Rant..I mean really??

[Craigidyllwild]

So...I'm sure many of you know this odd thing. You know that LED pin light that's above the pin box? Did you know that there is only one way to turn it on and off? Did you know that that even turning the battery disconnect off will not turn off that little light? Did ya?

I found out after much consternation that the only way to address that light is with the remote control that allows you to open and close your slides. Took me 48 hours to figure that out...with the help of Google of course :banged:

Rant over....hope I can help just one person from this ordeal.

[notanlines]

Craig, I would think that if you drive the mountainous road from Banning to Idyllwild very often little things like this wouldn't upset you. We towed our Raptor up the first group of switchbacks a couple years ago and every vehicle that passed us was doing 50 or better. Coming down was way, way worse. :eek:

[JRTJH]

This has been a consistent "oh wow!" identified by new owners for at least the past 7 years. In fact, just yesterday, one member posted his frustration about those lights staying on "night and day" until he finally figured out that if you turn them on with the remote, the only way to turn them off is with the remote.

So, welcome to the "quirks of Keystone". I'm sure you'll find several other "quaint and questionable" facts about your trailer as you use it. Hopefully, the enjoyment will far outweigh the "rant level" frustrations.

[bobbecky]

On most rigs, the light above the pin box comes on with the door side scare light. The best way to avoid headaches with the use of the remote control, is don't use it. I used our remote a couple times after we got the rig, and quickly decided it was more of a hassle between the battery going dead rapidly and it not being reliable. Plus, when the system goes bad, you have a major project to get everything working again.

[gearhead]

I think I have a remote. I never used it. I think I have a LED hitch light. I never used it.
:)

[Craigidyllwild]

I get up there almost every week end....not with the 5ver though...I'm used to the roads now. You'd better use the turn outs or you'll get run over. I keep the 5ver off the hill...not dragging it up the hill unless necessary.

Since that is the only way to turn the light on....I will use it if need be. Need be is not going to be that often.

Thanks all for the replies...

[Pull Toy]

Sure glad my 2013 doesn't have any remotes (Except the TVs and Fire Places, of course)!

Seems like the "Master" remote idea is more trouble than it's worth.

Sorry,

[Canonman]

So...I'm sure many of you know this odd thing. You know that LED pin light that's above the pin box? Did you know that there is only one way to turn it on and off? Did you know that that even turning the battery disconnect off will not turn off that little light? Did ya?

I found out after much consternation that the only way to address that light is with the remote control that allows you to open and close your slides. Took me 48 hours to figure that out...with the help of Google of course :banged:

Rant over....hope I can help just one person from this ordeal.

It's true that if you use the remote to turn the light on you must use the remote to turn it off. The system isn't set up for "three way" switch wiring. We rewired the remote to turn on the awning lights instead. Nice to have a light on over the door when we arrive home after dark. Yes, we still need to turn them off with the remote. We find using the remote convenient when extending the slides to make sure we're not running into any clearance problems as well as turning on the lights as we pull up to the 5er.

[SkiSmuggs]

I had an instance when packing up to leave a campground, the slides would not come in when using the rocker switches. Called the dealer and they said to use the remote. Tried the remote and the battery was too low to operate. Went to Radio Shack and got new battery. Slides came in. Planned on a new circuit board, but hit the rocker switch at home and everything worked and still works 3 years later. We think something may have been placed on top of the remote in the drawer and tricked the circuit board into thinking the remote was needed. Best solution? Leave the battery out of the remote.

[larry337]

Its true if you use the remote to turn on the light you must turn it off with the the remote however mine does also have an outside switch on the front of the fiver that works as well.

[John&Genny]

It took me a couple of days to find the pin box light switch for our Avalanche 320RS, inside the box for the batteries/hydraulics. They couldn't put it in the control panel with all the other light switches? Nooooooo :)

[Dave W]

Now ya got me wondering. Not sure I can recall seeing that totally useless light ever turn on except via the scare light switch. So off I go to see what works it ( or doesn't ). I did find out that if the remote turns on the scare light, it needs to turn it off and that the panel switch wont.

[cardinal96ss]

An LED light on the pin box? Really?

[canesfan]

An LED light on the pin box? Really?

I believe it is "above" the pin box, in order to "maybe" aid in hooking up in the dark. I have one too, has its own separate switch on the front skirt next to the genny. No idiotic remote, thank you.

[Craigidyllwild]

It's a good idea....helps in hooking up and stops some head banging in the dark....but the remote is just silly. A simple switch would have been smart.

[WaltBennett]

Ours has NO switch for that light and it must be turned on and off by the remote. While I use the remote almost all the time, I never use the light since it doesn't light anything worthwhile. The bed light on my truck works much better to show what's going on with lining up to my hitch.

[Javi]

I think I'm going to see if I can wire my awning lights to that switch on the remote.. My awning lights are wired to the porch and step light... rather have them independent..

[Pmedic4]

I think I have a remote. I never used it. I think I have a LED hitch light. I never used it.
:)

Discovered the same thing with the lights and remote.

Used mine, it was OK, wasn't necessarily important and switched back and forth between using it and the mounted switches. Ended up stupidly leaving the remote on the back bumper of the truck, ran over it, and figured no big deal switches work fine.

Then looking, found a new remote on ebay for $25, so I figured it was worth getting. Got it configured, and started using it again, and found the slides, landing gear and rear jacks move faster with the remote. Now, I'm a full time remote user. Go with what's fastest and easiest. :facepalm:

[NorskeBob]

Ours has a light switch in the battery compartment

[Ken / Claudia]

I do not have that light but, I did have a great salesman. He explained about the remote and if you use the remote on a item to open it or turn it on, you must the remote to turn it off.

[CaptnJohn]

I do not have that light but, I did have a great salesman. He explained about the remote and if you use the remote on a item to open it or turn it on, you must the remote to turn it off.

For that very reason make sure you charge it once in a while, especially if staying in 1 place a while.

[Stircrazy]

We rewired the remote to turn on the awning lights instead. Nice to have a light on over the door when we arrive home after dark.

How hard was this and how did you do it. I just had the dealer fix mine, they couldn't figure out how to get it to work so they cut the wires from the remote and I could only turn on the pin light with the switch so I made them fix it. but the awning lights would be handy on the remote instead of the pin light.

Steve

[Stircrazy]

I do not have that light but, I did have a great salesman. He explained about the remote and if you use the remote on a item to open it or turn it on, you must the remote to turn it off.

only for that one light. I open my slides with the remote so I can make sure they are not going to hit something, but I close them at the control panel. it seams it is just that one light that needs to be done both ways with the remote or the switch.

Steve

[theasphaltrv'er]

Remote....what's a remote...we have no stinking remote...lol .... but there is a switch for the pin light next to the switch to raise & lower the landing gear.

[AlBeatty]

Hi group,
I ran into the same problem and discovered the remote had a "lit icon" on the remote that said "light." I found that turned off that darned pin light. Is there no way to access a real switch to turn off the light on my 2017 Cougar 28SGS? Anyway, thanks for listening. Take care & ...
Tight Lines - AB

[Craigidyllwild]

My 2015313RLI has a light underneath the cap that turns it on and off....however....if you use the remote to turn it on....you can only use the remote to turn it off...and I have discovered that when you are using the other functions of the remote, it is very ease to accidentally engage it..then you can only turn it off with the remote.

[AlBeatty]

Thanks for the tip. I'l try to find it.

[Desert185]

My 2015313RLI has a light underneath the cap that turns it on and off....however....if you use the remote to turn it on....you can only use the remote to turn it off...and I have discovered that when you are using the other functions of the remote, it is very ease to accidentally engage it..then you can only turn it off with the remote.

Another engineering design from an engineer with too much college and not enough high school. :banghead:

[AlBeatty]

My 2015313RLI has a light underneath the cap that turns it on and off....however....if you use the remote to turn it on....you can only use the remote to turn it off...and I have discovered that when you are using the other functions of the remote, it is very ease to accidentally engage it..then you can only turn it off with the remote.

Hi group,
Based on this quote I checked every switch on the Cougar 28SGS (2017) and found a light with a switch/light next to it on the driver's side of the hitch cap. What's interesting is the switch next to the "cap light" doesn't turn that light off and on. It turns off and on the "pin light" IF that light was not first turned on by the remote control. What's funny is the switch that turns on the "cap light" is a little toggle switch on the bottom side of the light fixture (difficult to see). I originally (mistake) thought the switch operated the "cap light" but it only operates the "pin light." Interesting and thanks to Craigidyllwild for pointing me in the right direction. Take care & ...
Tight Lines - AB:)

[Alpine]

I'm getting remote envy, after ready this thread! :D

[Craigidyllwild]

Your welcome....it truly is a very odd set up...I owned the 5ver for a month before I discovered how both those lights work...