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10-02-2013, 08:31 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Backup lights
We were a little surprised to realize that backup lights aren't standard. I think some have added this -- We're trying to figure out if it's necessary, because it seems like a big deal to do. Our Airstream had backup lights.
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10-02-2013, 09:07 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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I have never had them on any trailer, nor felt the need for them. The times I have had to reverse in the dark, with no other light, I can't recall there being an issue. I got it done with very little problem.
I guess there would be no harm in having them though, but it seems we can get carried away with adding lots of unnecessary items.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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10-02-2013, 09:14 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
I have never had them on any trailer, nor felt the need for them. The times I have had to reverse in the dark, with no other light, I can't recall there being an issue. I got it done with very little problem.
I guess there would be no harm in having them though, but it seems we can get carried away with adding lots of unnecessary items.
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I agree with Jim that they are not needed. Probably would be of more value to the spotter than to the driver, but I find that the taillights are usually sufficient to see by. If not, a flashlight is simple for the spotter to use. There are many other options that I would have Reace add before I asked him to add backup lights.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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10-02-2013, 06:48 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21--FOR SALE
Posts: 411
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Ice-breaker, if you don't mind, what are a couple of the options would you ask Reace to add before b/u lights?
__________________
Brent and Cheryl.
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10-02-2013, 07:29 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,023
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Humm. I always thought backup lights were to warn someone... I'M BACKING UP look out! Like in parking lots, etc. As a single traveler, they wouldn't help me to back into a site. GOAL. But, if they're important to you it would be worth asking Reace about....
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10-02-2013, 09:37 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Battle Ground, Washington
Trailer: 2001 Bigfoot 21RB/ 73Boler/Trillium 5500
Posts: 178
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If your trailer is 21ft and your TV 20ft you could not see any backup lights. Maybe a back-up camera would be more helpful. I use the porch light and the service light on the driver side for lighting up both sides of the trailer. The wife is the spotter.
Chuck
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10-02-2013, 09:54 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2009 Escape 17B 2020 Toyota Highlander XLE
Posts: 17,136
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I knew there must be a reason I got married.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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10-02-2013, 09:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 2013 19' & 2013 15B
Posts: 2,634
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Catchlight
Ice-breaker, if you don't mind, what are a couple of the options would you ask Reace to add before b/u lights?
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Lots of choices. The options we chose are listed here. http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f4...here-2190.html
I would pick any of the options we got over backup lights.
__________________
2013 19' \ 2013 15B, 2020 Toyota 4Runner TRD Offroad
"It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it." - 1907, Maurice Switzer
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10-03-2013, 01:10 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruthe
We were a little surprised to realize that backup lights aren't standard.
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Most RV trailer electrical connections do not include the backup light circuit; most trailers don't have backup lights.
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10-03-2013, 01:19 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Burlington, Ontario
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 193
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Most RV trailer electrical connections do not include the backup light circuit; most trailers don't have backup lights.
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... mmm well the automotive 7 wire connector and cable does support back up lights.. For whatever reason the rv industry chooses not to implement them on trailers.
__________________
Robert
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10-03-2013, 06:01 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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The trailer plug on my Toyota Tundra is wired for backup lights and my Casita had them. We are adding manually switched rear lights - for backing at night and for general lighting/security.
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10-03-2013, 08:00 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,532
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamman
We are adding manually switched rear lights - for backing at night and for general lighting/security.
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We have a porch light on all four sides. If I was to do it again, I would eliminate the driver side and rear one. In five seasons now, we might have used them twice. The one on the front is handy for hitch/propane work in the dark though.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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10-03-2013, 09:24 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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I googled a little bit and found out that a lot of trailers -- maybe most -- don't have backup lights. Now we're not even sure if the Airstream really did have them. What we were thinking about is that the backup lights would alert someone -- if we were in a tight spot outside of a campground, which has happened -- that we were backup up. Of course usually I'm right behind the trailer yelling directions so that would alert just about the whole world -- And it does seem like it would be complicated to do -- but I did see on the Forum that someone had put backup halogen lights and that got me thinking.
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10-03-2013, 09:46 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I put on my flashers if I'm backing up to warn others behind me...The back of the trailer lights up like a Xmas tree with all the LEDs!!
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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10-03-2013, 10:29 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Trailer: 2012 15A
Posts: 398
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
I put on my flashers if I'm backing up to warn others behind me...The back of the trailer lights up like a Xmas tree with all the LEDs!!
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That is a great idea using the flashers.
It may not tell other drivers right away that you are reversing but it sure will get their attention that something is happening and that is the point.
I will have to try and remember to use mine more often particularly when reversing.
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10-03-2013, 10:31 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Marana, Arizona
Trailer: 2018 Airstream Flying Cloud (Escape 19 & 5.0 previously)
Posts: 1,078
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Anytime I see anyone backing up any kind of trailer, I have the sense to stay out of harms way. If any of you ever see ME backing up our trailer, I'd encourage you to put all children and small animals in a secure environment until I've unhitched our TV.
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10-03-2013, 11:01 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Burloak
... mmm well the automotive 7 wire connector and cable does support back up lights.. For whatever reason the rv industry chooses not to implement them on trailers.
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The RV-style 7-pin connector (which is not the same as the SAE-defined 7-pin connector used for trucks) does have an auxiliary pin (the one in the centre), which has no standard assignment - "auxiliary" means use it for whatever else you need that isn't in the standard. It certainly can be used for backup lights, but it can also be used for a separate stop lamp circuit, or anything else the user wants. The tow vehicle side can't count on the trailer connecting this to backup lights, and the trailer side can't count on the tow vehicle supplying this from the backup light circuit.
What I meant by "RV trailer electrical connections do not include the backup light circuit" is that the tow vehicle doesn't necessarily have the backup light circuit hooked up, even though there is a pin that can be used. Maybe it often is hooked up to backup lights; there's just no assurance.
I know that some published diagrams show the centre pin on the RV 7-pin connector explicitly as backp lights, but that is incorrect. Similarly, pin 7 (the bottom pin) of the SAE J560 standard 7-pin used by commercial trucks is sometimes shown as backup lights, but is actually the auxiliary pin of that connector and now used for anti-lock brake system control.
I don't blame Escape and other RV trailer manufacturers for not putting on lights that may not work, may cause problems with some tow vehicle wiring, and are not even wanted by many buyers. The lights may not be a big expense, but all those little expenses add up. In my Boler the manufacturer provided a wire from the auxiliary pin of the connector the back of the trailer, not connected to anything, so the user could hook it up for what they needed, without fishing wire through the trailer - maybe Escape could do that.
If RV trailer owners want to use the auxiliary pin to run backup lights, I say go for it... but don't count on the trailer being compatible with anyone else's tow vehicle (I would put in a disconnect switch on that circuit), and don't count on the tow vehicle being compatible with any other trailer (again, a disconnect would be wise).
Another option is to install the desired lights, wire them to the trailer battery, and control them with a manual switch. When you get out to look where you are going to back up, you can flip the lights on. I haven't done this yet to a trailer, but it's in the projects-to-do list. I think docking lights (mounted near the front of the trailer and facing back along the side) would be more useful to the driver than a backup light on the rear, but I agree that one on the rear sends a clear "watch out, I'm backing up" message.
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10-03-2013, 11:15 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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Thank you for that detailed explanation!
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10-03-2013, 08:46 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Trailer: 2006 17b Goucho
Posts: 302
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I added back up lights and like them. They show intent and help my spotter. I also use them as a porch light. The ones I put on are not of much use to the driver as they are small, but my spotter (wife) likes them. It is really an item of personal preference but I am a safety driven guy and I like to show intent. This link refers. http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...-bar-1011.html
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10-03-2013, 09:20 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Highland Park, New Jersey
Trailer: Escape 19 February 2014
Posts: 975
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fascinating thread. thanks -- I appreciate all the detail!
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