Recommendation for Submersible LED Backup Lights on a Boat Trailer

Question:

I have a Boat Trailer that I would like to add a pair of Backup Lights to assist while backing my boat up in low light conditions. I plan on mounting them on my Trailer Guides, which will place them in a vertical position picture attached. My thought was to mount them on a 1inch by 3inch by 8inch piece of Aluminum Tube, to better protect the light. I can run the wires from the Trailer up the guide, to the light. Ive been reading your reviews and their are several references to DOT Compliant. Do I need to pay attention to this, when Im using these on my Boat Trailer? Which would you recommend, BUL10CB, or BUL72CB? Thank you for your help!

asked by: Mike S

Expert Reply:

I can help you add reverse lights to your trailer.

Yes, It is important to pay attention to DOT compliance when adding lights on your boat trailer. Compliance will be met if you use the Optronics # BUL10CB light as your backup light. The # BUL72CB is purposed for a utility light and will not meet the criteria for reverse lights on the roadway.

In order to add reverse lights to your trailer would would need to have a 7-Way on the trailer and a 7-Way on the vehicle. On the vehicle side, if you are looking at the back of the 7-Way where the wires connect, the reverse light circuit is the center pin. It will need to connect to a reverse light wire behind one of the vehicle tail lights. On the trailer side the matching pin is again the center pin. So from that pin, you would route wire to reverse lights. If you don't already have the 7 ways we offer some for each side # C57674 for your vehicle and # A7WCB for the trailer. For the wiring of the lights, I recommend you use 14 gauge # DW07550-1 or 16 gauge # 16-1-1 wire, to run the power and ground from the lights to your trailer.

I would also recommend the use of a grommet for your # BUL10CB light like # a70gb. To connect this light you will need a wiring harness, # A49PB, to connect wires to the light. The light itself is submersible but the wiring connections will need to be kept out of the water. I recommend using shrink tubing, butt connectors # 05732-2, liquid electrical tape # SWC50122, and dielectric grease # 11755 to used between the light and the wiring harness. If these connections are not protected from the water they can short out.

If you are having trouble loading your boat in low light conditions we offer something similar to what you are describing with the CE Smith Post-Style Guide-Ons with LED lights # CE27740.

These attach to the rear of your trailer and extend out of the water, providing visual targets to center the boat between during loading. They make it easy to load your boat onto your trailer and safer to transport it at night. The # CE27740 is a 1-piece, sealed units that are shockproof and waterproof. And they activate automatically with your trailer's tail lights. These posts mount by using u-bolts that fit trailer frames up to 3 inches wide x 4-1/4 inches tall, if your is larger we do offer a set for frames up to 3 inches wide x 5-1/4 inches tall # CE11416.

I've linked a video review of the CE Smith LED Guide-Ons for your convenience.