Rear Fog Light(s)

[IAmTodd]

I've been tempted to fab up a rear fog light onto the Explorer. These are mainly used in Europe, and only in extremely bad weather(ie- Fog, Heavy Rain, Snow). Normally its a single one on the driver's side. I've seen quite a few Volvo's with this still enabled. But from what I've read, most foriegn cars have this disabled when they are imported.

While browsing through Walmart this morning I came across one of those light things that goes in your hitch and plugs into you trailor harness. I dispise those things though. But I though it would be awsome to wire it up myself as a rear fog light. I'm only wondering right now if it actually bright enough to justify the time of wiring it up and making it work.

Here's a pic of the little do-dad, let me know what you think about it!

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

I don't think it will be bright enough. All rear fogs that cars have are pretty much just a single filament damn bright bulb. I think it's the same brightness as when the brake lights are on. Some companies like Audi also have 2 of them.

 

[IAmTodd]

I've found what seems to be a higher wattage bulb, and I plan to use the brake wire to wire it up. I'm gonna mess around with it one of these nights to see what I can come up with.

 

[explodr04]

Summit sell something kinda simuler to what i think you are looking for. It is call Cruiser Stainless Accessories White Night back up light system. It is on page 315 of there cateloge.

 

[Bill Kemp]

From what I have seen on some VWs that had the rear fog enabled they are about the same brightness as a brake light.
I'd think if you wired it so that both brake & running filiments were on at the same time it would make a good rear fog light.
Good idea......

 

[IAmTodd]

I may try to do that and return this hitch thingy. Is there a way I can wire up the driver's side brake light to come on, but not the rest of the brake light? That'd be awsome.

 

[newc5188]

Wouldnt that look tacky? I am just imagining seeing an Explorer with one brake light on all the time. Are you doing this for safety or looks? Also, if you had a brake light on wouldnt it confuse drivers behind you?

 

[Bill Kemp]

I agree newc5188. You need a seperate light.
Also the sing. filiment bulbs are like 26 watts and the brake light filiment on a two filiment bulb is 37 watts. That would be really bright in the hitch light.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Gran Dams have rear fog lamps

A lot of them here have got black and are full of water.

 

[IAmTodd]

This won't be on all the time. Its not like a normal fog light on the front of the vehicle that is normall run when all the lights are on. Only in bad conditions. So I might try and get the hitch one to work.

 

[explodr04]

back up lights

 

[Hokie]

Here's how I have mine mounted. They're 55W fog lights I bought at wal mart (cheapest I could get)

And a thread explaining them...

 

[IAmTodd]

back up lights

Thanks bud, but I'm not looking for reverse lights.

 

[FROADER]

The rear fog light on my A4 is the same brightness as my brake lights like Bill Kemp said.

You could take Hokie's idea and mount them directly under the tail lights on the bumper, I've seen that done before and doesn't look too bad. Good luck on whatever you decide to do though.

 

[USMAcadet2009]

I don't know how much that rear fog light would do for your driving. I think if anything it would be distracting while you were driving. Check with your local DMV as well to make sure that you can have fog lights in the back of your vehicle. Usually you are only permitted to have red light visible from the back of your vehicle, not white light. If you install them, you will probably fail inspection.

 

[F14CRAZY]

F inspection

 

[99stocksport]

thats why you move to a state like south carolina where we dont have inspections...its jsut not fair is it...

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

The rear fog light is not white. It would be red like all of the wuropean cars that have them.

 

[IAmTodd]

The rear fog light is not white. It would be red like all of the wuropean cars that have them.

Atleast someone gets what I'm trying to do here!!!!!

 

['96explorereddiebauer]

Maybe you can drill a hole in the bumper and install one. That way, it'll look more "OEM" than just mounting it under the bumper. I think that's how the Europe bound Explorers look. They have a light assembly installed in the rear bumper acting as a rear fog light.

IMO, it's a great feature because regular red illumination lights in the tail lights aren't bright enough when you are driving in rain or fog. With the fog light on, you can see the car sooner so Todd, if you can rig this up, then you da man!! But be sure to install a switch because having it on all the time is actually annoying. Only use it in the rain or heavy fog. heh...I believe it's illegal to use the rear fogs in Europe also when the weather is fine so install a switch.