Fitting Side Marker Lights

[DaveFromBarrow]

As a newbie, one thing I noticed while away last year was when driving down tight roads at night not being able to see the sides of the motorhome was a pain. So I'm thinking of fitting some of these <Broken link removed>. Good plan?

I assume I'll be able to take some power from the rear lights.

Has anyone done this and have any tips?

cheers

d

 

[Jonny1953]

These are side marker lights and will not light up the side of the road for you.

Your van should already have these fitted if it is over 6m in length.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

www.legislation.gov.uk

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

OK thanks. Well, it is over 6m and it hasn't got them. I assumed they would give off just enough light to make the van sides visible so I know where they are. I found myself dabbing my brakes to give myself some guidance when on very dark roads.

d

 

[Speve]

You will already have them on your van I suppose you could add extra and connect them to the existing ones?

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

It doesn't have them. Here's a similar, slightly older, version of our van and as you can see, it doesn't have them.

Broken Link Removed

d

 

[Jonny1953]

It doesn't have them. Here's a similar, slightly older, version of our van and as you can see, it doesn't have them.

Broken Link Removed

d

The images show a side marker above the rear wheel arch

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

Nope, that's the external gas point on one side and the external shower on the other. The early Apache 634's have not got these lights. Later ones have like the one below.

Broken Link Removed

This last one is identical to ours and as you can see, no side marker lights.

Broken Link Removed

d

 

[pappajohn]

OW MUCH!!!!

£30 For just two lights.

I doubt very much you will notice any difference to what you can see of the kerb.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

OK thanks. Well, it is over 6m and it hasn't got them. I assumed they would give off just enough light to make the van sides visible so I know where they are. I found myself dabbing my brakes to give myself some guidance when on very dark roads.

d

There are specific distances from the front of the van and between lights.
You need to look up lighting regs for the distances.

 

[Jonny1953]

There are specific distances from the front of the van and between lights.
You need to look up lighting regs for the distances.

I posted a link to the regs in post #2

 

[Garfields]

Due to the cambus system it's not that simple
If you connect them to the rear lights the system will pick up the different resistance and likely show a fault
I'm sure there is a way to do it just not the simple task it would have been in the past
Our van has the marker lights and while I am aware of them in the mirrors I can't think they cast any significant light
A bit like reversing in the dark with just the standard tail lights ?

 

[donkey]

For whatever reason the OP's vehicle does not require side marker lamps to be fitted. It may be because of the way it was whole vehicle type approved or age of manufacture.
However, if he wishes to fit side marker lamps, he does not need to adhere to measurements etc. He can fit as many of as few as he wishes. The only requirement for 'optional' side marker lamps is that they must be amber in colour.

Geoff

 

[Grummyb]

What are you hoping to achieve by fitting the lights? they wont light the side of the road and if your in gnd position that your mirrors are whacking the verge or wall or whatever is kn the side of the road you probably shouldn't be on that bit of road and if there not hitting anything then the road is wider than your van and if I was on a road that is that tight and so dark I cant see anything behind me I would be concentrating on where I'm going not where I've been

 

[DaveFromBarrow]

I simply want my mirrors to give me information that helps me drive safer. I find it unsettling when I look in my mirrors and can’t see my vehicle

 

[Googlebot]

Hi Dave,

I drive vans all the time with side marker lights and honestly, unless it is slow manoeuvring down a tricky road in the dark, they are useless.

That said, every little helps so if you can find a way cheap enough then I don’t blame you.