Boring into exterior wall to install extra lights?

[Travelers not Campers]

I have an old 2003 Sunseeker and have always noticed other drivers are not alerted by my signal and/or brake lights. They are not bright enough. I have a couple of high visibility LED lights that I want to install higher up on the wall.

My question is: is it wise to try to bore through the rear wall and try to wire from behind or would it be smarter to mount boxes on the wall and use wiring channels to the trailer hitch connections?

[Ford Idaho]

What is the number of the bulb [1157]?
Replace it with a brighter one or replace the lights all together.

https://www.google.com/webhp?tab=iw&...=1157+led+bulb

[donanddona]

Boring through an exterior wall is generally not advisable. No blueprints....

[Capt. Mike]

What Ford Idaho said...just replace the standard incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. Available pretty reasonably on amazon.com

[Windywest]

If changing the bulbs don't work, couldn't you buy a pair of exterior brake/signal lights and mount them on your back bumper ? Wiring would be easy if you have a trailer hitch.

[VinceU]

Originally Posted by Travelers not Campers

I have an old 2003 Sunseeker and have always noticed other drivers are not alerted by my signal and/or brake lights. They are not bright enough. I have a couple of high visibility LED lights that I want to install higher up on the wall.

My question is: is it wise to try to bore through the rear wall and try to wire from behind or would it be smarter to mount boxes on the wall and use wiring channels to the trailer hitch connections?

The hitch wiring would be ugly, you can use a stud finder to carefully scan the area you want to drill. Stay away from obvious wire routes by inspecting inside where they might be. Usually can find wiring near lights by removing shrouds. You need to do this anyway for new wire routes. Or increase the effective wattage of the bulbs. LED allow for up to 10 times the brightness due lower supply currents.

[MOD Guy]

Depending on the type of lights you have, you may be able to retro fit them to LED. That's what I did. Kit from Command Electronics made to convert my lights.





Much brighter than the orig. single bulb setup.

[Travelers not Campers]

Thanks VinceU. Looking at your response I think I'll stay outside the wall and create an exterior mounting box for them with wiring channels. Amazing how many people don't read the question. Thanks

[Travelers not Campers]

Thanks MOD Guy but I want these up high at truckers eye level. I hate the sound of squeeling truck tires behind me.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Travelers not Campers

Thanks VinceU. Looking at your response I think I'll stay outside the wall and create an exterior mounting box for them with wiring channels. Amazing how many people don't read the question. Thanks

If all else fails, just go to Harbor Freight and get complete new LED light fixtures and replace the stock ones.

[Ford Idaho]

https://www.google.com/search?q=wire...w=1366&bih=690

Run a length of this from the existing lights to where you want to install the second set of lights.

Simply mount the new lights with short screws.

Go to NAPA or some type of auto parts store and get some trailer wiring some wire splice and butt type connectors.

You will need to drill a hole in the top of the old ones to feed the wire inside.

With the wire run thru the conduit use the butt connectors to hook the trailer wire to the new lights and the splice connectors to hook the wire to the wires inside of the old lights.

Am I on the right track at this point?

[OldCoot]

Much easier and simpler to just replace the stock fixtures with new LED fixtures. Might take all of 30 minutes including re-caulking around the top/sides of them.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Much easier and simpler to just replace the stock fixtures with new LED fixtures. Might take all of 30 minutes including re-caulking around the top/sides of them.

True enough, but OP wants them higher on the back so big rig truck drivers can see them.

I feel it would be better to add a second set rather than move the ones mounted now.

[OldCoot]

Should be simple to do by removing the originals and fishing a wire up to the new light locations and splicing. No need to go inside.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

Should be simple to do by removing the originals and fishing a wire up to the new light locations and splicing. No need to go inside.

Do you mean remove them all together?
I agree but then you have old ugly holes filled in with caulking or what ever along with the faded and non faded areas.

But what ever OP does IMHO it should look neat not some gobbed together mess.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

Do you mean remove them all together?
I agree but then you have old ugly holes filled in with caulking or what ever along with the faded and non faded areas.

But what ever OP does IMHO it should look neat not some gobbed together mess.

NO, remove them fish the wire to the new ones and replace the old ones and have 2 sets. Better yet, replace the old ones with new LED's also.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

NO, remove them fish the wire to the new ones and replace the old ones and have 2 sets. Better yet, replace the old ones with new LED's also.

I can go with that as long as it is possible to fish the wiring.

[OldCoot]

Not a difficult job with a straightened coat hanger & electrical tape or a fish wire.

[MOD Guy]

Understanding that you want an additional set of stop/turn lights mounted up higher, I would try OldCoot's suggestion of going from the existing light to the new location via inside the wall. The surface mount channel would also work, but it "ain't gonna be prudy". Depends on what you are comfortable doing and what you want it to look like.

[RvBill3]

I recently replaced my existing taillights with LEDs. They are ten times brighter than the originals. I know you wanted to add lights up high, but maybe brighter lights in the existing location would do the trick. Also, not sure if you have one or two taillights on each side. My 2012 has two stacked. That puts one up higher and also doubles the visibility. If you have one, you could replace with a triple fixture (counting backup light).

Here's a picture of mine. The top light is the new LED upgrade and the middle is the old light. (I replaced them all--the picture is replacement "in progress"). Also have replacement LED backup lights on order.





2012 Forest River Sunseeker 2300 Chevy