Posted 2014-10-10 10:47 AM (#161100) Subject: LED Strip Lights
Veteran
Posts: 259 Location: Topeka Ks
I'm trying to prevent a side collision and have been pondering installing a run of amber led strip lights below each side the length trailer. I would have them tied into the running light circuit. Think it will be effective? Jg
Posted 2014-10-10 11:29 AM (#161102 - in reply to #161100) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Regular
Posts: 67 Location: Everton, Arkansas
I actually added several yellow LED's to the front of the trailer axles and red LED's behind the trailer axles on my new Bison Stratus trailer. I placed them about 30 inches apart down the entire box length...really lights up the trailer at night. If they can't see the trailer now they never will...lol. I did contact an engineer with Bison first before doing any drilling on the frame rails to make sure I was not going to cause any structural weakness from drilling small holes in the rail.
Posted 2014-10-13 4:12 AM (#161121 - in reply to #161100) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by justgurn on 2014-10-10 10:47 AM
I'm trying to prevent a side collision and have been pondering installing a run of amber led strip lights below each side the length trailer. I would have them tied into the running light circuit. Think it will be effective? Jg
Posted 2014-10-13 12:04 PM (#161128 - in reply to #161100) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by justgurn on 2014-10-10 10:47 AM
I'm trying to prevent a side collision and have been pondering installing a run of amber led strip lights below each side the length trailer. I would have them tied into the running light circuit. Think it will be effective? Jg
My opinion one can never have too many lights! I upgraded the 5 small red leds on the rear of our top rail to 3 of the 14" led light bars with stop turn and tail. The middle one is just running lights but the ones on the edges I hooked up the stop and turn too which really helps.
Posted 2014-10-13 12:14 PM (#161129 - in reply to #161128) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by hogtownboss on 2014-10-13 12:04 PM
Originally written by justgurn on 2014-10-10 10:47 AM
I'm trying to prevent a side collision and have been pondering installing a run of amber led strip lights below each side the length trailer. I would have them tied into the running light circuit. Think it will be effective? Jg
My opinion one can never have too many lights! I upgraded the 5 small red leds on the rear of our top rail to 3 of the 14" led light bars with stop turn and tail. The middle one is just running lights but the ones on the edges I hooked up the stop and turn too which really helps.
I moved away from that philosophy when DOT officers started ticketing marker lights that were out...:(
Posted 2014-10-14 5:12 PM (#161151 - in reply to #161129) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2014-10-13 12:14 PM
Originally written by hogtownboss on 2014-10-13 12:04 PM
Originally written by justgurn on 2014-10-10 10:47 AM
I'm trying to prevent a side collision and have been pondering installing a run of amber led strip lights below each side the length trailer. I would have them tied into the running light circuit. Think it will be effective? Jg
My opinion one can never have too many lights! I upgraded the 5 small red leds on the rear of our top rail to 3 of the 14" led light bars with stop turn and tail. The middle one is just running lights but the ones on the edges I hooked up the stop and turn too which really helps.
I moved away from that philosophy when DOT officers started ticketing marker lights that were out...:(
Mine are checked before I leave every single trip so I have no issues with lights being out. Sure one might burn out while driving but all the more reasons to have more lights! Plus I have been told a number of times mainly from this forum "thst you will get a ticket for having burned out running lights".... Hog wash! Last year we made a number up trips up north hauling hay with my 30' flatdeck trailer that has 8 lights on each side and one trip on the way back I had 2 lights toward the front on the left side that went out and never had any issues at all the 2 times I was stopped to check to make sure I had safety chains hooked up right along with my brake control cable. Guess I am lucky, 2 times in 1 trip by 2 different states DOT guys and only thing checked was safety items and NO TICKETS!
Posted 2014-10-14 11:29 PM (#161156 - in reply to #161151) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by hogtownboss on 2014-10-14 5:12 PM
Originally written by PaulChristenson on 2014-10-13 12:14 PM
Originally written by hogtownboss on 2014-10-13 12:04 PM
Originally written by justgurn on 2014-10-10 10:47 AM
I'm trying to prevent a side collision and have been pondering installing a run of amber led strip lights below each side the length trailer. I would have them tied into the running light circuit. Think it will be effective? Jg
My opinion one can never have too many lights! I upgraded the 5 small red leds on the rear of our top rail to 3 of the 14" led light bars with stop turn and tail. The middle one is just running lights but the ones on the edges I hooked up the stop and turn too which really helps.
I moved away from that philosophy when DOT officers started ticketing marker lights that were out...:(
Mine are checked before I leave every single trip so I have no issues with lights being out. Sure one might burn out while driving but all the more reasons to have more lights! Plus I have been told a number of times mainly from this forum "thst you will get a ticket for having burned out running lights".... Hog wash! Last year we made a number up trips up north hauling hay with my 30' flatdeck trailer that has 8 lights on each side and one trip on the way back I had 2 lights toward the front on the left side that went out and never had any issues at all the 2 times I was stopped to check to make sure I had safety chains hooked up right along with my brake control cable. Guess I am lucky, 2 times in 1 trip by 2 different states DOT guys and only thing checked was safety items and NO TICKETS!
You are lucky... The Northeastern state DOTs are starting to use this for revenue generation tool...
Posted 2014-10-21 10:00 PM (#161219 - in reply to #161100) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 522 Location: Tucumcari NM
Iowa can be a real pain about it, too. My trailer has more than the required number of lights, but one burned out during a trip. Got stopped in Iowa and the officer would not let me move the rig until the light was fixed. We were in a rural area where replacement bulbs were not readily available. We had to call a repair service and wait three hours for him to arrive and replace the bulb. You better believe I now carry replacement everything when I travel.
Posted 2014-10-22 5:11 PM (#161239 - in reply to #161100) Subject: RE: LED Strip Lights
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Guess if I lived up that way the first thing I would do is MOVE somewhere else! I just got back from central Kansas with a load over the weekend and one of the 4 rubber mounted LED marker lights I added in my front bumper stopped working somewhere on the way back. When I was stopped for a safety check for chains, brake cable, tires, mudflaps and insurance he did not say anything about the light not working. But since I can not leave anything alone I asked him why this was not an issue with him but others have claimed their state has a problem with it.His reply "I'm not a prick for 1 and number 2 If they can not see your truck and trailer with all the lights you have they need to get their eyes checked"! But did say if there was a main light (stop, turn, tail or headlamp) out he would write a warning for it.
LED Strip Lights
The Northeastern state DOTs are starting to use this for revenue generation tool...