Dingy Running Lights

[Craig P.]

While driving at night during on a recent trip, a car merging onto the freeway almost collided into my dingy as I was passing him. My current dingy (Tacoma long bed double cab) is considerably longer than my last dingy. Since only the dingy tail lights are illuminated at night, I'm thinking that maybe if I illuminate the side marker lights as well, my dingy will be more visible to other vehicles.

I suppose I could turn on the dingy's parking lamps, but I would rather have everything power up with the coach's lights. I have a CW installed RoadMaster wiring harness. I am considering re-wiring the lighting kit so that the side markers light up with the tail lamps.

Two questions:

1. Can this be done by running a jump wire to each side marker light from the tail lamp?

2. Will I screw up any of my electronics in attempting this?

Craig

[Craig P.]

While driving at night during on a recent trip, a car merging onto the freeway almost collided into my dingy as I was passing him. My current dingy (Tacoma long bed double cab) is considerably longer than my last dingy. Since only the dingy tail lights are illuminated at night, I'm thinking that maybe if I illuminate the side marker lights as well, my dingy will be more visible to other vehicles.

I suppose I could turn on the dingy's parking lamps, but I would rather have everything power up with the coach's lights. I have a CW installed RoadMaster wiring harness. I am considering re-wiring the lighting kit so that the side markers light up with the tail lamps.

Two questions:

1. Can this be done by running a jump wire to each side marker light from the tail lamp?

2. Will I screw up any of my electronics in attempting this?

Craig

[RV Wizard]

Craig, you do not want to back feed the dash or controls of the truck. You can tap off the light wiring to feed the truck but where you "Tee" into the marker light, you will need to cut it completely and install a diode so current will only flow to the marker bulb and not up the harness toward the dash. The diode will let current from the dash flow to the marker light when you are normally driving the truck. The only other way would be to supply the marker light with its own bulb or add marker lights. Good luck and keep us posted on your decision.

[Craig P.]

Thanks Mike. The tail lamps have the diodes that you spoke of. Can I tee off of those to power the rear side marker lights? They are in the same tail lamp housing as the rear tail/stop lamps.

Craig

[Pusherman]

Craig, no, you would have to use 2 additional diodes, one at each rear marker light. The output side of the diode would obviously go to the marker light, and the inputs would be 1) from the standard wiring input today, and the 2nd would be from your tail light source from your TOAD wiring harness (hope this makes sense).

Please let us know how you make out, as I too would like to illuminate my side marker lamps (see post under HHR).

Another way to do this is to tap the running light circuit, using a single diode setup, further up in the wiring harness. Problem here is finding the correct wire. Not sure if one wire powers all the rear lamps, or only one side of the rear lamps. Experimentation would tell.

[Bob&Pat]

Mike "RV Wizard"� and Don "Pusherman"� Re: my 2008 HHR "toad wiring"�.

Had the baseplate and the wiring installed Tuesday December 4, 2007.

The side marker lights on the HHR light up and also the front amber "parking"� lights (maybe they are the front running lights) and the license plate lights also light up when I turn on the motorhome headlight switch. When the HHR is plugged into the motorhome when towing. The upper brakelight in the center on the HHR does not light up when the brakes are applied.

My old toad the Pontiac Sunfire I believe only the tail lights would light up when towing. Pulled out the wiring instructions for the Sunfire and it shows that four diodes are required.

So I did some further checking and only two diodes were installed one on the left side and one on the right side. The wires enter the rear compartment through a hole drilled in the spare tire well. The green wire runs to the right tail light with a diode installed and the brown, yellow and white wires run to the left tail light and only one diode is installed on the yellow wire.

Obviously I am getting feedback because the lack of diodes installed. As said above the side marker lights on the HHR light up and also the front amber "parking"� lights (maybe they are the front running lights) and the license plate lights also light up when I turn on the motorhome headlight switch.

Also another problem is that the wires run under the vehicle and the installer let the wire just hang when crossing over the tailpipe (there is a metal shield attached to the tailpipe just slightly above the tailpipe) but the wires should not be touching the tailpipe at all.

Looking forward to some "feedback"� no pun intended.

Bob

Craig didn't mean to hijack you post, just thought my problem was related to yours.

[Craig P.]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll give it all a try when I have some free time.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bob&Pat:
Craig didn't mean to hijack you post, just thought my problem was related to yours. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Not a problem Bob. The more, the merrier!

Craig

[Jestme13]

Instead of all that hassle, I am using vinyl magnets with D.O.T. reflective tape applied to them. When I tow the Toad I just stick the magnets on the 4 side corners, and boy do they light up when hit by any type of light.

[Craig P.]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Jestme13:
Instead of all that hassle, I am using vinyl magnets with D.O.T. reflective tape applied to them. When I tow the Toad I just stick the magnets on the 4 side corners, and boy do they light up when hit by any type of light. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Something like that will work well when the traffic that you are concerned about are at a 90 degree angle from you, but in the case that I cited, they were traveling in the same direction, merging into traffic. Don't think reflectors will do much in that case, but a good idea nonetheless.

Craig

[lookin]

I too have an HHR and would like the side marker lights to work while towing it. Has anyone found the magic wire to achieve this?