Toads - what lights should be lit at night?

[Dutch Star Don]

Originally Posted by KenZ71

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to live on the edge and let the Toad license plate be dark.

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by KenZ71

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to live on the edge and let the Toad license plate be dark.

"Live on the edge", Ha! All you have to do is drive ANYWHERE in the U.S. in the evening and see how many tail lights, brake lights, turn signals (if anyone uses those anymore), third brake lights, head lights, license plate lights, marker lights and anything else are not working. AND then there's TRAILERS! the wife and I see sooooooo many trailers, i.e. travel, 5th wheel, cargo, utility, flatbed, car hauler, junk, and more, with NO LIGHTS AT ALL working. We've seen LEO sitting behind trailers with no lights working (stopped at a stop light in the evening) and go right on by.

So, a motorhome towing a toad with a license plate light out, is pretty much not gonna attract very much attention.
Scott

[georgelesley]

When we had a Ford Focus the license plate light was not lit either. Most are so small and dim you would have to be very close to see it anyway. I never have worried about it and and have never had a problem.

[Kevin_D]

Originally Posted by TJDave

In Washington State, they make us buy new license plates every so many years.

Not since 2015...

And not to hijack this thread, but TJDave, what tow bar do you use with your JT?

[TJDave]

Originally Posted by Kevin_D

Not since 2015...

And not to hijack this thread, but TJDave, what tow bar do you use with your JT?

2015? Shows how much I pay attention!

I towed it with my old Blue Ox Aventa II for a couple trips, and noticed how loose and sloppy it became. Discontinued design and I bought it used years ago to tow the 2dr JK.
I was concerned towing a brand new rig. So, I bought a new Blue Ox Avail at the beginning of summer. Both are rated for 10,000#. The JT tows great.

[Dsmullen]

We just bought a 2021 Cherokee Trailhawk and I installed the baseplate, Air Force one braking system and lighting recently. The Cherokee taillights located in the easily removable light assemblies are easily dioded to light the OUTSIDE taillight sections but not the extended taillight sections located in the rear door. Each of those rear door taillight sections has a separate wire feeding it, and the license plate light is yet another separate wire. I had 4 diodes on hand so I hooked up the door taillight sections as well but not the license plate light. I may add a diode set there when I get a chance. There are about 15 to 20 separate wires up at the rubber boot at the top entry to the door. What a bear to separate and find the actual wires.

Blu/wht is license plate light. Left taillight in door is yel/wht and right taillight in door is gray/wht as I recall.

I ran an extra brown taillight feed wire from the left taillight assembly up to the boot at the top of the rear door.

I would think though that as long as the coach license plate is illuminated that all should be OK.

[Kevin_D]

Originally Posted by Dsmullen

I would think though that as long as the coach license plate is illuminated that all should be OK.

IF you can see it around the toad...

[FIRE UP]

Originally Posted by Dsmullen

We just bought a 2021 Cherokee Trailhawk and I installed the baseplate, Air Force one braking system and lighting recently. The Cherokee taillights located in the easily removable light assemblies are easily dioded to light the OUTSIDE taillight sections but not the extended taillight sections located in the rear door. Each of those rear door taillight sections has a separate wire feeding it, and the license plate light is yet another separate wire. I had 4 diodes on hand so I hooked up the door taillight sections as well but not the license plate light. I may add a diode set there when I get a chance. There are about 15 to 20 separate wires up at the rubber boot at the top entry to the door. What a bear to separate and find the actual wires.

Blu/wht is license plate light. Left taillight in door is yel/wht and right taillight in door is gray/wht as I recall.

I ran an extra brown taillight feed wire from the left taillight assembly up to the boot at the top of the rear door.

I would think though that as long as the coach license plate is illuminated that all should be OK.

Well,
According to just about every motor vehicle manual for any and all states, and or, DOT set of specs for the nation, If a vehicle/trailer is to be used on the road, and, it has a license plate, that plate is to be lit at night, in short. Now, while it may be a written statute or law, that doesn't mean folks *always* comply.
Scott

[Mudfrog]

I only have the brakes and turn signals wired on our Jeep toad. When I do tow at night, I simply pull the switch in the Jeep one click to turn on its parking lights. This of course, illuminates the tail and license plate lights. Not much draw so I can drive for hours this way without running the Jeep's battery down.