Adding aftermarket backup lights

[yakk]

I am thinking of mounting a set of fog lights under the back bumper to increase my visibility when backing up.

I was wondering how to wire them. I don't need to have a switch under the dash, I would just want them to come on when in reverse.

I am assuming that I would need a relay and a separate line to each light (as opposed to just jumping them off the factory harness).

I was looking at this example http://www.4x4connection.com/tech/ipfdirections.htm

and was wondering, does the electro-tap trip the relay when the factory backup lights come on?

Has anyone done this? Is there a better way to wire it if I don't care about having a manual switch? And what would a good ground location be in the bed?

thanks, Jack

[Faze3]

I did this to a Ram I had.

Bought an el-cheapo light @ WalMart. I forget what it was called. A worklight or something. It was in the automotive section.

I took an extension cord, cut both ends off and spliced the ends off the worklight. I took the tail light out, removed the back-up bulb, rammed the spliced end of one end of the extension cord in and put the bulb back in.

I took the bolt off the work light (it was the type that had a mount on it), popped out one of the covers for the towball and mounted the light upside-down under the bumper. I ran the cord under the bumper and back through the underside of the tail light, so you never saw the wiring. Soldiered the other end to the worklight, and wrapped the wires with electrical tape (whole get up was black, so you didn't notice the splice job to begin with).

It never gave me any problems and I never had to splice into the wiring. Since it was at the contacts to the bulb, it only came on when I put it into reverse.

Worked like a champ and cost me under $10.

[norwood]

I've thought about doing this with the auxillary lights on the rear bumper too. Would come in real handy when launching or loading my boat after dark. Only I wanted the lights to come on with the cargo light/switch. How would one go about doing this?

Thanks

[gremlin96]

to come on with the cargo light. use a relay kit for fog lights. tap in after the light switch.

[yakk]

Originally Posted by Faze3

I did this to a Ram I had.

Bought an el-cheapo light @ WalMart. I forget what it was called. A worklight or something. It was in the automotive section.

I took an extension cord, cut both ends off and spliced the ends off the worklight. I took the tail light out, removed the back-up bulb, rammed the spliced end of one end of the extension cord in and put the bulb back in.

I took the bolt off the work light (it was the type that had a mount on it), popped out one of the covers for the towball and mounted the light upside-down under the bumper. I ran the cord under the bumper and back through the underside of the tail light, so you never saw the wiring. Soldiered the other end to the worklight, and wrapped the wires with electrical tape (whole get up was black, so you didn't notice the splice job to begin with).

It never gave me any problems and I never had to splice into the wiring. Since it was at the contacts to the bulb, it only came on when I put it into reverse.

Worked like a champ and cost me under $10.

I would do that to someone's Ram, too. But I'm thinking of something a bit better for my Silverado.