Rear Lighting Thoughts for Camping?

[EasternSierra]

I've been mulling over this for some time and thought I'd ask people about their experiences and suggestions. This time around I'm trying to improve my camping experience and convenience compared to past 4x4s I've owned.

BACKING UP

In past vehicles I've sometimes been frustrated trying to back up at night in tight quarters, like when maneuvering around to park for camping informally (no campground). I'd sometimes feel like I wasn't getting enough light to see obstacles clearly. So, I've been considering adding extra reverse lights to my Bronco to help.

Of course the Bronco 6g has a rear camera which really helps when backing up at night. While I haven't camped yet in my Bronco, I tried backing up towards vegetation on streets in my neighborhood. I suspect that more reverse light isn't absolutely needed but would be really nice to have.

These lights could be wired into the reverse circuit, but if they're too bright they could blind people behind me when in town. I don't have a good sense of how many lumens is too bright in this application.

Of course backup lights could be wired to an auxiliary switch instead of the reverse light circuit. That means (like other off-road lights) they'd have to be covered in California when on the road, but the covers could be removed off-pavement and the lights could be used just as needed. This would mean losing the on-road functionality, though.

CAMPING LIGHT

I've also been thinking about vehicle-mounted rear lighting for camping setup, etc. after parking. In California this falls under the legal definition of "cargo lights" which can only be operated when the vehicle is parked. Bright lights that shine straight back from the rear of the vehicle would just be irritating when unloading. These lights should shine mostly downward which is what you want for doing things near a vehicle.

With the tailgate open, lights on the rear side of the spare would be useless. A light on the inside of the rear hatch would only be useful outside when the hatch is open. So, cargo lights off an auxiliary switch look like they might be a good idea. They could be mounted on the back of the Armadillo top that I'll have in a couple of months.

At this point I just want to hear what other people have done and their recommendations. Thank you for your thoughts!

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[Brian_B]

I've thought about something similar - mostly looking for use as a chase light, but your point about it being pretty pointless with the tailgate open is true.

For a camping light, I had a Revolink interior molle / rear shelf that I added for my Starlink dish, and mounting a light on that which points down and out would be a good idea - run that to a switch in the rear by the power point would be nice (not a upfitter, don't need it while driving). That does make that tempting to do.

If you don't want a rear shelf, there's already the rivet nuts in the C-pillars that you could mount direct to, use something like the ditch light mounts with a nice, wide beam lens light.

Now, that wouldn't work at all for a backup light though. I'm convinced that replacing the CHMSL is the way to go for that. It wouldn't work terribly well for a camping light though, but would be great for backup and/or chase light.

There's also the hitch lights, Diode Dynamics has a slick little kit that plugs into the trailer hitch, and that would light up the area nicely for backing up - and probably even as a chase light, but I beat the crap out of my hitch and I'm afraid to stick a light there. Might be a bit low to use for a camp light though.

 

[B22-2023]

I've been mulling over this for some time and thought I'd ask people about their experiences and suggestions. This time around I'm trying to improve my camping experience and convenience compared to past 4x4s I've owned.

BACKING UP

In past vehicles I've sometimes been frustrated trying to back up at night in tight quarters, like when maneuvering around to park for camping informally (no campground). I'd sometimes feel like I wasn't getting enough light to see obstacles clearly. So, I've been considering adding extra reverse lights to my Bronco to help.

Of course the Bronco 6g has a rear camera which really helps when backing up at night. While I haven't camped yet in my Bronco, I tried backing up towards vegetation on streets in my neighborhood. I suspect that more reverse light isn't absolutely needed but would be really nice to have.

These lights could be wired into the reverse circuit, but if they're too bright they could blind people behind me when in town. I don't have a good sense of how many lumens is too bright in this application.

Of course backup lights could be wired to an auxiliary switch instead of the reverse light circuit. That means (like other off-road lights) they'd have to be covered in California when on the road, but the covers could be removed off-pavement and the lights could be used just as needed. This would mean losing the on-road functionality, though.

CAMPING LIGHT

I've also been thinking about vehicle-mounted rear lighting for camping setup, etc. after parking. In California this falls under the legal definition of "cargo lights" which can only be operated when the vehicle is parked. Bright lights that shine straight back from the rear of the vehicle would just be irritating when unloading. These lights should shine mostly downward which is what you want for doing things near a vehicle.

With the tailgate open, lights on the rear side of the spare would be useless. A light on the inside of the rear hatch would only be useful outside when the hatch is open. So, cargo lights off an auxiliary switch look like they might be a good idea. They could be mounted on the back of the Armadillo top that I'll have in a couple of months.

At this point I just want to hear what other people have done and their recommendations. Thank you for your thoughts!

Does not sound like you have a bumper with pockets to mount them In. I use Baja Des. bumper pods on an Aux switch.

Look at the Diode Dynamic hitch light - especially the new one that has brighter light (I have the older one and it's great.)

4x4TruckLEDs.com has a kit that is made to mount 2 pod lights tucked under the rear bumper.

Finally, another idea is there is a harness from Stickerfab (bought but not yet installed for use with by aftermarket taillights) that let's you put your reverse light-only on a switch. Doesn't add backup lighting, but could work for camping.

 

[Jdyount]

This is the best solution. Expensive, yes, but bumper mounted rear chase lights are definitely super helpful.

 

[Oldhippie]

I have some generic 3” flood pods in my bumper…work well as daytime chase and backup lights but way too bright for camping…

 

[Ramble_Offroad]

Anybody tried out the Turn Offroad rear light / third brake light thingy with the backup light, two chase lights and brake lights?

https://turnoffroad.com/collections...ord-bronco-billet-chase-light-3rd-brake-light

 

[AK SNO RIDER]

I went a bit different than most in that i mounted small lights on top of my bumper, not underneath or recessed in to it. I keep them tight enough that they don't move around on their own, but loose enough that I can turn them with my hand to aim where i want for use as a camp light. I also use a Switch Pros controller which means these can be turned on with a switch on my dash, or remotely from my phone without the vehicle being on. The Switch Pros is expensive but it sure is nice for this sort of thing.

 

[11811]

I've been mulling over this for some time and thought I'd ask people about their experiences and suggestions. This time around I'm trying to improve my camping experience and convenience compared to past 4x4s I've owned.

BACKING UP

In past vehicles I've sometimes been frustrated trying to back up at night in tight quarters, like when maneuvering around to park for camping informally (no campground). I'd sometimes feel like I wasn't getting enough light to see obstacles clearly. So, I've been considering adding extra reverse lights to my Bronco to help.

Of course the Bronco 6g has a rear camera which really helps when backing up at night. While I haven't camped yet in my Bronco, I tried backing up towards vegetation on streets in my neighborhood. I suspect that more reverse light isn't absolutely needed but would be really nice to have.

These lights could be wired into the reverse circuit, but if they're too bright they could blind people behind me when in town. I don't have a good sense of how many lumens is too bright in this application.

Of course backup lights could be wired to an auxiliary switch instead of the reverse light circuit. That means (like other off-road lights) they'd have to be covered in California when on the road, but the covers could be removed off-pavement and the lights could be used just as needed. This would mean losing the on-road functionality, though.

CAMPING LIGHT

I've also been thinking about vehicle-mounted rear lighting for camping setup, etc. after parking. In California this falls under the legal definition of "cargo lights" which can only be operated when the vehicle is parked. Bright lights that shine straight back from the rear of the vehicle would just be irritating when unloading. These lights should shine mostly downward which is what you want for doing things near a vehicle.

With the tailgate open, lights on the rear side of the spare would be useless. A light on the inside of the rear hatch would only be useful outside when the hatch is open. So, cargo lights off an auxiliary switch look like they might be a good idea. They could be mounted on the back of the Armadillo top that I'll have in a couple of months.

At this point I just want to hear what other people have done and their recommendations. Thank you for your thoughts!

Remember, camping lighting connected to upfitter switches will time out unless the engine running.

 

[DaddyO]

I've thought about something similar - mostly looking for use as a chase light, but your point about it being pretty pointless with the tailgate open is true.

For a camping light, I had a Revolink interior molle / rear shelf that I added for my Starlink dish, and mounting a light on that which points down and out would be a good idea - run that to a switch in the rear by the power point would be nice (not a upfitter, don't need it while driving). That does make that tempting to do.

If you don't want a rear shelf, there's already the rivet nuts in the C-pillars that you could mount direct to, use something like the ditch light mounts with a nice, wide beam lens light.

Now, that wouldn't work at all for a backup light though. I'm convinced that replacing the CHMSL is the way to go for that. It wouldn't work terribly well for a camping light though, but would be great for backup and/or chase light.

There's also the hitch lights, Diode Dynamics has a slick little kit that plugs into the trailer hitch, and that would light up the area nicely for backing up - and probably even as a chase light, but I beat the crap out of my hitch and I'm afraid to stick a light there. Might be a bit low to use for a camp light though.

Does not sound like you have a bumper with pockets to mount them In. I use Baja Des. bumper pods on an Aux switch.

Look at the Diode Dynamic hitch light - especially the new one that has brighter light (I have the older one and it's great.)

4x4TruckLEDs.com has a kit that is made to mount 2 pod lights tucked under the rear bumper.

Finally, another idea is there is a harness from Stickerfab (bought but not yet installed for use with by aftermarket taillights) that let's you put your reverse light-only on a switch. Doesn't add backup lighting, but could work for camping.

 

[MandRautomotive]

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