73CJto19JL
Active Member
- First Name
- Ron
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2019
- Threads
- 0
- Messages
- 30
- Reaction score
- 125
- Location
- West Bloomfield, MI
- Vehicle(s)
- 2019 JLU Rubi, 2015 GMC Sierra, 1964 Chevy Chevelle Malibu SS Convertible
- Occupation
- Electrical/ Controls Engineer
I solved my biggest complaint about my Jeep. The awful backup lights. I was looking for a clean solution that didn't look tacked on to the back of the Jeep and thought it'd be nice if I could install a removable backup light in the trailer hitch. I couldn't find a product on the market that I liked, and I was bored and felt like being a machinist for a day (no offense to machinists with real skills!), so I cobbled this up. All it took was an aluminum "DIY blank logo plate" for trailer hitches that I found on eBay, some 3/8" ABS Plastic from McMaster a little 6mm high density foam (anti-rattle/pretension) a 2.5" hole saw, a Dremel tool with cutting discs and an 8/32 tap. I used the Baja Designs S1 surface mounted LED with "work/scene" profile. I wired it with a connector directly into the backup light circuit of the trailer harness so that I can unplug it for towing (which I'm likely to do almost never with this vehicle anyway). I also used a locking hitch pin to discourage theft. I think the results look pretty decent - and MUCH better backup lighting.
Here it is in the dark. I waited for the best shot with the wind/exhaust steam. It's dark rainy and dreary here tonight, My driveway is 16 feet wide and about 50' long and it's pretty much all lit up. I think I couldn't ask for much more. I might make one for my pickup truck as well!