Back up lights, a new twist.

[Rust_Sucks]

So, like everyone else here, my first gen backup lights are the imbodiment of suck. I want to put small walmart fogs as backup lights. Heres where my idea differs, I want to put them in my tail lights where the sock goes. I`ll take out the clear plate, cut open the back so that I can get into it, and run it off stock power. Of course I`ll need some wiring harnesses so my lights can be removed. Any one have comments, corncerns, or questions? Or more importantly critics of my plan?

Thanks,
Jake

 

[corkey]

the heat from them might warp the lens,
i guess that depends on how long they are on for,

 

[Rust_Sucks]

They`ll just be on when I would normally be backing up. Into my parking spot at school, at home, or down my dads driveway. So probably about an hour a month, spread out of course.

Jake

 

[corkey]

than it would work,,

 

[little x]

That's a cool idea I've never thought of before. I might have to steal that one.

 

[Bill Kemp]

Not to be a nay-sayer but, I think the heat from a 55 watt bulb enclosed in a tail light housing will be a problem. Both for the housing (melting) and the bulb life.
But, who knows?
Lots of 1st gen tail lights in the junk yards so if it doesnt work you wont be out too much.
Good luck & let us know how it turns out.

 

[Mr.Moore]

When you consider the amount of time you typically are spending in reverse, I don't see a problem. around town you are looking a 20-30 seconds in reverse. Thats not really enough time for the bulb to generate enough heat to do anything. On the trail is a different story. If you have to back up for any amount of time then yes it could cause some heat issues.

 

[Four0Sport]

wiring the 55watt lights off of the stock harness might not be a good idea either. i originally ran my aux reverse lights off of the factory harness and immediately blew fuses when i turned them on.

 

[90ranajo]

wiring the 55watt lights off of the stock harness might not be a good idea either. i originally ran my aux reverse lights off of the factory harness and immediately blew fuses when i turned them on.

^What he said.

I would use the factory wire to energize a relay and run a larger power wire back through the relay.

 

[Sandy]

Are the 1st Gen Ex's have separate turn signals ?

If they do have separate directional this is not worth anything but if the brake and turn are on the wire then how about turning the backup lights into directional lights and adding the
Aux. Backups to the Bumper ?

 

[little x]

^^ What? Don't quite understand your question?
There are only 2 bulbs on each side in the back of the 1st gen. X, the brake/turn/flasher and the reverse bulb.

I think the whole point was to NOT have extra lights on the bumper/roof in the rear.

 

[Sandy]

I was only making a suggestion, an extra pair of backup lights on the bumper wouldn't be too much.
He was talking about cutting up the existing Taillight Housings and mounting extra backup lights, what the diff.
If he made his OEM Backup Lights into directionals, when his backup lights started flashing as directionals it would peak someones attention and it would be different; that was the original intent.

enjoy,

 

[little x]

Ok, I see. You'd just have to change it to a yellow or red bulb. IDK if the white is legal.

 

[Rust_Sucks]

I think we got a little off topic, but thats fine. Kinda what the idea of the post was. So on to issues. I don`t do trail rides(2wd stock tallness) so no long term backups. I have a backup set(love garage sales) of tail lights, so screwing the current ones up is not a problem. Though, if I don`t end up with another explorer, it won`t matter.(mine is dying and mom is not liking me tring to fix it ) So feel free to steal this idea and call it your own.

 

[little x]

I've been thinking about it. From my understanding you were planning on removing the bottom lens completely and using the new lens from the new lights. I bet you could take the lens off of the new lights and set it up with the new light touching the back of the old lens. Then the lights would look stock until they turned on and blinded you.

 

[Four0Sport]

we sell some very small h3 fog lights at work that look about the same width as the stock taillight housing. with a little work and some trimming of the back of the housing i bet you could mount them.

 

[Rust_Sucks]

Then the risk of the heat warping the lenses would be greatly increased. Plus they aren`t as transparent, so would be less blindeding.

 

[little x]

Yes, I agree they wouldn't be as bright. But I thought they might shine a more useful pattern then a fog or driving light would. More like a flood light. And you usually don't see flood lights that small. . . I was just sharing some ideas that were running around in my head.

 

[Anime]

Removing the fluted white/clear square lens, then wiring up a pair of those ultra mini walmart fogs and sticking it in where the reverse bulb is isn't much of a problem, though I'd agree you might want to use a relay rather than the wimpy stock wiring.

They actually make a much higher wattage (50W) bulb that plugs into the stock socket, but apparently it's not that safe and might melt things or damage the wiring.

Personally I haven't had much issue with the backup lights, using good GE/Sylvania/Philips bulbs seems to help. Popping out the fluted lens and using a clear piece of plastic or one with only vertical flutes like a driving or fog light would probably make a difference, too.

It's a pretty common mod to mount fogs for reverse lights on custom bumpers, though. You could even wire them up with a relay to go on with the stock reverse lamps rather than completely replacing them.

 

[Rust_Sucks]

It doesn`t matter anyway. The ex has officially been replaced with a dodge. Feel free to continue this thread and keep it going. I`m out.