Wiring the trucks tailights when it is being towed behind a camper

[Bandaid]

This coming week I am purchasing a tow dolly so that we can tow our XLT FRWD behind our camper. I am in the process of making brackets to make some mounts for aux taillights and was going to make up a harness for them to plug into the campers trailer lighting socket. I know this will work, but requires work to setup and tear down the system when we want to drive the truck around.
A friend of mine wrote and said people used to make a harness to go from the campers taillight plug to the taillight next to the trucks receiver. This should connect the trucks taillights to the camper. Almost sounds to good to be true!
What concerns me about doing this is back feeding the truck and damaging something. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be safe with the modern electronic tech controlled vehicles?

Bandaid

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[swtiming8]

This coming week I am purchasing a tow dolly so that we can tow our XLT FRWD behind our camper. I am in the process of making brackets to make some mounts for aux taillights and was going to make up a harness for them to plug into the campers trailer lighting socket. I know this will work, but requires work to setup and tear down the system when we want to drive the truck around.
A friend of mine wrote and said people used to make a harness to go from the campers taillight plug to the taillight next to the trucks receiver. This should connect the trucks taillights to the camper. Almost sounds to good to be true!
What concerns me about doing this is back feeding the truck and damaging something. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be safe with the modern electronic tech controlled vehicles?

Bandaid

If you’re towing behind the Maverick you shouldn’t have a problem using the installed 4 pin setup. But if you’re towing behind the camper you should install diode packages on the Mavericks rear lights to prevent back feeding.

 

[Bandaid]

If you’re towing behind the Maverick you shouldn’t have a problem using the installed 4 pin setup. But if you’re towing behind the camper you should install diode packages on the Mavericks rear lights to prevent back feeding.

Yeah, I thought there would have to be some kind of way to prevent back feeding the whole system on the truck. My original plan and the one I am going with for now is to wire up a pair of auxiliary trailer lights mount to brackets, wiring them to the campers light plug. This will mean more work setting up for towing and then once we arrive at a destination, but certainly safer than burning out a lot of expensive electronics!

Bandai

 

[Tailender]

Don't know how to post a link but here's a pic of what I would do.

 

[swtiming8]

Yeah, I thought there would have to be some kind of way to prevent back feeding the whole system on the truck. My original plan and the one I am going with for now is to wire up a pair of auxiliary trailer lights mount to brackets, wiring them to the campers light plug. This will mean more work setting up for towing and then once we arrive at a destination, but certainly safer than burning out a lot of expensive electronics!

Bandai

I bought a kit with magnetic light that will stick to tailgate ( I put a piece of plastic bag in between the lights and the tailgate to prevent scratches)

 

[Bandaid]

I bought a kit with magnetic light that will stick to tailgate ( I put a piece of plastic bag in between the lights and the tailgate to prevent scratches)

I have a Harbor Freight about a mile from my house. I may look into them if the ones I am creating don't work. I would have had them done this afternoon except that we got 8 " of rain since 5 AM this morning which kept me from doing measurements with the truck sitting outside. To be continued tomorrow morning!

 

[BlueRaven]

if you are buying a tow dolly, they already have lights on the fenders. its all you "legally" need. more is advised. yes their are companies that make a kit that lets you use your factory taillights when being towed. look at what people use when flat towing. same concept.

 

[Darnon]

A friend of mine wrote and said people used to make a harness to go from the campers taillight plug to the taillight next to the trucks receiver. This should connect the trucks taillights to the camper. Almost sounds to good to be true!
What concerns me about doing this is back feeding the truck and damaging something. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be safe with the modern electronic tech controlled vehicles?

The taillights of the truck aren't directly connected to the trailer harness so you can't backfeed the power like that.

 

[Bert Rooster]

This coming week I am purchasing a tow dolly so that we can tow our XLT FRWD behind our camper. I am in the process of making brackets to make some mounts for aux taillights and was going to make up a harness for them to plug into the campers trailer lighting socket. I know this will work, but requires work to setup and tear down the system when we want to drive the truck around.
A friend of mine wrote and said people used to make a harness to go from the campers taillight plug to the taillight next to the trucks receiver. This should connect the trucks taillights to the camper. Almost sounds to good to be true!
What concerns me about doing this is back feeding the truck and damaging something. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be safe with the modern electronic tech controlled vehicles?

Bandaid

There are a number of ways to provide brake/tail lights while towing. Just search Amazon for tow vehicle wire kits. Many companies make kits with everything needed: wire, diodes, and instructions. The least intrusive way is to buy a kit with bulbs and install the bulbs in an open area in the tail light assembly. This method keeps the truck and tow vehicle electrical systems isolated from one another. Another way is magnetic lights that are placed as needed while under tow. Over the years I have used all of the above methods and prefer the kits with the additional bulbs. I understand the Maverick has room within the tail light assembly to install the bulbs. I will take delivery of my Maverick this week and plan to install a Roadmaster base plate and Roadmaster LED tow vehicle wiring kit. (Roadmaster 152 LED Taillight Wiring Kit With LED Bulbs)
BTW, doesn't the tow dolly have the required lights on it? If you make your own wiring harness you MUST install diodes to prevent back feeding from the Maverick to your camper

Good luck & safe travels,

 

[flstsi52]

This coming week I am purchasing a tow dolly so that we can tow our XLT FRWD behind our camper. I am in the process of making brackets to make some mounts for aux taillights and was going to make up a harness for them to plug into the campers trailer lighting socket. I know this will work, but requires work to setup and tear down the system when we want to drive the truck around.
A friend of mine wrote and said people used to make a harness to go from the campers taillight plug to the taillight next to the trucks receiver. This should connect the trucks taillights to the camper. Almost sounds to good to be true!
What concerns me about doing this is back feeding the truck and damaging something. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be safe with the modern electronic tech controlled vehicles?

Bandaid

This coming week I am purchasing a tow dolly so that we can tow our XLT FRWD behind our camper. I am in the process of making brackets to make some mounts for aux taillights and was going to make up a harness for them to plug into the campers trailer lighting socket. I know this will work, but requires work to setup and tear down the system when we want to drive the truck around.
A friend of mine wrote and said people used to make a harness to go from the campers taillight plug to the taillight next to the trucks receiver. This should connect the trucks taillights to the camper. Almost sounds to good to be true!
What concerns me about doing this is back feeding the truck and damaging something. Anyone have any thoughts on whether this would be safe with the modern electronic tech controlled vehicles?

Bandaid

I installed led lights in rear bumper and ran wiring to the front.

 

[Bandaid]

There are a number of ways to provide brake/tail lights while towing. Just search Amazon for tow vehicle wire kits. Many companies make kits with everything needed: wire, diodes, and instructions. The least intrusive way is to buy a kit with bulbs and install the bulbs in an open area in the tail light assembly. This method keeps the truck and tow vehicle electrical systems isolated from one another. Another way is magnetic lights that are placed as needed while under tow. Over the years I have used all of the above methods and prefer the kits with the additional bulbs. I understand the Maverick has room within the tail light assembly to install the bulbs. I will take delivery of my Maverick this week and plan to install a Roadmaster base plate and Roadmaster LED tow vehicle wiring kit. (Roadmaster 152 LED Taillight Wiring Kit With LED Bulbs)
BTW, doesn't the tow dolly have the required lights on it? If you make your own wiring harness you MUST install diodes to prevent back feeding from the Maverick to your camper

Good luck & safe travels,

My wife always complains about how much "junk" I keep. I happened to have kept a pair of saved boat trailer tail lights and have made brackets the go on under the top hold tie down zorts at the back of the bed in the truck. Once it stops raining long enough to install them, I will create a wiring harness that goes from the camper to those lights, or tie the wires into the tail lights on the dolly.
I agree that the dolly would come with lights mounted on the fenders, but those fenders are at the front wheels of the vehicle when loaded. You can only see them if directly behind the vehicle being towed! Hence, by having aux. lights at the back of the towed vehicle, they can be seen. Also, the lights I am using have side marker lights as well.
If we continue to camp, I may look into the more expensive "bluetooth" light systems and eliminate the wires altogether,!
Thanks for your input.

Bandaid

 

[Bandaid]

I installed led lights in rear bumper and ran wiring to the front.

Very nice job! Certainly something I can consider doing, as they look a whole lot better than what I have made up out of scrap materials!

 

[Wiz]

I bought a kit with magnetic light that will stick to tailgate ( I put a piece of plastic bag in between the lights and the tailgate to prevent scratches)

Make sure the wires going from the coach to the magnetic lights are tight. I surface scratched the paint on my CRV because the wires were flapping in the winds some.

 

[realshelby]

The one thing that kept me from considering the magnetic or any battery powered tail/brake auxilliary lighting system is the battery life. Many will state that if run with taillights on they only get a few hours of run time. That don't cut it for me. I commonly run 10 hour days. So be sure your battery powered lights....don't run down while towing!

 

[MakinDoForNow]

The one thing that kept me from considering the magnetic or any battery powered tail/brake auxilliary lighting system is the battery life. Many will state that if run with taillights on they only get a few hours of run time. That don't cut it for me. I commonly run 10 hour days. So be sure your battery powered lights....don't run down while towing!

I would think that placing a 12v feed onto the jump posts under the hood would be sufficient to maintain the 12v battery in the hybrid. Assuming the BMS is active in accessory mode if not just have DC powered maintainer in 12v lead to the posts.
That still doesn't address the requirement to shifter through the drive modes. Just work in the recommended six hour period with a potty stop I'm 81 and they are about 250 miles apart anyway.

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