Extra vertical brake/signal lights

[Big 417]

Ok,

Here's another project I want to do to our fuzion 417 after it surfaces from its snowy tomb. And curious if anyone has done it already

Our model has 4" round led brake/signal lights. They are located low in the rear Valance. Which is fine and no doubt meets all lighting requirements......but hey, there's always room for improvement.

With today's somewhat unfocused drivers, I thought it would be a good idea to add some of those 18" long vertical lights to the rear corners. My signal is to warn you I'm moving over, that's all we have to give folks the heads up.

Plus I find some drivers are just in awe of that beautiful behemoth of a toy hauler lol . Might not be looked low at the lights 😬

[rhagfo]

Sounds like a good plan!

[Ken / Claudia]

Taillights mounted at eye level for passenger vehicles is a good thing.

[Brentw]

Been thinking that myself. Haven't quite come up with a plan how to fish wire up the rear frame. Be interested if you get it figured, not really wanting a surface wire.

[Big 417]

Can't see it being that hard. Maybe lol. We'll see.

[ctbruce]

Can't see it being that hard. Maybe lol. We'll see.If I'd have said that it would be the kiss of death.

[flybouy]

^^^ YUP! Seems like every time I open my big mouth with a "this should take 15 mins." I'll find myself hundreds of curse words, busted knuckles, and hours later kicking myself.

[chuckster57]

Pull the current tail light out and see if there is a channel you can run wires. I would get a coat hanger, straitened it out and see if you could fish it UP before you cut any holes.

[Big 417]

Nothing a 16" drill can't fix. All kidding aside... I expect a 2"square tube of aluminum and a couple inches of ridgid insulation. I'm used to making money off people who think everything thing is impossible lol

[Brentw]

Yes there's always a way. The rear post appear to be steel, haven't looked under to see if there is a drain hole in it ( to fish down to tail lights).
Chuckster, the rear bumper is plate steel, rear lights are open to the outside on the backside, all wiring is accessible and open. Best case for me ,would be to drill into rear post and drop wires down, then connect to rear lights.
I expect that 417s is built the same.

[Big 417]

Yes there's always a way. The rear post appear to be steel, haven't looked under to see if there is a drain hole in it ( to fish down to tail lights).
Chuckster, the rear bumper is plate steel, rear lights are open to the outside on the backside, all wiring is accessible and open. Best case for me ,would be to drill into rear post and drop wires down, then connect to rear lights.
I expect that 417s is built the same.

Exactly what I was thinking. Be several more weeks before the snows gone around the trailer.

[Papa Don]

I had the same thoughts on " taillights at eye level " few years back on my Carbon 297 . There was small area tween the garage door and screen channel,installed with a some careful tape measure & drill bit work . Ive got some pics if I could only figure out how to post em ! :confused:

[Big 417]

I had the same thoughts on " taillights at eye level " few years back on my Carbon 297 . There was small area tween the garage door and screen channel,installed with a some careful tape measure & drill bit work . Ive got some pics if I could only figure out how to post em ! :confused:

Ah yes, why is it always so hard to post pictures in forums lol. The struggle is real. I had a peak underneath the other day. I think the steel corner post goes right to the bottom. Plus there's an service panel on each corner post for the zero gravity mechanism. So that might supply good access also. Not the highest job on the hunny do list. Not likely to be many long trips this summer.

[AbHDToyHauler]

I intend to do the exact same thing. Nice LED vertical strips . Will look better and be at a much better height for visibility.

[Brentw]

Well, Calgary is south of us, so you're up first.��
Anlternating mud and snow here, taking a side x side trip tomorrow, cook some weenies on a camp fire somewhere.

[86GT2r]

I am following this thread as a worthy upgrade for my Impact. Please continue to post progress updates.

[Brentw]

Well looked under mine today. Rear bumper is a channel iron, top of it is flush wth the interior floor. Corner posts are approx 2 x 3 inch tubing set on top of bumper, no holes or channels. Drilling from bottom thru bumper flange to access tubing would not be that pleasant.
More thinking required.

[Bob R]

When I did the PDI on my Raptor I had both rear lights replaced due to LEDs being bad. They unscrewed and the wires pulled through the hole in the steel. I am thinking it shouldn't be that difficult to put holes in the vertical steel along the rear door and feed the wire down to the existing hole where the wire is fed through for the low horizontal lights and tap in there. I will have to take a look at things today when I go out to the trailer.

bob

[Big 417]

I can't open my ramp till I pull the trailer out of its hibernation spot. And that won't be for quite some time lol. When I looked in guessing the bottom of the new light will be roughly 6" above the round one. So not a long way to fish wire. We'll see

[AbHDToyHauler]

Weather here has been off and on. Snow just refuses to quit being a pain. 90% melted then we get a bit more. I will try and get to RV and check out how mine is. I had to run a cable for my rearview camera all the way from the front to the back and then up to where it could look out behind my Fuzion 342. Wasn't easy but wasn't worst job ever. The wireless version of the camera never worked that well. The wired version works fantastic. I used to own an alarm company. The worst place ever was a firemans house. He had built it all of brick and had firestops inside every wall (firemen think about fire). I managed to fish all those wires in but took three times as long. I will let you folks know what I learn. Stay safe and healthy. :cool:

[Big 417]

Weather here has been off and on. Snow just refuses to quit being a pain. 90% melted then we get a bit more. I will try and get to RV and check out how mine is. I had to run a cable for my rearview camera all the way from the front to the back and then up to where it could look out behind my Fuzion 342. Wasn't easy but wasn't worst job ever. The wireless version of the camera never worked that well. The wired version works fantastic. I used to own an alarm company. The worst place ever was a firemans house. He had built it all of brick and had firestops inside every wall (firemen think about fire). I managed to fish all those wires in but took three times as long. I will let you folks know what I learn. Stay safe and healthy. :cool:


Yeah, we're 3 weeks behind here. At the end of the day it wouldn't be terrible to have 6" of wire in a sleek wire cover on the outside. Not nearly as pro, but worst case.

[Papa Don]

Still tryin to post pictures

[Big 417]

Still tryin to post pictures

There ya go.

[Papa Don]

4 days later.. shoe ! Used my IPhone...

[Big 417]

4 days later.. shoe ! Used my IPhone...

Pretty easy once you figure it out lol. Now if only we could figure out the sideways pictures ☹️

[AbHDToyHauler]

4 days later.. shoe ! Used my IPhone...

LOL . You got it done. That's what counts. That is pretty much exactly what i was thinking. Be nice if we could find 3 foot long or longer lights but looks way better then those to little round hockey pucks along bottom. Thanks for sharing

[midmo]

Sounds like a great addition! Was never happy with the current low taillights...just to much surface area for those small 4" circles to grab someones attention. I to am interested to see what can be done. Thanks