New reverse light solution with pics

Cross posted for expanded distribution


I like to see where I am going, especially at night. Its an understatement to say the factory reverse lights leave alot to be desired. I wanted more light, but I prefer subtle looking. I didn't want to hack holes into my bumper, I can't stand lights that hang down from the bumper, I certainly didn't want to drill holes in the roof for high mounts. So my fruitless search ledme to design my own.

My 2012 EL Limited happened to have fitted rear mudflaps when I purchased it. They are made from a rather thick plastic and are relatively rigid. I also have a couple of very cheap surface mount LED lights from Amazon in the garage.

https://www.amazon.com/KAWELL®-10-3...1480860523&sr=8-17&keywords=kawell+led+lights

So I says to myself "Self, why can't I slap those little flood lights onto the Mudflaps? It will be subtle, easy, no harm to the truck if I screw it up, and provide light where I want it." So I removed the mudflaps, took some measurements and layed out the lights. They have a decent grommet in the rear of the aluminum housing with about 8" of wiring. I used some marine grade shrink tubing to reinforce the wires and provide better resistance to water and debris. I wasn't satisfied with the small mounting hardware, so I broke out the 5/16 tap to match a couple stainless bolts and washers I had laying around. I just tapped the mounting holes already in the housing. I drilled a 7/16 hole that was quite snug on the wire, then a couple 3/8 holes to mount through. Ran the bolts from the tire side and snugged the light up with a touch of loctite. Wiring was simple, ran extensions over to the trailer wiring plug. The center wire provides reverse light power. I ran back in the harness and made a simple junction with a waterproof shrinktube butt connector in case i have to change them later. Drilled and tapped a hole in the trailer wiring plug bracket for the ground.

All in all, took about an hour. They provide excellent light where I need it to backup. I'm pretty satisfied with them.

Night time pics









Last pic is stock reverse lights with no mudflap lights

Cool, I took the easy way out and installed LED lights in the stock taillight housing for both the backups and tail/turn/brake lights.

rexster314 said:

Cool, I took the easy way out and installed LED lights in the stock taillight housing for both the backups and tail/turn/brake lights.

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I tried that and was still unimpressed with the illumination. The other issue with high mounted reverse lights that are extremely bright is if you are backing up with a trailer using your mirrors the glare off of the trailer can be blinding. Thats why I wanted to go as low mounted as possible.

I don't have the mud flaps but nice job, it turned out well.

I'm going a bit more invasive and installing a set like these into my rear hatch which will definitely involve cutting into the door.

Nice idea. Those are very bright and could be had from Walmart, Advanced Auto etc.
I'm gonna put mine on either end of the reciever hitch.
There are holes at each end of a frame piece under
the hitch that I currently have anchor shackles through
for tiedowns. Angle brackets will go there for the lights
and I will use an extra hitch plug that I previously wired
in for the backup power like you did. Thanks for the
writeup.
Stephen

CertusExpo said:

I don't have the mud flaps but nice job, it turned out well.

I'm going a bit more invasive and installing a set like these into my rear hatch which will definitely involve cutting into the door.

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Thats what I plan on doing to the wife's Exploder. I did similiar on my old Dodge pickup, but wasn't worried about aesthetics with that old hunk of iron. My brother is about the add those lights into the bumper of his 04 Cummins for plowing.

cool,never even give that a thought to add lights on mud flaps.i plan to get one of these and add led bulbs in back up housing

whitelightning99 said:

i plan to get one of these

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Whitelightening99, could you link that LED bar please?