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. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    9,502
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    Mar 4, 2015
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    If you had problems with one and want to keep the rest I’d suggest just completely rewiring the rest of them before you have problems. The old W9 I bought had a bunch of lights on it and the former owner was not good at installing lights. I ended up cutting out his old hack job and doing everything correctly.
     
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  3. stillwurkin

    stillwurkin Road Train Member

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    Mayby before led.
     
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  5. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

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    Mar 4, 2015
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    As long as they’re LED lights the days of the big alternators are over.
     
  6. REO6205

    REO6205 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    12,583
    56,850
    Feb 15, 2014
    California.
    0
    I like to see lots of chicken lights...on somebody else's truck.
    Our mechanic hates them. He'll put some extra tail lights and turn signals on a trailer but that's all.
     
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  7. kylefitzy

    kylefitzy Road Train Member

    3,963
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    Aug 12, 2007
    Kansas city,Mo
    0
    92A4DA84-FCE3-4411-8582-3C6BFCCEC904.png
    It would be pretty hard to argue a light that’s not even required to be there is required to work. I’ve never even been asked to turn my chicken lights on during an inspection.

    FMCSA guidance also back up what I posted.
     
  8. Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    9,502
    36,966
    Mar 4, 2015
    0
    My old FLD.

    C552DB45-5A84-4FDB-87BD-2C983BF06CA7.jpeg

    My old W9. This thing was a wiring disaster thanks to the old owner.
    F18509E5-AD84-4DD1-9D1C-81D033E50048.jpeg

    T800 company truck I drove for my old boss. Our shop did everything right and never had any trouble with the lights on this one.
    3044B8A0-4829-4C73-9F6D-921F66B8EBB5.jpeg

    And the current truck with nothing extra except the visor lights. I have a desire to park it and walk away from it for a few days so I’m keeping it pretty simple. I did swap out the trailer lights for the high dollar TruckLite mirror lights though.
    A0DDC16F-AEC6-4FCB-832C-C63AA33CA519.jpeg
     
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  9. stillwurkin

    stillwurkin Road Train Member

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    Dec 2, 2017
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    Actually i have never been either. Headlights, turn, stop , and brake lights. Of course marker lights also. Never asked to light up backup lights either.
     
  10. Lonesome

    Lonesome Mr. Sarcasm

    10,158
    19,831
    Dec 15, 2007
    Northern Indiana
    0
    That's what I thought, too.
     
    201 Thanks this.
  11. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

    19,108
    206,841
    Mar 25, 2014
    OH
    0


    Fuse why? Most dont know how to wire a relay. So why use a fuse. The switch will melt.
     
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  12. Cabinover101

    Cabinover101 Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 28, 2019
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    You like Ensure??
     
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  13. ZVar

    ZVar Road Train Member

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    Sep 10, 2010
    Flint, MI
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    And yet every time I ask someone to provide state rules to support this, no one can.
    As there is no federal requirement for non-required lights to work. The guy who brought this up simply cannot be put OOS as per CVSA rules.
    The most that can happen is a specific state law, but again no one has ever been able to show me one.
     
    Bean Jr., Lonesome, 201 and 1 other person Thank this.
  14. TTNJ

    TTNJ Heavy Load Member

    704
    954
    Nov 21, 2017
    0
    Variety or reasons why one would like all the Chicken lights. Some of those reason are as basic as they look cool while others can be for safety reasons.
    For me, they look cool and honestly provide a better view for me while driving at night by reducing the glare from oncoming headlights....it might just be in my head though.
     
    650cat425, Swine hauler and JonJon78 Thank this.
  15. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    27,626
    144,548
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    Yet we had some dip#### mechanic at the Ford dealer fail one of our F550 service trucks during our yearly CVI because an interior light in one of the toolbox cabinets didn't work.
     
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