High Center Brake Light??

[OldNavyinCA]

Right after I bought my '09 Passport I installed a "High Center Brake Light " on the rear panel. (yeah... I'm paranoid)

Anyone else done this?

Anyone interested in how I went about it?

Just let me know and I'll put together a write-up.

[jsmith948]

Have not done this, but am certainly thinking about it. Actually thinking about replacing stop lights with LED and adding one or two up high.
Any pics or descriptions would be great.
BTW - is that a whale (A-3) in the picture?

[OldNavyinCA]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

Have not done this, but am certainly thinking about it. Actually thinking about replacing stop lights with LED and adding one or two up high.
Any pics or descriptions would be great.
BTW - is that a whale (A-3) in the picture?

I like the LED idea, a lot! I actually put them on the rack I installed on the back of the rig that holds my generator.

I'll put together the way I went about mounting & wiring the High Center light as soon as I can. (gettin' ready for an in-law visit this week-end).

And, yup... that's a whale alright! Did avionics maint. and occasionally flew the BN seat when I was stationed at Alameda back in the mid '70s. Traps were a hoot!! Mostly referred to as "controlled crashes". LOL

[allentx1]

I'd be interested in both the LED and the extra brake lights. Seems like we could remove the rectangular bargman assembly and drill out the hole to accomodate the LED (round) assemby. I'm going to assume they wire right up, not sure. Also, really interested in how you got the wiring up to that location.

[OldNavyinCA]

[QUOTE=allentx1;33941 Also, really interested in how you got the wiring up to that location.[/QUOTE]

I was lucky in that the edge of the top bunk in my 280BH lands dead center on the back wall at a convenient height. I just ran the wiring across the inside of the mattress pan, down the back corner. through the floor and into my rear storage which gave me access to the back of the left rear light assembly. I wired in an isolater out of a hitch receiver brake light to keep the new light from flashing with the turn signals. I fashioned a shade out of some scrap plastic I had laying around and installed it above the new light to make it more visible in bright daylight. Works like a champ!

[cumminsdad08]

i have seen this and think it is a great idea. i spend a lot of time on the interstates and often i can't see the lights on trailers infront of me, when another car is directly infront of me. makes it kinda hard to "plan" ahead while driving. i wanted to persue this idea my self, but never had the time to.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

Before I'd change any lighting arrangments that are on you RV
Please remember that there ARE rules and regulations as to how and where the lights are placed... Please read the following, it may save you a ticket and an impound fee.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/stan.../trlrpstr.html


hankaye

[Justvisiting2day]

Hankaye:
those are for commercial rigs,,,I am quite sure. Course I won't double check either.
Put them up folks. If they allow those dang blue lights then do what you want.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Justvisiting2day

Hankaye:
those are for commercial rigs,,,I am quite sure. Course I won't double check either.
Put them up folks. If they allow those dang blue lights then do what you want.

Hey there. If by "them dang blue lights" you mean the cheap HID headlights or the Sylvania "super brights" Around here, there's a big push by the cops to write tickets for anyone who has lights that don't meet "somebody's" interpretation of the headlight rule. I've seen a big decrease in the blue lights that blind everyone around this area. All I can say is, "thanks Mr. Sheriff" I appreciate your persistence with those who think it's cool (KEWL)

I changed my tail lights to LED with a MAJOR improvement in visibility, but as for adding additional tail lights/stop lights, I don't want to be the "test case" to defend myself in a court somewhere in "podunk city" in a justice of the peace courtroom on Saturday morning. I'd rather meet the standard and keep driving through that little town without attracting any attention

[hankaye]

Justvisiting2day, Howdy;

Originally Posted by ;34088

Hankaye:
those are for commercial rigs,,,I am quite sure. Course I won't double check either.
Put them up folks. If they allow those dang blue lights then do what you want.

Just trying to keep the 'One bullett Barneys' out of your wallet
Scroll down to the pictures if the words are confusing .... utitity, boat, horse and various other types of trailers are shown..... These rules apply to ALL trailers, it's how they can be ID'd at night...

I do know that pictures help...

hankaye

[SteveC7010]

I don't see any restriction regarding adding an extra set of S/T/T lights up higher above the existing ones. They are very common on many full size commercial vehicles that I have seen and appear to be installed at the time of construction of the vehicle.

I also didn't see any restrictions on adding a CHMSL either.

I would be interested to know why RV's are not required to have the conspicuity treatment taps on them.

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by allentx1

I'd be interested in both the LED and the extra brake lights. Seems like we could remove the rectangular bargman assembly and drill out the hole to accomodate the LED (round) assemby. I'm going to assume they wire right up, not sure. Also, really interested in how you got the wiring up to that location.

No need to drill a 4" hole for the recessed flange mount LED's like you see on tractor trailers. The Bargman 07 series will fit in place of the existing 92 Series fixtures. Several folks here have already reported installing them with great success.

I like the 84/85 ones myself, but that's just personal preference.

All S/T/T wiring is pretty much the same on RV's new and old. They're still wiring them up like they have for many years.

Wiring the CHMSL is a little tougher because you have to find or make a stop light only voltage that doesn't flash, but it is doable.

Routing wiring on the rear of most Keystones is pretty easy because the skin is not fastened down except at the edges and where anything is installed like a ladder or window. If you have an existing hole like the one for the S/T/T's, it's pretty easy to use an electrician's snake and place wires where ever you need them.