Reversing Light improvement ?

Kenp

Kenp

Joined
Jul 1, 2016
Posts
212
Likes collected
464
Location
shropshire
Funster No
43,865
MH
Burstner T620g
Exp
since 1969
I find my reversing lights to be too dim and I have trouble seeing where the side of the van is.
Has anyone uprated the lighting by replacing the standard 21 watt filament bulb with an LED.
Could I put led spotlights below the cab doors under the skirt and pointing 45 degrees backward and outwards. For the latter I am sure I read of someone who had done this, either a Funster, or in an article in Practical Motorhome perhaps two or three years ago.
Can you help?
 
reverse.jpg

Bought these on Ebay and fitted 3 years ago. Much improved.
 
Kenp said:
I find my reversing lights to be too dim and I have trouble seeing where the side of the van is.
Has anyone uprated the lighting by replacing the standard 21 watt filament bulb with an LED.
Could I put led spotlights below the cab doors under the skirt and pointing 45 degrees backward and outwards. For the latter I am sure I read of someone who had done this, either a Funster, or in an article in Practical Motorhome perhaps two or three years ago.
Can you help?
Click to expand...

I don't like not having decent reversing lights on our van when reversing at night, so I rectified this with these 10 watt LED lights on each side from Amazon.
They are not your usual cheap tat and are mounted on an aluminium base.

Amazon product ASIN B087JFXP3B
1675445779500.png


1675445792502.png



1675445806267.png
 
Thank you Driventemple and Two on Tour, your advice was most welcome.
 
I’ve often thought that it would be wonderful to have some LED strips below the skirts each side too. Like others, probably, I put on the rear fogs and hazard blinkers when reversing in the pitch dark, and go very very slowly.

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I too fitted leds in my rear reversing lamps and yes much better.. but as you say to see where rear wheels are and side of van you need something on side.
Have seen some large mohos with fitted angled lights underneath cab door area..
Think some call them docking lights.👍
 
Two on Tour said:
I don't like not having decent reversing lights on our van when reversing at night, so I rectified this with these 10 watt LED lights on each side from Amazon.
They are not your usual cheap tat and are mounted on an aluminium base.

Amazon product ASIN B087JFXP3B
View attachment 713000

View attachment 713001


View attachment 713002
Click to expand...
They look the part. Did you just piggy-back them to the reversing light positive feed? I think it should be possible to fit one each side as well as on the rear.
 
ManTheVan said:
They look the part. Did you just piggy-back them to the reversing light positive feed? I think it should be possible to fit one each side as well as on the rear.
Click to expand...

Yes, just piggybacked onto both the reversing light neg and pos, but I also had to remove the bulb from the existing reversing light for the led strip lights to work.
 
Two on Tour said:
Yes, just piggybacked onto both the reversing light neg and pos, but I also had to remove the bulb from the existing reversing light for the led strip lights to work.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Is that because there’s not enough current otherwise?
 
ManTheVan said:
Thanks. Is that because there’s not enough current otherwise?
Click to expand...

I would think that is the case, as the led's did not light with the bulb in and did with the bulb out, so I left it at that without thinking too hard about it. :giggle:

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For night rallies my competition car had a front foglight mounted on the back bumper.
 
Different scenario but my night vision isn't what it used to be and I found it hard to see the verge with oncoming vehicles in my car.
Bought a pair of 72watt (not sure if that the pair or each) led spotlights and fitted them in the space for front fog lights pointing down and outwards.
The result was like a new pair of eyes.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075M22QGX/?tag=mhf04-21
 
Last edited:
This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
I am just about to pull the trigger on these.

Adding a double reversing camera and a pair of these to the back of my van.

 
This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
I like the ‘buy 35 and save 20%’ tag line…….!
 
This site contains affiliate links for which MHF may be compensated.
AndyPK said:
Which camera are you installing, Gromett ? :unsure:
Click to expand...
Not decided yet. Need one that points down at my tow bar and one for rear view. Well I don't need them, but they will make connecting up stuff to the tow bar much easier.

If you have a recommendation. I am all ears :)
 
I have replaced all my rear lights apart from the flashers with LEDs. An advantage of an older motorhome, no bulb failure indicators.
 
Two on Tour said:
I would think that is the case, as the led's did not light with the bulb in and did with the bulb out, so I left it at that without thinking too hard about it. :giggle:
Click to expand...
Wire the LEDs through a relay, power the relay through the original light wiring.
The relay draws milliamps to trigger and the can-bus won't see it.
I ran both 72watt LEDs through a 30a relay powered direct from dip beam wiring.

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Gromett said:
Not decided yet. Need one that points down at my tow bar and one for rear view. Well I don't need them, but they will make connecting up stuff to the tow bar much easier.

If you have a recommendation. I am all ears :)
Click to expand...
Not atm…..my current ‘van has a fixed rear-view camera, and I use a Garmin BC40 wireless camera for reversing…..
My next van, however…….?? :unsure:
 
pappajohn said:
Wire the LEDs through a relay, power the relay through the original light wiring.
The relay draws milliamps to trigger and the can-bus won't see it.
I ran both 72watt LEDs through a 30a relay powered direct from dip beam wiring.
Click to expand...

Just over completing things for reversing lights and on our van the reversing light is not on the canbus.
 
Two on Tour said:
Just over completing things for reversing lights and on our van the reversing light is not on the canbus.
Click to expand...
It was on my 2017 Ducato. Had to solder a resistor in parallel in order to avoid the error message.
 
Gromett said:
Not decided yet. Need one that points down at my tow bar and one for rear view. Well I don't need them, but they will make connecting up stuff to the tow bar much easier.

If you have a recommendation. I am all ears :)
Click to expand...
I bought ours from this guy. HD dual camera and rear-view mirror-mounted screen. Has been excellent so far. In the pitch black, I tend to turn off the screen, as the infra red tries to light up the world and can be v bright in the cab, but the screen still comes on automatically when you engage reverse. Top service as well.

Reversing cameras | rear view monitors - Reversing Cameras UK

High quality reversing cameras and rear view monitors from a UK specialist. We offer advice and lifetime support for our products. 2 year guarantee on premium kits.
www.reversingcamerasuk.com

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ManTheVan said:
I bought ours from this guy. HD dual camera and rear-view mirror-mounted screen. Has been excellent so far. In the pitch black, I tend to turn off the screen, as the infra red tries to light up the world and can be v bright in the cab, but the screen still comes on automatically when you engage reverse. Top service as well.

Reversing cameras | rear view monitors - Reversing Cameras UK

High quality reversing cameras and rear view monitors from a UK specialist. We offer advice and lifetime support for our products. 2 year guarantee on premium kits.
www.reversingcamerasuk.com
Click to expand...
Gromett I think it was this one https://www.reversingcamerasuk.com/...nitor-and-twin-lens-ahd-reversing-camera.html
 
Thank you all for your suggestions and advice.
As an interim measure I have ordered LED bulbs to replace the originals.
I still wish to illuminate the side/rear wheels and have looked at Docking Lamps as suggested by Poppycamper (lovely but expensive at £100 plus), so I will keep looking.
 
Im not a sparks so if I need a bit more light for reversing I use hazards .
 
But that’s what we’re trying to avoid - ‘hazards’…..!!!
(I’ll get me coat…..:imoutahere:)
 
pappajohn said:
Wire the LEDs through a relay, power the relay through the original light wiring.
The relay draws milliamps to trigger and the can-bus won't see it.
I ran both 72watt LEDs through a 30a relay powered direct from dip beam wiring.
Click to expand...
What language is that actually? It seems familiar........

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