mentioned that the headlights on a pickup are wider apart than the headlights, negating their use for indicating width. That is also true for conventional-cab semi trucks, because their fenders are wider than the cab. The only ones that would be applicable to are cabovers. And nobody really sells a cabover in the USA anymore. Only Freightliner offers one, and it's only a glider-they don't sell a complete truck. I'm not sure why even a conventional-cab semi needs them since most seem to have stacks well above the cab.

Yeah I was even wondering to myself what they were even on most semis for lol. So I guess basically when it comes down to it it's pretty much a looks thing. Actually, a friend of mine has them on his 2500 and I asked him today, what are those things for? His exact words were "Nothing. They just look cool." Lol

 

[justin13703]

Clearance is for width and height has nothing to do with headlights. It's for opposing traffic and those on a trailer are a reminder your load is taller.

Man you got me confused lol. We're not talking about lights on a trailer or a plow or on dually fenders. I know that all those are to indicate width. We're talking about the ones that go on the roof right above the windshield.

 

[Padilen]

I'm trying to explain why they are there. As I already stated they are for example - a plow wider than the vehicle, a dually or a load wider and/or taller than the vehicle. They are on the cab to allow oncoming traffic to be aware.
They are called cab "clearance" light so that you as a driver and others are aware of the added clearance - Room- that may be required.

 

[Core-Lokt]

I did a little searching on the matter, but it doesn't seem like there's much on the history of clearance lights. But in a trucking forum, I did come incidentally to something that supports Padilen's post.

It seems there is an old clearance light setup called "Michigan Triple", or something to that effect. The three center lights were green and the outers amber. From what I gather, the green color might've been a Michigan-only rule and were turned off in other states. Truckers with Michigan Triples flashed them to signal other truckers when scales were open.

Anyway, the trucking forum topic incidentally mentioned the three middle lights were to indicate 80"+ width. Yeah, there is a disconnect between why a width indicator seems to denote height, but I think that is human fuzzy logic morphed into urban legend. But I still have to think there is some arcane DOT rule that compels manufacturers to offer (but not mandate) them on 3/4-ton+ pickups.

You have to wonder what good a code of cab clearance lights denoting width was when the average person wouldn't have known.

 

[Padilen]

I'm an average person but I'm over 50. So there's that.