Trailer Hitch / Back-up light attach

[rdhogg]

Got a question. I am thinking about attaching some Rough Country slim line LED 6" bar lights to enhance the back up lighting. How hard to you think it will be to drill a hole in the part of the frame where the receiver goes. My thought was to use self taping screws to hold the mounting brackets to that. The light bars would shine between that frame and the bumper. The distance between should be plenty to allow the light bars to shine through. Has anyone tried this or what are your thoughts for this project. There is no simple way to put the light bars on the back, i did not want to cut the bumper to put the square LED lights in. Any other suggestions ? thanksView attachment 276959 View attachment 276960

Install update: I took the suggestions from several forum members others. I also found on YouTube a Rough Country LED 6' light bar used as back up lights as well as talking to Rough Country Tech Support. SO here is the result. I installed them on each of the rear lower bumper mounts with a piece of 1/8" aluminum 1 1/2" wide X 10" long mounted the Rough Country 'Slimline' LED bars to it. Then connected the light bars directly to each tail light backup wiring ( Rough Country endorsed this method) , I did end up with a lot of great wiring that was supplied with the RC kit but I can use it on a later project. MY plan 'B' was to mount the lights under the hitch frame between the bumper and hitch, that did not work out , it did not allow for any angle adjustment plus the clearance between the spare tire and the hitch frame was very close. The slime line, tucks very nice under the rear bumper and is hardly noticeable which was what I was trying to accomplish. Take a look at the before and after pictures and let me thinks your thoughts. ( I did not elect to have a on/off switch at the dash to be able to turn on without having the truck in reverse)

 

[2591tdj]

Looks great. I’m going to climb back under mine and see about adding some. I put similar LED bar lights from Amazon on the rear of my 2005. They work fantastic and are super bright. You may have just showed me how to add them to my 2019. Thanks!

 

[rdhogg]

Looks great. I’m going to climb back under mine and see about adding some. I put similar LED bar lights from Amazon on the rear of my 2005. They work fantastic and are super bright. You may have just showed me how to add them to my 2019. Thanks!

After I saw the YouTube of the Rough Country LED bars I decided that it was the easiest place for me to install and keep them out of view

 

[2591tdj]

After I saw the YouTube of the Rough Country LED bars I decided that it was the easiest place for me to install and keep them out of view

I just located that video and your comment. Watching it now.

I’ll use a different type of tap. Those ScotchLock suitcase connectors are notorious for failing. I used them for many, many years but no longer do.

 

[rdhogg]

I just located that video and your comment. Watching it now.

I’ll use a different type of tap. Those ScotchLock suitcase connectors are notorious for failing. I used them for many, many years but no longer do.

What kind of connectors do you use now a days, I am not a real fan of those, but I was getting excited about completing the install and that is the only ones I had in my arsenal, ha. They are up behind the tail light housings so they are not subjected to harsh weather , I do kind of worry about the lights themselves being right in line of the water spray coming off the rear wheels during rain (not worry about snow/ice in Houston ), so time will tell about the water exposure I put a good wrapping of 'quality' electoral tape around them and used the existing wire looms plus a short piece of loom from the lights to the loom coming from each tail light. I bought some paint for the aluminum brackets (but didn't use it, whos going to see it anyway, ha). I could have used shorter pieces of bracket but I did not want to have the lights too close to the exhaust. Is this the YouTube video you found?:

 

[2591tdj]

That’s the one. You should be okay. It sounds like you’ve done all that you can to protect the connections. If I can’t solder the wires and heat shrink them, I like to use a screw-down tap though have used a T-tap.

 

[rdhogg]

That’s the one. You should be okay. It sounds like you’ve done all that you can to protect the connections. If I can’t solder the wires and heat shrink them, I like to use a screw-down tap though have used a T-tap.

You're 100% right solder/heat shrink is the only / best way to go. I seriously considered doing it for this project but it was getting dark , I wanted to finish to see what they looked like lit up at dark, ha. My plans and execution of such get in the way sometimes. Kinda like reading instructions, I tell myself all the time," they include then in the package for a reason", and I answer myself " yeah its for someone that does not know what they are doing" LOL. So net, net you are right, the connectors should be ok.