is there a good reason why trailers do not have backup lights?

I dont think anybody is going to flame you for that question.Pretty good question if you ask me.Never thought about it myself.Maybe they dont want to give you a reason not to goal.

 

There's no room for the extra wire in the 7 way conector. Would need an extra plug

 

Do a google search for a product called the E-Z Guider. I'm not sure how bright this thing is, whether you'll blind people backing up, but it seems like a good idea.

 

It may actually cost MORE THAN $30 for lights. You have to have wiring, you have to have fuses or relays as well.

When i worked for an LTL company, I had the mechanic install auxiliary spot lights on my driver side and passenger side steps, with a simple toggle switch on the dash.

In all actuality, 4 wheelers DO KNOW what flashing 4 way lights are telling them. They do after all, see a truck backing up. They also know that when they see 4 way flashers in a work/construction zone, that it means we are slowing down.

 

Backup lights are a recient addition to Class 8 tractors. Lots of older trucks did not have them. The NHTSA has not reccomended them and the DOT has not made it a priority. The days of higher voltage systems and the dropping cost of rear vision systmes may force a change away from the old 7 way plug connection.

Someday they may be required but until they are MOST carriers won't spend the money. W/ the improvements in white LED lamps the technology is there unless the 'central light source/fiber optic distribution' lighting concept, or some other multiplex system, really change things.

 

A handful of our older trailers have them, but they don't light up. I've tried.

Their not wired, their used as reflectors now I guess

Ethan

 

Having put/attempted to put them on an off road trailer since it is more often the. Dark on logging sites the issue is the wiring. I thought it would be easy to do even after my father told me it wasn't and was expensive. GET READY TO FLAME ME-- in my hastiness to execute what I thought at the time was a very smart and original idea, after all I'd never seen it, I got the lights and figured I would just splice into the reverse lights on the trailer (<--- yup seems I forgot there are none unlike in my pickup)

I have since mounted (2) 3' LED light bars on each side of the tractor and they help but arent perfect. Next attempt will be mounting same style bars to a braket on the outside of the front spikes of the trailer and wiring them to a simple plug wired into tractor back up light switch. Issues will be how long before the separate smaller/ lower voltage plug is ripped or shorted and how long before a crane operator whacks them with grapple head or stray log in the bunch.

 

Zombie Thread Alert
It can be done, depends how your pigtail is wired. Seven wires means there's an optional wire; nowadays it may power abs, etc.

Nothing to stop you from splicing into the running lights with a switch; Get Out And Look, flip "on" the switch, back up and turn "off" the switch at your convenience.

Me? I just bought the Wolo 6000 "See-More" worklight.
LED lights, over 1000 lumens
Magnetic mount.
Rechargeable by 110v or 12v (both chargers included)

I plan to attach to DOT bumper when I'm backing into that last (dark) spot at the truck stop, at 2 am.

If I include a link I'll be accused of spam...
Found on Ebay, Amazon, etc.



But not at truck stops, it seems

 

That seventh wire IS for the ABS. There is no longer an extra wire in the 7-way plug.