Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Toads and Motorhome Related Towing
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-25-2016, 04:37 PM   #1
Member
 
billandkaren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 84
2017 Equinox brake light wiring

Hi everyone
I just updated to a 2017 Chevy Equinox and plan to do my own setups on the vehicle. I am having trouble choosing how to do the brake lights. There is a custom kit made by Hopkins that is a very easy install using the existing lights however the literature from Hopkins says because I have a combined lighting system and am using a auxiliary braking system I also have to install a brake light relay. This route seems to be getting a bit complex.
There is another wiring harness that requires adding a second bulb to the tail light and not tying into the existing wiring at all. This seems to be the best route to go but I'm looking for advice on which route to take.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
billandkaren is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 09-25-2016, 04:46 PM   #2
Senior Member


 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,909
billandkaren-

While you wait to hear from people who own and have modified Equinoxes, I'll give the summary.

The plug-and-play Hopkins solution is a great one. It's quick to install and may be easily removed when the car is no longer used as a toad. The brake relay may not be required (Review the "Is a Relay Required" section at this link, and call Hopkins to confirm); if it is you'll probably find the installation is not too complicated.

The added-bulb solution is simple. It doesn't touch the existing car wiring. Challenges include having the space to add bulbs to the light housings and the possibility that their locations in the housings may not give the most light.

Both methods, along with the third popular option (diodes), have their advocates.
__________________
Mark
2008 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30PDD (Ford F-53 chassis)
2009 Honda Fit Sport
l1v3fr33ord1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2016, 05:00 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
lllkrob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,642
Why fool with running wires and current feedback, bad diodes, and brake light relays. Go wireless. These are the professional wireless lights that I use. Yes they are somewhat expensive but when you take into consideration the cost of the wired units, installation, relays, etc. the cost is about the same. The magnets are very strong and padded so no scratches and they will last over 12 hours between recharges.


TM3N Pair of Individual WirelessTow Lights
__________________
2024 KZ Durango Gold
lllkrob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2016, 05:16 PM   #4
Member
 
billandkaren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by l1v3fr33ord1 View Post
billandkaren-

While you wait to hear from people who own and have modified Equinoxes, I'll give the summary.

The plug-and-play Hopkins solution is a great one. It's quick to install and may be easily removed when the car is no longer used as a toad. The brake relay may not be required (Review the "Is a Relay Required" section at this link, and call Hopkins to confirm); if it is you'll probably find the installation is not too complicated.

The added-bulb solution is simple. It doesn't touch the existing car wiring. Challenges include having the space to add bulbs to the light housings and the possibility that their locations in the housings may not give the most light.

Both methods, along with the third popular option (diodes), have their advocates.

Thanks for the feedback. I will call Hopkins tomorrow about the relay. I would prefer the plug and play as it does use the existing led lights

I will pull one of the tail lights and check for space for the bulb install. If I go this route I would suspect my brake lights would still light when the aux braking system presses the pedal. The tail lights might get a bit confusing. I wonder if there is a fuse to pull to disable the OEM brake lights?

I had the diodes on my Malibu. They worked fine but I never checked the aux braking issue. It's my first RV, I'm a newbie.
Again thanks for the help.
billandkaren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2016, 05:21 PM   #5
Member
 
billandkaren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Nashville TN
Posts: 84
Quote:
Originally Posted by lllkrob View Post
Why fool with running wires and current feedback, bad diodes, and brake light relays. Go wireless. These are the professional wireless lights that I use. Yes they are somewhat expensive but when you take into consideration the cost of the wired units, installation, relays, etc. the cost is about the same. The magnets are very strong and padded so no scratches and they will last over 12 hours between recharges.


TM3N Pair of Individual WirelessTow Lights

I looked at these but have a hard time with the price.

Thanks for the response
billandkaren is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
light, wiring, brake



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Trying to Decide Between 2017 Aspire and 2017 Anthem Ready2Travel Entegra Owner's Forum 42 09-10-2016 06:26 PM
2014 Chevy Equinox - Brake Light Relay T_Van Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 11 03-29-2014 09:25 PM
Ready Brake System with Equinox Questions reubenray Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 0 03-21-2013 11:35 AM
Chevy Equinox wiring George Z Toads and Motorhome Related Towing 11 11-03-2011 12:08 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.