Reverse Back-up Lights for Kaymar rear bumper

[Atoyot1031]

OK, not a new idea (I saw it in a post from '04), but I haven't read where anyone actually did this, so here goes...

I H8 the redundant taillights on the Kaymar rear bumper. If you're into the whole Griswold family truckster thing, it might be cool, but I (personally) don't dig it.

Note the similarities:




So I searched for awhile. I looked for some LEDS on ebay, etc. One of my requirements was that the lights had to make budget (not make a blip on the CFOs radar). So low and behold, I was shopping at Wal-Mart, as all good Americans do, and I found some lights that looked the part for ~$25 with tax. They were clear, rectangular, included mounting brackets, and glass lenses with metal housing that contained a 55w H# halogen bulb. Suits my needs.

Next I removed teh factory Kaymar/Griswold lights:

 

[Atoyot1031]

The replacement lights were a little smaller than the Kaymar openings which also suited me fine. This allowed me to focus the lights downward to provide better ground illumination. The only small problem I did have was that the replacement lights were silghtly deeper than the Kaymar openings. So I used a holesaw to open up the back center of the Kaymar opening to faciliatate the back of the replacement light so that the lense was essentially flush with the bumper itself,a dn had to modify the mounting brackets to accommodate this as well.

Here are a couple pics (my assistant insisted on receiving visual credit for his efforts):




Finally, I wired this into the reverse light circuit so that when I shift into reverse...


All in all, this was very easy, and I'm bummed I didn't do it sooner.

Thanks to Scuba Steve for reminding me of this a while ago, and helping to keep my eyes open for the "right lights."


Nick

 

[e9999]

nice
been thinking about doing that too. you used a big relay I imagine? would be nice not to have to cut.


I will say this, though, that even with the lower wattage bulbs I put in, the Kaymar lights are brigher than my trucks. Helps a lot with visibility. I kinda like it.

 

[Atoyot1031]

nice
been thinking about doing that too. you used a big relay I imagine? would be nice not to have to cut.

Thanks.

No relay, I just wired them directly into the reverse circuit. I did this with reverse floodligths on my old minitruck years ago, and they still work great today. So I had no reason to wire this differently. I'm not an electrician, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[arndog123]

I like your bumper sticker.

 

[80t0ylc]

Nice idea, we can always use more illumination behind us at night. I don't agree on the Griswold truckster look for the stock Kaymar, though - to each his own. I'd like to suggest sealing the rear of the openings. The back of my Kaymar really catches a lot of debris that the rear wheels throw up. This will work it's way around to the lamp side of your new fixtures and render them useless on a muddy road at night! My .02

 

[4x4CPOSEADOG]

Nice, what kind of roof rack do you have?

 

[Atoyot1031]

Nice idea, we can always use more illumination behind us at night. I don't agree on the Griswold truckster look for the stock Kaymar, though - to each his own. I'd like to suggest sealing the rear of the openings. The back of my Kaymar really catches a lot of debris that the rear wheels throw up. This will work it's way around to the lamp side of your new fixtures and render them useless on a muddy road at night! My .02

Here we don't really have any mud, just dust and rocks. How did you seal yours.

Nice, what kind of roof rack do you have?

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/163919-roof-rack-build.html

 

[80t0ylc]

Here we don't really have any mud, just dust and rocks. How did you seal yours.

I haven't sealed mine, yet. But, that's why I suggested it. I kinda cringed when you mentioned that you opened up the center hole with a hole saw because, for me, the biggest problem with those lights in the Kaymar, is the dust, rocks and mud that cakes into the light fixtures and compartments. The fixtures are somewhat sealed, but not near good enough, exposed to that kind of environment. Anyway, I hope your mod works out for you, with out too much bother. Might not even be an issue with those light fixtures and hardly any mud.

 

[Atoyot1031]

This is another reason I didn't like the factory lights. It seemed like I was replacing a bulb every other month. The new fixtures are actually sealed (Wal-Mart sealed anyways).

 

[80t0ylc]

Atoyot1031,

Well, I finally got around to doing this project with some variations. First off, I put in a 30 amp Auto light relay, available at Radio Shack (Cat.# 275-226). Ran a dedicated 12V line up to battery with 12 AWG and 30 amp fuse for safety, for source voltage (Pin # 87 on relay). The on/off switch (Pin # 86 on relay) is connected to the back up light signal in the corresponding 3 position Toyota connector that was left open when the Kaymar light harness was removed. Same connector, different pin, supplies the 12V for the license plate light, if in a different than stock location. I was able to put relay and 15 amp fuse supplied with lights in a compartment with an aprox. 3" trapezoid shaped plastic cover in the 80's body, right below tailgate and rear floor, facing the front of vehicle. Cut hole in cover and ran wires through it. IMHO this is better than using existing backup light circuit to run aux. backup lights. I think I used the same lights that you did, and cut out the back of housings in Kaymar. This concerned me, as I mentioned previously, for exposure to debris from rear tires. So I found an old foam swim toy (so it's waterproof) that my Kids used - tube 5 feet long and 2 1/2 inches in diameter. I cut four 11 inch sections, and used two sections per side to seal up the area just in front of the light housings.

In the pics below, I tried to convey how I did it. The color prolly would look better black, but any color will do - it's function that's important here. I would recommend doing, if not this, some kind of seal, even if you just have the Kaymar supplied lights, seeing what a debris catcher the bumper is.

 

[Atoyot1031]

Nice! I like it, especially the noodle!

Here at the property where I am chief engineer (and live), we have four swimming pools, so noodles are a dime a dozen. Heck, maybe I'll bet crazy and use a kickboard?!?

Seriously, I do like the idea of trying to seal up that area somehow. I went scouting for turkeys last weekend, and that whole area is caked with mud. This of course probably led to some of the frustrations I had with the factory Kaymar lights always burning out.

I guess time will tell if the relay is necessary. I went without since my old minitruck I ran a similar setup on for ~10 years w/o issues, but it is better to be safe than sorry.


Nick

 

[KRAZIKRAKER]

I grew up on the Griswald movies, they bring interesting points of view for my family. The lights on the truckster - no go, same with the big new rear light set up on the 100 series cruisers. I think it looks ugly, When I do get my rear possibly swing out bumper I think I will consider rear flood/back up lights.
Atoyot1031 I'm an engineer in denver with Hyatt - where are you if you don't mind my asking ? Always cool to meet another crazi hoteler.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Still likin' my rear facing roof level flood lamp from Hella. From the high angle, it lights up everything, plus the swivel base allows me to aim it wherever I might need. Twin bulbs = reliability, precision Hella optics mean serious light.

Careful about local regulations, which may prohibit a pair of obvious rear facing clear lights.

DougM

 

[Atoyot1031]

Hey Doug,
Thanks for the concern. We don't even have emissions testing up here, so I'm not concerned about the backup lights. Besides, I drove around this valley with them for the last 10+ years on my minitruck.

I'm eventually going to mount some on the roof rack. However, accessory lights like that I usually wire up through an additional circuit, relay, and switch. These are no brainers that just help with backing up since the OEM "reverse" lights don't put out any light, and the Kaymar lights are redundant and useless as well.
Nick

 

[96r50]

Still likin' my rear facing roof level flood lamp from Hella. From the high angle, it lights up everything, plus the swivel base allows me to aim it wherever I might need. Twin bulbs = reliability, precision Hella optics mean serious light.

Careful about local regulations, which may prohibit a pair of obvious rear facing clear lights.

DougM

Pics? Any info on how you wired yours in (separate circuit, on with reverse etc)? I like your idea especially with the added height compared to a bumper mount, but I would be worried about hitting it when I load canoes or bikes on the roof.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Atoyot - you may not have emissions regs, but I'll pretty much guarantee you have regs prohibiting the mounting of rear facing white lamps of any kind.

96 - Pictures are a sore subject with me right now since I'm a Mac user and the photobucket site doesn't seem to work correctly with Safari/OSX. I wired it up to a separate circuit so I can turn them on whenever I dang well please. Only find I use it either camping/on a trail or at night in close parking situations such as parked tightly at someone's home trying to leave. I may or may not have ever used them for morons who leave their high beams on behind me, and they may or may not be devastatingly effective for that (100% compliance). I ran a 12g fused wire all the way to the cargo area, and a couple relays are used - one for this light and the other for the german rear foglamp under the rear bumper.

DougM

 

[Atoyot1031]

Atoyot - you may not have emissions regs, but I'll pretty much guarantee you have regs prohibiting the mounting of rear facing white lamps of any kind.

You maybe correct. However, we also have laws prohibiting the use of horse drawn carrages on cobblestone streets after 9pm on Sundays.

The fact is this is the rear of my minitruck that I drove aroudn here for the last 12 years without issue:


I once had a parking Nazi down in the Dirty D claim I had an illegal bumper and threaten to give me a ticket for that, but not even he asserted that my lighting was a problem, adn that was with clear lense LED tail lights as well as the rear facing floodlights.

I also googled this and came up with nada. So if there is a regulation, I will plead my ignorance (which according to my wife can be bountiful) and point out that this has gone unmentioned for better than the last decade, and hope for the best. I also have rear facing white lights on the headache rack of my plow truck without issue. I'll make sure to ask a member of our local PD next time I'm talking to them though.

Thanks for your concern though.

Nick

 

[IdahoDoug]

Of course, if you check and find out you're noncomplying, then you can't plead ignorance. I'd stay ignorant - as I am to my local regs....

DougM

 

[Atoyot1031]

Of course, if you check and find out you're noncomplying, then you can't plead ignorance. I'd stay ignorant - as I am to my local regs....

DougM

Me thinks yer on to something here.