To chicken light, or not

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Gumper, Jan 18, 2020.

Opinions on the extra truck lights

  1. Keep what’s left of the glorious lights

    9 vote(s)
    10.1%
  2. Take all of it off, go bare minimum

    24 vote(s)
    27.0%
  3. Add more like it’s Christmas

    56 vote(s)
    62.9%
  1. Gumper

    Gumper Road Train Member

    1,475
    3,201
    Jan 7, 2018
    Butte, MT
    0
    I’ve been slowly removing the JC Whitney esque pieces from my degenerate W900 because I don’t like clutter (the plastic chrome gauge covers, hood mirrors, etc...). I was leaving my forward breather and filler panel lights on though since I thought it was cool to light up the night with all those Grotes. However I began to change my tune when one of the breather light wires wore through its insulation which started to short out on the breather causing my alternator gauge to freak out. Obviously a short can cause lots of problems, even ruin the batteries. Was going to just fix the one wire when I found a couple more were on their way to also causing problems, so I ultimately removed the breather lights. This also lead me to removing the light on each mirror. I’m wondering if I should continue removing lights, and go for the minimalist clean look. Or is it sacrilege to take lights off a hood truck?
     
    austinmike Thanks this.
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  3. truckerdave1970

    truckerdave1970 On Probation

    2,988
    3,289
    Dec 15, 2008
    Rochester, NY
    0
    Chrome (or chicken lights) dont get you home ( or pay the bills etc.).
     
    okiedokie, Eowyn and mitmaks Thank this.
  4. randomname

    randomname Light Load Member

    238
    261
    Jul 13, 2014
    0
    I don't like the air filter lights, but I like the filler panel lights.
     
    mitmaks Thanks this.
  5. Truemac

    Truemac Light Load Member

    121
    191
    Apr 24, 2013
    0
    I'm personally a fan of the Christmas tree aesthetic, so I'd be inclined to keep them. But if the writing's giving you that much of a headache the. I'd at least rip it out and redo it to a quality you're satisfied with. The cool-factor on that east coast look goes right out the window when half the markers are flickering from a loose/bad connection.
     
  6. booley

    booley Road Train Member

    1,205
    7,177
    Feb 16, 2008
    0
    Chicken lights are cool but once you put them on, you always have to make sure they work! I like the look of someone else's truck all fancied up, but personally don't need the extra maintenance of chicken lights on my truck...
     
  7. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    11,168
    22,653
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Yep, take all that baloney off. My trucks always had what came standard, nothing more. I figured, better to blend in than stick out like a sore thumb, and it worked. Same with the dash, :thumbup: I wanted it as simple and straightforward, just like off the showroom floor. I never understood why someone put all that junk on in the 1st place. The Marmon I drove, the guy replaced all the gauge lights with red ones, like 15 of them, and it made it extremely difficult to read the gauges.:dontknow:
     
  8. Studebaker Hawk

    Studebaker Hawk Road Train Member

    2,883
    9,110
    Oct 18, 2010
    NW Indiana
    0
    Rare is the accessory installation that is done to OEM specifications. Wandering around Iowa 80 and looking at all the Chinese made crap, particularly the "wiring harnesses" I just shake my head. I would be some unhappy if I had to stop on the side of the road on February 12th in 10 degree weather at night because of a faulty part or craftsmanship. Or worse, watch my truck burn to the ground.
     
    skellr, Lonesome, Swine hauler and 2 others Thank this.
  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    11,168
    22,653
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    All those lights connected by "Scotchlok" connectors on Chinese wiring,, what's the worst that could happen,,,
     
  10. kylefitzy

    kylefitzy Road Train Member

    3,964
    16,353
    Aug 12, 2007
    Kansas city,Mo
    0
    It’s not a truck without chicken lights.
    4AFA6D6B-0D23-4564-B27B-B9E5BD9EE290.jpeg

    That’s the reason I installed my own lights. I’ve seen our shops work, between crappy lights, and the cheapest electrical tape you can find it’s a nightmare.

    I added 4 additional strobe lights at $50 a piece, two years later and they are working like day one. Another one of our drives did the same thing but bragged about getting a great deal on 10 lights for $200. He’s already on he’s 3rd round of 10 cheap light and his truck has been non the road 4 less months then mine.

    good quality lights and good quality insulation and any lights will be trouble free.
     
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  11. Slowpoke KW

    Slowpoke KW Road Train Member

    1,170
    12,819
    Dec 7, 2015
    OK
    0
    When installed properly they are trouble free. Quality parts and quality installation = no problems.

    The lights on mine weren’t done right when I bought it and would need repair every couple of months, till I completely rewired them one afternoon and I ain’t had a problem with them since and that’s been 6 years or so.
     
    650cat425, Bean Jr., JonJon78 and 5 others Thank this.
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