Just got done installing some auxillary reverse lights on my truck.. I don't know about you guys, but the stock reverse lights SUCK when trying to back up at night, and I wired them directly to the battery, since I have to often hook up my trailer at night, these will help me see what Im doing. Lights and switch cost a grand total of $25 at pepboys... Gotta love the cheap mods.. Here are a couple pics:

Switch location:


Lights mounted on rear bumper:


The hardest part was finding a place on the firewall to feed the wires into the cab. After some backwards thinking, I found a grommet and squeezed em through. That, and I ran out of wire, and didn't have enough to run from the rear of the truck all the way up to the front. After a quick trip to the hardware store, problem solved. If anyone likes to see at night while backing up, I recommend these! I have to back into my driveway and often times its at night, so I know these will help!
Scott

 

a very good mod........you will be glad they are there when hooking up at night

 

That was the main reason for the reverse lights, mostly for when hooking up at night, but I figured, for the price, you can't beat em. It coulda been even cheaper, but I didn't like the switch that came with the lights, so I bought the one you see in the pics for $5
Scott

 

You can't beat that, especially if you are hooking up a trailer at night. I agree -- the reverse lights leave a little to be desired.

 

Well, I got a wild hair up my butt, and decided that I wanted the lights to come on whenever I shifted the 6 spd into reverse, as well as being able to light them up at a flick of the switch.. so with a little test light work, and a jumper wire, they now come on when I shift into reverse, and when I hit the switch
Scott

 

An easy way to fish wires through those grommets, for me anyway is the needle off one of those turkey baster things that you nject flavorings into the meat with. Just wait till the wife aint lookin, she got kinda pissy. Stick the needle through from the opposite side of the grommet from your wire and then feed the wire into the end of the needle and pull it back out. Your wire is right there in front of you.

 

Very good idea! Thanks for the suggestion.. I will have to try that one next time! Im going to be adding front lights to the truck eventually, so I will remember that!
Scott

 

Just to be technically correct....having the switch in some states is illegal. The rear lights must be wired into the back up light circuit.

Probably wouldnt matter with this bunch though....

 

I actually did not know that it was illegal in some states to have a switched reverse light setup.. I did wire it into my reverse lights to the factory reverse light wire, but also have it setup to a switch for when Im hooking up my trailer at night.
Scott

 

Great idea. Nice truck by the way