License plate light options for Ultraswing tire carrier? (1 Viewer)

[SoundFX]

Hey Everybody,

Hope it doesn't seem like I'm spamming the board with meaningless questions. If it's better to consolidate all of them in my first thread I apologize.

Today's conundrum:
I have a Rigd Ultraswing on the way. For some reason, I was under the impression that I wouldn't have much trouble hooking up an external license plate light (and maybe small brake light) via the tow electrical hookup next to the hitch receiver. Now that I'm looking around the web I'm not turning up much of anything that looks easy enough for a dummy such as myself. 2017 GX460, by the way. What I'd like to have is something very simple, plug and play, where I just plug the harness into the tow connector and attach the harness to the relocated license plate area. If I want to detach the carrier, simple unplug. Splicing wiring and all that doesn't appeal, not so much because I'm lazy but more because I'm ignorant and don't want to mess anything up. Is there an off-the-shelf or otherwise fairly straightforward option? Thanks in advance, once again.

 

[r2m]

When I had my GSXR motorcycle, I relocated my license plate which required a new light option.
I used these license plate frame nuts that are actually lights!
Amazon product ASIN B008RIEQXYEasy-peasy! Uses your existing license plate frame mounting holes! All you need to do is route your wire to them.

 

[SoundFX]

r2m, thank you very much for the reply. It might just be my computer, but I wasn't able to get your link to work. In terms of routing the wire, I guess that's where I'm most uninformed / lacking knowledge. My hope is to get something that plugs into the tow electrical connector, and then maybe fans out wires in a way that would be simple enough for me to understand. Is that what the product you linked does? Thanks again, Sir.

 

[Ncan2008]

r2m, thank you very much for the reply. It might just be my computer, but I wasn't able to get your link to work. In terms of routing the wire, I guess that's where I'm most uninformed / lacking knowledge. My hope is to get something that plugs into the tow electrical connector, and then maybe fans out wires in a way that would be simple enough for me to understand. Is that what the product you linked does? Thanks again, Sir.

Exactly what you said that's what I did. I cut off n taped whatever cables I didn't use from the plug.

 

[jmanscotch]

Get you a 4 pin flat trailer wiring harness that's long enough to route from the factory plug in, down the swing arm on both sides and to the final lights attachment points, something probably 6-8 feet will do. Here's an option

Amazon product ASIN B07WD56L5T
Then get whatever license plate lights and additional brake light you want and splice those into the 4-pin flat trailer harness using some 18 gauge heat shrink butt connectors and zip tie the entire wiring setup along the swing arms in a way that it won't stretch or get pinched or droop.

4 pin trailer wiring color code is:

White = Ground
Brown = Running Lights
Yellow = Left turn and brake light
Green = Right turn and brake light

For the license plate lights, run their positive to the Brown wire and negative to the White. This way the license plate lights turn on any time your vehicle lights are on.

For the additional brake light, run it's positive wire to either Yellow or Green and the negative to White, into the same (or different) butt connector the license plate light goes into. Disclaimer: on a 4-pin wiring setup, you have no option other than running the brake light to Yellow or Green, which will make your additional brake light blink with one of your blinkers.

On most traditional lighting (brake light and license plate lights) Red wires = positive and Black wires = negative. With most foreign lights you buy, say on Amazon, White wires = negative and Black wires = positive.

 

[Ncan2008]

Exactly what you said that's what I did. I cut off n taped whatever cables I didn't use from the plug.

 

[r2m]

Nice job! I may have pulled the electrical from the rear door and ran that to your license plate.
but potato, patato... As long as it works!

 

[SoundFX]

Gentlemen,

Thank you! This is fantastic info. Just what I needed. I'm very grateful, and I appreciate that it took time to write out these replies.

With gratitude,
Sfx

 

[Armed in Utah]

yes...I used the 'nut LED lamps' either E Bay or Amazon.....

Plugged into the flat 4 connector....metal loom instead of plastic stuff

tapping into the tail lights is just lots more work.....works great !

 

[Armed in Utah]

just prior to wiring job

 

[OCGX]

I had a Wilco Solo. I didn't keep it mounted permanantly. On day trips I let it cover the license plate. On longer trips, I mounted the plate to a bracket without a light. I never had a issue with toll roads or police, although you never know. I think the trailer harness is the way to go. Maybe not the screws with the lights, because the wires go through the holes and would be difficult to swap between.