Flat towing - lights setup

[Bert Rooster]

My Maverick Hybrid XLT is currently shipping/in transit I currently tow a Jeep Liberty so have a Roadmaster tow bar. I have purchased the Roadmaster baseplate for my Maverick. My question is concerning toad lights. Seems like everyone is using diodes and existing lamps. My Jeep had room in the tail light housing to install an additional lamp socket. It sounds as if this is not the case for Maverick - correct?

2023 Maverick Hybrid XLT
Atlas Blue, XLT Lux, moon roof, Co-pilot 360
Ordered 9/16/2022, Built 9/14, shipped 9/15

Sponsored

 

[realshelby]

It can be a personal thing, but on the newer vehicles with the CanBus style lighting systems I don't want to cut into the factory wiring and add stuff.
The past 3 toads I have owned I went with the Blue Ox BX8869 tail light wiring kit.
The maverick is quite easy to install this kit. BTW, these kits are where you remove the taillight housing and drill a hole in the housing to fit the supplied bulb and base. Then you seal it with silicone. Never had an issue at all while running this setup.
I actually put the bulb in the LOWER part of the housing. One thing I noticed is that the bulb is much brighter in the Maverick than it was in my Jeep Wrangler. Meaning the bulb/base is in a better spot to project light into the lens of the housing.
You have to run wiring for any setup. While drilling the hole might intimidate some, I have a good hole saw and I use a die grinder to fit the base so it snaps in tightly. I was going to add LED bulbs....but it is quite bright as is so I am leaving it alone.

 

[Bert Rooster]

Thanks for the info. This is exactly what I did on my Jeep Liberty and would like to do on my Maverick when it arrives. In my mind being able to have toad lights totally isolated from the vehicle electrical system is ideal. I am happy to hear this is an option on the Maverick.
I used a Roadmaster light kit for the Liberty that required drilling about a 1" hole in the tail light housing, I will have to take a look at the Blue Ox kit.

2023 Maverick Hybrid XLT
Atlas Blue, XLT Lux, moon roof, Co-pilot 360
Ordered 9/16/2022, Built 9/14, shipped 9/15
Estimated delivery: 10/1 - 10/14

 

[realshelby]

Blue Ox light kit will install just the like the Roadmaster one you had. I had always used the Blue Ox and I think the price is good on it. Either would be just fine.

 

[Bert Rooster]

I got my Maverick home and was looking at the tail light assemblies, looks like the bulb will have to installed in the side of the housing rather than an empty spot in the rear. I see you put yours in the bottom of the housing, I'm thinking top might be more visible.

 

[realshelby]

Yes, mine is in the side ( towards the tailgate) of the housing. Top might be better. But the lower part works very well and is much brighter than any other vehicle I have used these on. Meaning I have it in a good position for the reflector/lense to work well. With the motorhomes huge tailights up higher I don't worry about the ones on the Maverick being where they are.

 

[Bert Rooster]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at the Roadmaster kit with LED bulbs, but will probably go with an incandescent bulb kit. The LEDs look directional and may not be bright enough when inserted sideways into the lens housing. I agree that the big high up lights on the motor home are most visible, I'm more concerned about someone rear ending the toad not realizing it is a toad - too many impatient drivers out there that find it impossible to follow a motor home and will pass at all costs.

 

[MuleTrainMav]

I got my Maverick home and was looking at the tail light assemblies, looks like the bulb will have to installed in the side of the housing rather than an empty spot in the rear. I see you put yours in the bottom of the housing, I'm thinking top might be more visible.

My Maverick Hybrid XLT is currently shipping/in transit I currently tow a Jeep Liberty so have a Roadmaster tow bar. I have purchased the Roadmaster baseplate for my Maverick. My question is concerning toad lights. Seems like everyone is using diodes and existing lamps. My Jeep had room in the tail light housing to install an additional lamp socket. It sounds as if this is not the case for Maverick - correct?

2023 Maverick Hybrid XLT
Atlas Blue, XLT Lux, moon roof, Co-pilot 360
Ordered 9/16/2022, Built 9/14, shipped 9/15

 

[MuleTrainMav]

I bought the Roadmaster diode kit but did not want to cut into the factory wires so I purchased another wiring harness that uses the Ford Mav harness connectors (male and female). I will remove the connectors and make my own harness to include the diodes. I can then just plug the diodes into the tail light connections, leaving the original wiring untouched. I tried to find the connectors on Fords parts, but couldn't so I just picked up another harness that was made for the Maverick on eTrailer. Cost seems to be close to what Ford would charge for 4 connectors anyway. I will get some extra wire in the deal which will probably come in handy somewhere, sometime.

 

[gwrace14651]

I have resistors wired into the lights to accommodate the diode dynamics LED lights all around. So I did not want to add anything else to that set of circuits. Just went with cab mounted mag lights. I also did not want to mess with adding a brake relay switch or drilling holes in my tail lights. Ran the wire down though the front of the bed, along the frame to the front of the truck. Then just hook up to 4 pin plug on the RV. The RV has both a 4 pin and 7pin plug. You can also get wireless mag lights but the battery life is short. Lights store in under tonneau cover when not in use

 

[MikeC]

I just installed the Roadmaster diode kit and cut into the Ford wiring. So far, so good. All lights are working with no issues.

 

[Tygger5]

I bought the Roadmaster diode kit but did not want to cut into the factory wires so I purchased another wiring harness that uses the Ford Mav harness connectors (male and female). I will remove the connectors and make my own harness to include the diodes. I can then just plug the diodes into the tail light connections, leaving the original wiring untouched. I tried to find the connectors on Fords parts, but couldn't so I just picked up another harness that was made for the Maverick on eTrailer. Cost seems to be close to what Ford would charge for 4 connectors anyway. I will get some extra wire in the deal which will probably come in handy somewhere, sometime.

I was looking to do the same thing since I did not want to cut into original wiring. How did this work out for you? And did you install the brake relay under the dash?

 

[MuleTrainMav]

Plan worked fine but I did not install the brake light relay. It is extremely difficult to get to the brake pedal switch and that would require a wire splice to install. I believe that turning and braking at the same time is not likely to create that much confusion as the RV will be the most visible for the longest time.

 

[Tygger5]

Great! Thanks for this suggestion. I'm doing the same. Just ordered the Roadmaster diode kit and the Curt trailer wiring kit for the Mav plugs.

 

[MuleTrainMav]

Seems like a waste to cut up the Curt harness but the wire and connectors come in handy. I would really like to install an indicator light connected to the third brake light that would be visible to me in the RV. This is to ensure that the brake is releasing properly and not dragging as some have reported issues with the toad braking systems doing this and ruining brakes, bearing and in some cases, wheels. Haven't found a good way to access this harness yet.

Sponsored