aux backup lights mounted on the inside

[Raceit]

I was wondering if anybody else has done this. I would like to mount two aux rear facing lights on the inside of the vechile.
I would like to mount them upside down hanging from the top, either the rear plastic gate cover or just a bit closer to the front on the carpet ceiling part.
My preference is to have them up high for a couple of reasons. One is that perhaps more people could see them in a parking lot or something and the most important reason is to be able to flash people behind me with their brights on. I know I could be asking for trouble here, but belive or not, within the last month I have been in front of at least 8 different cars with their brights on at night.
But all that aside I would like to mount them up there anyway. My concern is that if you go to all the trouble of mounting the lights on the inside, at night, will a lot of light reflect back into the cab. Making it unsafe to drive.
I would like to mount the lights within a half inch of the glass in oppisite corners. Plus I would mount them so they point more stright out as opposed to down at a 45 degree angle or something. Keeping more of the light outside instead of bouncing back in.
Below I threw together a quick shot of what my idea is, or at least what I want it too look like. The lighting effect is done with photo software. None of the lights are on, or exist.
Now, not to offend any of the PIAA god's, but I was looking at some sub $40 set that is small and round and would not interfer with backward visibality. Plus being small they won't look weird during the day behind the glass. But if something like that does work it sure would look clean. Let me know if you guys have any thoughts, or if I need to have some sense slapped into me.

 

[leebo]

They would work fine if you were wanting to light up inside your truck to see what you're doing....but they wouldn't shine outside very well. Do you the the tinted windows in the rear??? I know with mine that I can hardly see the reverse light I've got through the tinted window in the rear. I'd say....no go. On top of that...the carpet on the ceiing and the plastic woundn't be strong enough to hold the lights up for that long.

If you want to mount them up high...just run a wire from your reverse lights into the truck, up through the plastic next to the tailgate, and back out through the top of the tailgate. Mount a reverse light right there. That's how I've got mine.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Raceit, It is probably some of the people from this site with their new bulbs that are blinding you. LOL
If you surround the lights with some foam like you buy to put around a window air conditioner it would keep the light from shining in the interior. The foam is about an inch thick and it would keep the reflection down or out.
Like Leebo says, I dont think they would be too bright going through the tinted glass.
Probably get their attention though.

 

[Raceit]

That's what I was afraid of. Unfortunetly I don't have a factory roof rack (XL trim package) to mount lights up there. Otherwise I might just have already done that. Well that's a good excuse to get a Con-ferr roof rack. Maybe I can make some little bracketry to mount the lights outside on top. Or do some foam thing, that sounds like that would work. Either way I'll post some 'real' pictures once I get it done.
Living in an apartment with no garage my winter projects are pretty limited. But at least with this I can always jump in and get warm.

 

[Brian1]

Well that is a good idea but I agree with what everyone has said about light reflecting and the brightness. I think you would be happy with reverse lights mounted on a roof rack. That is where mine are mounted and they work really good.

 

[leebo]

Originally posted by Raceit
That's what I was afraid of. Unfortunetly I don't have a factory roof rack (XL trim package) to mount lights up there. Otherwise I might just have already done that.

You could get a smaller pair and mount them to the bumper. You will end up spending more than you want to for a small set of lights, but you could mount them right behind the lights now, and not harm the tailgate.

 

[Alec]

Here are mine:

They were $30 at Autozone (Pilot brand). They work pretty well as reverse lights and tailgate retalliation lights. They're on a separate switch on my console switch panel. They are a little vulnerable, and already have a little condensation in them, but hopefully my new splash guards will help that. I think it was just all the water being thrown at them by the rear wheels.

 

[Raceit]

I think that's a good spot. But I've already dragged my rear bumper off of some flat rocks, so I'm sure it would take any lights with it the next time.
Well I remembered a nice set I had on another car of mine a long time ago. The one thing that I remember is that even mounted on the outside, they got very hot. To hot to even touch. So maybe mounting lights on the inside isn't a good idea just for that reason. Especialy being right next to the 10 year old dried out ceiling carpet. It could torch the whole truck. But then again I don't know if it was just those brands or what.

 

[leebo]

Just go down and have a 4x4 store weld some light tabs to the bumper. Get one of the smallest lights you can find and you're off. Here's how rick has his. His is alot eaiser to drill into with the fact he has a custom bumper, but even a stock bumper could have this done.

 

[Raceit]

Well I mounted some lights where I wanted. And here are some real pics of them. Albeit they don't really show how bright they are, that tinted glass cuts down on it a bit. But at any rate, I'm happy with them, and thanks for all the advice.

 

[Pemerling]

how do you wire those. im interested in putting some on my bumper but i dont know how to wire it

 

[leebo]

There are several way to do so.

If you want them to come on only with a switch then just wire them up like any other light. If you want them to come on whenever you flip it into reverse then you need to do a few more steps. You'll need to take off the cover for the rear tail lights and tap into the positive reverse line. A small splice in the outer liner of the positive cable will do fine. Then wrap the positive line from the light to it and coat with something to keep the water out. Then ground the lights to the frame somewhere and reinstall the tail light. If you wish to make it where you can use both the reverse as well as a switch you'd simply tap a wire where you put the wire at the first time and run it into the cap to a switch. This is how I've got mine. I can turn them on with a switch to scare off people riding my a@@ or they come on when I put it into reverse. The switch comes in handy when setting up camp at night or making repairs in the dark.