has anyone added more lights to an older trailer? (15A) - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-17-2019, 02:00 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 17B "Voyager"
Posts: 2,657
has anyone added more lights to an older trailer? (15A)

After hanging out a bit in Mimie's new 17b I realize my 15A is lacking in lighting. In particular, there are no overhead lights. All the lights are under the cabinets or shelves- on on each end of the front one under the kitchen cabinet, one on the back and each side of the back. Nothing above the bottom of the cabinet doors, nothing between the door and the back bed/dinette area (microwave cabinet over wardrobe is there.)

So I want to add some lighting higher up. Options would be the ceiling (stick on? maybe with velcro so they wouldn't travel stuck on?) or the tops of the cabinets. Has anyone added anything to the ceiling or above the cabinets? (Narrow strip there so not a lot of room). I'd probably do battery operated LEDs as I'm not into wiring things.
Bobbie54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 03:41 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
I added a battery powered lantern above the front dinette for playing cards. The OEM lights cast your shadow on the table.

On this lantern you can remove the globe and hang it or sit it on the table with the globe installed. Supposed to run 30 continuous days on low. I'm still on first set of batteries.
This also my mod. I drilled a hole for the eye screw.


I bring it into the house when the trailer is not in use. Part of our earthquake kit.
Attached Thumbnails
LED lamp.jpg   LED lamp 2.png  
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 06:38 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 17B "Voyager"
Posts: 2,657
That is a good idea. I have a set of four small ones I got in case I have to park in the dark. That would help with light at the front end. Not in the middle, though, not sure where I could hang one.
Bobbie54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 06:41 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,203
Bea’s table light is a great idea . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 06:51 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
It is possible to retro-fit a light in a new location.

Both Jim B. and I retro-fitted lights over the dinette in our 19s.

Note my favorite coffee close at hand.

Ron
Attached Thumbnails
11-11-2014 4-26-08 PM3_resize.JPG   12-11-2014 3-04-20 PM1_resize.jpg   12-11-2014 3-24-26 PM3_resize.jpg  
Ron in BC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 07:51 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,203
And it is Led . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 07:53 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 17B "Voyager"
Posts: 2,657
Mine doesn't have any lights overhead so no wiring up there (and probably nothing to attach one to.) But the dinette is not the problem, it is the middle of the trailer which is darkest. I may just install some battery operated cabinet lights as I often leave the doors open anyway.
Bobbie54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 07:57 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,203
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
Mine doesn't have any lights overhead so no wiring up there (and probably nothing to attach one to.) But the dinette is not the problem, it is the middle of the trailer which is darkest. I may just install some battery operated cabinet lights as I often leave the doors open anyway.
Bobbie , Bea’s worked off a usb . Pretty easy to change plug to accept usb . I changed ours to accept usb . I wish Bea would jump in here . I can’t remember where it was posted . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 07:58 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
Mine doesn't have any lights overhead so no wiring up there

No Maxxfan?
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 08:05 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,203
Lagun table buddy

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patandlinda View Post
Bobbie , Bea’s worked off a usb . Pretty easy to change plug to accept usb . I changed ours to accept usb . I wish Bea would jump in here . I can’t remember where it was posted . Pat
Bea’s thread is Lagun table buddy . Someone asked about her table lamp , info there . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 08:06 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 17B "Voyager"
Posts: 2,657
It's there, not sure I'd be willing to mess with its wiring.
Bobbie54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 08:11 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
It's there, not sure I'd be willing to mess with its wiring.

Don't blame you. That's why all my extra lighting is battery LED.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 08:18 PM   #13
Bea
Senior Member
 
Bea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Northern California, California
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21
Posts: 759
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patandlinda View Post
Bobbie , Bea’s worked off a usb . Pretty easy to change plug to accept usb . I changed ours to accept usb . I wish Bea would jump in here . I can’t remember where it was posted . Pat


Hi Bobbie and Pat,

We built up this lamp using this gadget from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Volt-Light-Bu...s%2C226&sr=8-4

This allowed us to convert a regular 110VAC lamp to use a 12v LED bulb and run the off a USB outlet under the dinette. It provides a nice, soft light and does not require hookups. (We credit Jim (cpaharley2008) for giving us the idea of using a small table lamp - thanks Jim!)

Here's a picture of the lamp.

As for the thing the lamp is sitting on - see this thread http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ddy-16713.html

- The Bea Team
Attached Thumbnails
side r.jpg  
Bea is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 08:46 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Whidbey Island, Washington
Trailer: 2020 Escape 17B "Voyager"
Posts: 2,657
The table lamp is nice but I'm looking for upper area lighting. All the current lights are over the two dinette/bed areas, nothing in the middle except the range hood (which isn't LED).
Bobbie54 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 09:51 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
gbaglo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
Where exactly do you want to place the light and to illuminate what? I've been inside a 15 that had the kitchen at the front. Other than that, I don't remember much.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
gbaglo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 09:54 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
Trailer: 2008 Escape 17B
Posts: 226
I added strip LED lighting to my 17B. Just tied into the existing 12v wiring and added a separate dimmer switch. Quite easy to do. Added strips at both ends, also replaced all of the incandescent bulbs with warm LED bulbs. I think Home Depot sells them.
Buddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 10:03 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Ron in BC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,728
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
Mine doesn't have any lights overhead so no wiring up there (and probably nothing to attach one to.) But the dinette is not the problem, it is the middle of the trailer which is darkest. I may just install some battery operated cabinet lights as I often leave the doors open anyway.
There wasn't any wiring there. The power source comes from the fan about 4' away. It's possible to carefully push a stiff wire along about the ceiling vinyl and pull the wires over.

There wasn't anything there to attach to. I epoxied a piece of 1/2" plywood in the cutout and the fixture is screwed to it.

Ron
Ron in BC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 11:31 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,203
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bea View Post
Hi Bobbie and Pat,

We built up this lamp using this gadget from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Volt-Light-Bu...s%2C226&sr=8-4

This allowed us to convert a regular 110VAC lamp to use a 12v LED bulb and run the off a USB outlet under the dinette. It provides a nice, soft light and does not require hookups. (We credit Jim (cpaharley2008) for giving us the idea of using a small table lamp - thanks Jim!)

Here's a picture of the lamp.

As for the thing the lamp is sitting on - see this thread http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ddy-16713.html

- The Bea Team
Hi Bea thanks for chiming in . I think very nice idea . Also anywhere there is a electrical plug could add the usb connector . Maybe a counter etc. I believe Escape has been adding to their trailers now for years . You want the 12 volt ones .Lots of ways to even add many places in trailer . Thankyou again for your idea ! Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-17-2019, 11:40 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Patandlinda's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Ventura County, California
Trailer: 2013 19 Escape
Posts: 7,203
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobbie54 View Post
The table lamp is nice but I'm looking for upper area lighting. All the current lights are over the two dinette/bed areas, nothing in the middle except the range hood (which isn't LED).
Bobby adding the lights that some have done , I don’t blame you for not wanting to take that on . Another suggestion being where you live , what about going to the factory and let them add your lights for you ? Just a suggestion . Pat
Patandlinda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-18-2019, 05:36 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
Doug2000's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: London, Ontario
Trailer: 2020 Escape 19
Posts: 1,117
We had a 2007 17B. The previous owner installed a led tape strip light under the cabinets at the back of the trailer. I took it out and installed it under the awning outside. I think that is what they originally bought it for but they didn't follow through. The previous owner also removed all the light bulbs and replaced them with poor LED bulbs. They weren't very bright at all. Often we used a LED lantern to supplement light.

What I was planning was to purchase a 12' led strip light and install from the front towards the back down the center of the trailer, offset to one side to avoid the MaxFan. That way it would provide lots of light and eliminate a lot of shadows. It would be cool to to change the colors too. The light strip would go an with the 2 sided tape it came with and the wiring could of been concealed in the bulkhead cabinet and or tray above the front window .

But we ordered a new trailer, so new mods on the mind.
__________________
Had 2 Escapes, 17b, 19, went back to a pop up that fit in the garage. 2018 Coachman Clipper RBST HW AFrame
Doug2000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:53 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.