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10-21-2018, 08:18 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,025
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Wireless Tow Lights Abound
I have given up trying to wire our Rav4 for lights. The wiring is no big deal but in order to access the tail lights you have to disassemble half of the car! Well at least all the plastic side panels inside the car. They clip on and the old brittle plastic would break! I have been looking at wireless lights. Lately there seems to be more in the marketplace I liked the Pilot or Bully units ( same manufacturer) but they use penlight batteries and each light has 4 screws to access the lights. I have also seen reviews where they sometimes do not communicate with the transmitter. They can be had for about $80.00 The tow mate units are well made and used by tow truck operators. They are expensive and very industrial. Not many LED's But then I came across this unit.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/132798090068?ul_noapp=true
Lithium battery and solar charging. Good price. I don't like the dongle. I have communicated with the seller and he answered a few questions promptly.
Here is another set. Cheap but know nothing about them.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rechargeabl...V8BC:rk:8:pf:0
This next one looks interesting other than the strange dongle.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lite-it-Wir...#shpCntId#shId Has anyone tried any of these lights? Comments appreciated. It appears that the Chinese mfrs. are seeing a new market. I would bet that within a few months more will enter the market and the prices will drop.
__________________
Moisheh
2008 Dynasty 42' Diamond IV
1988 Bluebird PT38
2009 Silverado Toad
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10-21-2018, 11:02 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,642
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I use the Tow Mate wireless lights. Yes they are expensive. Yes they work every time. Yes they are rechargeable. Yes they work in all types of weather. Yes you can tow for 12+ hours on one charge. Yes they recharge fully in 4 hours. No there are no communication problems with the coach. No they do not leave scratch marks on the toad.
You get what you pay for.....
__________________
2024 KZ Durango Gold
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10-21-2018, 12:38 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,025
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Thanks Krob
__________________
Moisheh
2008 Dynasty 42' Diamond IV
1988 Bluebird PT38
2009 Silverado Toad
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11-17-2018, 03:33 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 420
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I purchased these 2 item and they attach direct to vehicle and plug into the MH. Bingo, all I had to do was change the plug out.
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11-17-2018, 05:17 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,025
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Mkle: There are lost of wired magnetic tow lights. This thread is about WIRELESS tow lights.
__________________
Moisheh
2008 Dynasty 42' Diamond IV
1988 Bluebird PT38
2009 Silverado Toad
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11-19-2018, 02:01 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 420
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moisheh
Mkle: There are lost of wired magnetic tow lights. This thread is about WIRELESS tow lights.
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Here’s pics of the set up.
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11-19-2018, 02:07 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Byhalia, MS
Posts: 3,367
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I have the TowMate wireless setup. Lifetime warranty, extended to subsequent owners. Quality product and good people. Mine plug into a live cigarette lighter port for power, or I use my Li-ion battery booster pack. Either way works.
jt
__________________
2019 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH
2005 Newmar Kountry Star Gas (Sold)
2022 JL Wrangler 4xe or 2017 Harley Ultra in tow
JT, Em & the boys, Kong & Baxter (rescued grey tabbies)
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11-19-2018, 02:51 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,025
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Mike: Thanks for the pic. Harley: I agree that the tow mate is a quality product. My Rav 4 is a PIA for mounting tow lights. There is a plastic "wing" on the rear door that rises about 3 inches above the roof line. The only place you can mount a Tow mate is on the roof. The door ( tailgate) has no empty spaces. The center of that door has the plastic spare tire carrier. The lights that Mike referenced have the magnet mounted on the back of the light. They would fit on the rear fenders under the existing tail lights. I would prefer non Chinese lights but none seem to work on our Rav. I am not sure if Mike's lights have non mar magnets. They are not wireless but running wires to below the existing tail lights would easy. I messaged the seller via E bay but have not received an answer. So many of those Ebay sellers do not even speak English although they live in California! Harley: Is your Tow mate the RV model?
__________________
Moisheh
2008 Dynasty 42' Diamond IV
1988 Bluebird PT38
2009 Silverado Toad
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11-19-2018, 04:28 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moisheh
Mike: Thanks for the pic. Harley: I agree that the tow mate is a quality product. My Rav 4 is a PIA for mounting tow lights. There is a plastic "wing" on the rear door that rises about 3 inches above the roof line. The only place you can mount a Tow mate is on the roof. The door ( tailgate) has no empty spaces. The center of that door has the plastic spare tire carrier. The lights that Mike referenced have the magnet mounted on the back of the light. They would fit on the rear fenders under the existing tail lights. I would prefer non Chinese lights but none seem to work on our Rav. I am not sure if Mike's lights have non mar magnets. They are not wireless but running wires to below the existing tail lights would easy. I messaged the seller via E bay but have not received an answer. So many of those Ebay sellers do not even speak English although they live in California! Harley: Is your Tow mate the RV model?
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My 2018 Ford Edge SEL also needs extensive work to make the lights work (no one has yet positively confirmed a working solution) and has plastic all over the roof vice metal. I have a single luggage rack bar and have put two pieces of metal on it that hold my magnetic wireless lights (around $80). Up high and visible, the bar straps loops through the door openings on the rear door (I don't have luggage rack rails on the roof), potential for leaks when raining but I've got some extra weather stripping. Easy to put on and take off. I got the metal at Home Depot and fastened them using U bolts to the bar. It takes real effort to remove the magnetic lights.
I've also put a piece of foam glued underneath in case the metal tilts down due to wind pressure so the glass on the sunroof does not get damaged.
Now having said all this, its sitting in garage as we cannot go snowbirding due to DW's medical issues. However it was still the cheapest and easiest solution and should get a workout next year.
HTH
Chris
__________________
Retired Canadian Army WO (1972-2000)
2019 Georgetown 31L5 GT5
(1Bounder, 2 Dutch Stars, 1 HR Scepter, 1 HR Monarch and now 1 away from divorce )
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11-19-2018, 05:36 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Byhalia, MS
Posts: 3,367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moisheh
Mike: Thanks for the pic. Harley: I agree that the tow mate is a quality product. My Rav 4 is a PIA for mounting tow lights. There is a plastic "wing" on the rear door that rises about 3 inches above the roof line. The only place you can mount a Tow mate is on the roof. The door ( tailgate) has no empty spaces. The center of that door has the plastic spare tire carrier. The lights that Mike referenced have the magnet mounted on the back of the light. They would fit on the rear fenders under the existing tail lights. I would prefer non Chinese lights but none seem to work on our Rav. I am not sure if Mike's lights have non mar magnets. They are not wireless but running wires to below the existing tail lights would easy. I messaged the seller via E bay but have not received an answer. So many of those Ebay sellers do not even speak English although they live in California! Harley: Is your Tow mate the RV model?
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Yes it is the RV model. I mount it on the top of the liftgate of our Grand Cherokee just ahead of the plastic visor, and run the power wire in through the liftgate.
jt
__________________
2019 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH
2005 Newmar Kountry Star Gas (Sold)
2022 JL Wrangler 4xe or 2017 Harley Ultra in tow
JT, Em & the boys, Kong & Baxter (rescued grey tabbies)
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