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Rear work/backup lights ideas

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madmat

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Hey guys, i have a 2021 ram 2500 on order and i'm looking to see what you guys have done for backup/work light options. I know baja designs has a set meant for these trucks but im trying to stay within a budget for lighting and i blew that when i splurged on their Onx6 front light bar kit for my new truck. On my current truck i have recessed lights in my rear bumper and they work great but up here in canada with all the salty roads those light housings and the cutout bumper around them corrode and look horrible after the first winter or two.
Anyone have any other ideas or pics of what they have done?
 
I got the S8 front light bar kit and used the saved money to buy the BD rear setup as well. I like it very much. The S8 was enough extra light for my needs, and the Onx6 was overkill for me so it worked out. Good luck!
 
Here is what i use for reverse lights when i need em, i had all the materials so it cost me nothing i had no desire to start cutting up my new truck
 

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Yeah, I looked at doing that. For me it wasn't a solution, as when I'm pulling the bumper pull trailers as opposed to the GN, you can't use this. I have to pull a number of different trailers including bumper pull and didn't want the constant install/remove thing.
 
Wmhjr said:
Yeah, I looked at doing that. For me it wasn't a solution, as when I'm pulling the bumper pull trailers as opposed to the GN, you can't use this. I have to pull a number of different trailers including bumper pull and didn't want the constant install/remove thing.
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I dont use it much mainly when plowing in winter
 
cjmvt said:
Bajas are simple to install and work well. Tie them to an Aux switch and reverse circuit and makes hooking up trailers in the night time much easier. Use a waterproof SPDT relay, a non water proof one will work for about a week.


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Tied mine to the aux switch. Didn't connect them to the reverse circuit. I wanted to control when they were on as opposed to everytime I put the truck in reverse. They were super easy to install and work awesome.
 
Yeah id just connect them to the Aux switch as well. Don't want to blind everyone every time i put my truck in reverse LOL! Do the Baja's mount only in one specific spot or can they be mounted anywhere under the bumper? I run Rocktamer mudflaps when towing and im pretty sure they would get blocked by the mudflaps where they are looking at CJMVT's picture. Just hoping maybe id be able to mount them a little closer to the hitch so that they don't get blocked.
 
For you guys with the Baja designs backup lights...

Any idea if these would work with the AMP research rear bumper step?

I don’t have either, but I want both.
 
I will pick up the Baja kit for the rear soon. I have their squadron fog light kit on the front of the truck and it is high quality.
 
madmat said:
Awesome!! That solves my problems. Other then the cost factor that is. But seeing how that mounts i could probably fab something up and go with a little cheaper lighting option if i have to.
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Thats nothing to fab up im going to make the brackets when i get back to work tomorrow should not take longer than 30 mins for both out of 3/16” aluminum so it wont rust
 
madmat said:
Yeah id just connect them to the Aux switch as well. Don't want to blind everyone every time i put my truck in reverse LOL! Do the Baja's mount only in one specific spot or can they be mounted anywhere under the bumper? I run Rocktamer mudflaps when towing and im pretty sure they would get blocked by the mudflaps where they are looking at CJMVT's picture. Just hoping maybe id be able to mount them a little closer to the hitch so that they don't get blocked.
Click to expand...
I made my own mounts out of some spare steel in the shop (Dodge kit from BD was on backorder) but there are ton of different ways or locations to mount lights. The bottom plastic bumper valance is held on by about 100 fasteners. I used the bolt to the left of the referenced photo but there are plenty of options to choose from based on your requirements.

I ordered the wide driving lens but have ordered the flood/scene light because the lights tend to shine hotspots directly behind the truck and wash out the camera.

Screen Shot 2021-01-03 at 9.20.05 PM.png
 
Anybody have a pic (or just share your thoughts) of the light output on the Baja’s? The kit I’m looking at looks like the pics above, and is marketed as “wide cornering” so I am hopeful that the beam is wide and bright. The specs are 1130 lumen, 12w, 42° beam

If they have great output then I’m thinking about getting the kit and wiring one of them to the reverse circuit and wiring the other into the bed/cargo lights. My bed and cargo lights operate on the dash switch and I also have a factory button in the bed to operate them. I would mount them near the center of the vehicle like @cjmvt above. This way I would have stronger reverse output and I would have a work light and I would maintain the clean symmetrical look.

I have gotten to where I don’t like extra switches and buttons and I like setting things up to work how I want them without my input. I have my Baja designs fog lights set up to run automatically as well.
 
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You would hate the light wiring/relay/switch setup I'm working on... 4 relays and Aux switches to enable/disable/override rear lights on truck and trailer.

My bed/cargo lights timeout so I would be looking to put that extra light on its own switch.

As to the reverse lights, I would plan to use a relay and supplemental power if you use the truck reverse circuit, but consider using the trailer reverse circuit if you have the tow wiring setup.
 
Brutal_HO said:
You would hate the light wiring/relay/switch setup I'm working on... 4 relays and Aux switches to enable/disable/override rear lights on truck and trailer.

My bed/cargo lights timeout so I would be looking to put that extra light on its own switch.

As to the reverse lights, I would plan to use a relay and supplemental power if you use the truck reverse circuit, but consider using the trailer reverse circuit if you have the tow wiring setup.
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I like wiring and relays, just don’t like extra switches. I’m a simple man. My Baja fogs are set up on a wiring harness I made with a relay coming off the battery. The signal wire is tapped into the factory harness.

As for the reverse light setup.. the single pod draws .9A, I wasn’t planning on adding a relay for that little draw. I also plan on led bulbs in the factory reverse location so that should give me extra cushion, no?

I don’t mind the cargo/work light timing out, as the button is right behind the taillight (I assume we all have it?)
 
Ok I revisited my idea. I am thinking of just wiring the reverse lights to the cargo lamp circuit. (Soon to have a topper, would be nice for loading)

I tested my cargo light cab button today in reverse and drive. It works in both. Tested up to 55mph for over a minute. (In drive, not reverse)

what are the conditions of the cargo light button? How long til it times out?

I have a button in the bed that controls the lights as well. Does it time out as well?

I don’t need the aux backup / work lights all the time. But it would be great to have them on a button that works from the driver seat and from the bed of the truck and has a reminder light that it is on.
 
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