I sure hope this topic has not been discussed at length before...but if so...here it is again.
I see that some of you have added extra brake lights and personally I feel you just can’t have enough brake lights to wake people up. However installing them can be expensive and usually requires more holes. You already have a big window in the back so depending on where you put them you may what to consider surface mount lights and not recessed units which require carving out further structure. There is also the question of where do you put them and what style do you use so they are aesthetically pleasing.
I am planing to do something simple and cheap. I will be cutting the wire that supplies the upper 5 clearance lights with power and installing a $10 relay. During the day the 5 upper clearance lights will turn into brake lights. At night when the headlights come on the relay will energize and the rear clearance lights will return to normal operation. (I would just like to add, that if I am driving this trailer in the dark...something has terribly gone wrong)
The relay I will be using is way over rated but is the most common auto relay and available almost everywhere. Princes Atuo in Canada sells it with socket for $10. I am sure Habour Freight or any auto supply store in the USA will have it as well.
For anybody that has a rear dinette this mod should be easy to access and do. If you have a bed in the rear then I am not sure how easy it is going to be. I can only imagine that the upper rear clearance lights are powered from the drivers side lower rear clearance light.
Another unknown for me is how bright the upper rear clearance lights are in the daytime and if the bulbs are replaceable. I am sure there is some law stating that clearance lights can only be so bright but if the bulbs can be replaced then I would to match that rating.
If anybody is interested in knowing how to wire the relay I can let you know which terminal connects to what wire.
I see that some of you have added extra brake lights and personally I feel you just can’t have enough brake lights to wake people up. However installing them can be expensive and usually requires more holes. You already have a big window in the back so depending on where you put them you may what to consider surface mount lights and not recessed units which require carving out further structure. There is also the question of where do you put them and what style do you use so they are aesthetically pleasing.
I am planing to do something simple and cheap. I will be cutting the wire that supplies the upper 5 clearance lights with power and installing a $10 relay. During the day the 5 upper clearance lights will turn into brake lights. At night when the headlights come on the relay will energize and the rear clearance lights will return to normal operation. (I would just like to add, that if I am driving this trailer in the dark...something has terribly gone wrong)
The relay I will be using is way over rated but is the most common auto relay and available almost everywhere. Princes Atuo in Canada sells it with socket for $10. I am sure Habour Freight or any auto supply store in the USA will have it as well.
For anybody that has a rear dinette this mod should be easy to access and do. If you have a bed in the rear then I am not sure how easy it is going to be. I can only imagine that the upper rear clearance lights are powered from the drivers side lower rear clearance light.
Another unknown for me is how bright the upper rear clearance lights are in the daytime and if the bulbs are replaceable. I am sure there is some law stating that clearance lights can only be so bright but if the bulbs can be replaced then I would to match that rating.
If anybody is interested in knowing how to wire the relay I can let you know which terminal connects to what wire.