Marker lights without tow vehicle? - Page 2

aeblank · 01-09-2019, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnD10

There used to be a cool device that could be purchased to run the marker lights and also to use the emergency flashers if you had to leave the RV on the side of the road in case of TV break-down and needing to have it towed to get fixed.

The company has since gone out of business...

I think it was called the 'Firestick' or something like that.

Was $50...

Flash your lights so you *also* have dead batteries?

rockfordroo · 01-09-2019, 11:15 AM

If you had an old electro-mechanical flasher relay, you could use it in place of the fuse and the lights would flash.

Of course, you'd lose the fuse protection. You could wire them together and have both.

rockfordroo · 01-09-2019, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeblank

Flash your lights so you *also* have dead batteries?

Car batteries flash lights on disabled cars for hours. I'd expect your "deep cycle" RV battery should be able to do the same.

aeblank · 01-09-2019, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Car batteries flash lights on disabled cars for hours. I'd expect your "deep cycle" RV battery should be able to do the same.

I don't understand it on cars either. Makes for one more problem to solve.... Maybe it's just me.... Dunno.

JohnD10 · 01-09-2019, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeblank

Flash your lights so you *also* have dead batteries?

Emergency flashers will go a long time on an RV battery.

The concept is the same as leaving your car emergency flashers on when broken down on the side of the road.

Didn't think I'd need to explain that here...

babock · 01-09-2019, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adarklake

Recently I was at a campground and the TT behind me had all of his marker lights on, but the TV was nowhere in sight.

This raised several questions:
1. How did he do it?
2. Why did he do it?
3. How can I do it? (LoL)

I have seen people do this with just a connector in a plastic junction box that they wire up on the back side just for this task. In one case I saw the guy add a flasher in case of an emergency mentioned earlier.

I converted my tail lights to LED so power wouldn't be an issue.

There is a guy on RVNet that did this one:

Campah · 01-14-2019, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adarklake

Recently I was at a campground and the TT behind me had all of his marker lights on, but the TV was nowhere in sight.

This raised several questions:
1. How did he do it?
2. Why did he do it?
3. How can I do it? (LoL)

Let me know where you are camping so I make sure to go to a different campground! I think that is the most annoying thing (okay speakers too) when camping.

dannyabear · 01-14-2019, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campah

Let me know where you are camping so I make sure to go to a different campground! I think that is the most annoying thing (okay speakers too) when camping.

Where is the 'LIKE' button on here?

SlowrideHD · 01-14-2019, 08:54 PM

It's a good way to check to make sure all your lights are working without having to hook up the tow vehicle.
It also is an easy way to guide friends to your campsite at night if the sites aren't well identified or lit up. I just use one of the fuses laying in my kitchen "junk" drawer.

Biker · 01-14-2019, 09:18 PM

Fair enough, don't camp near us. Our marker lights are always on. Don't like them, then stay away. We will be at Avatan in Minnesota, Sun Meadow in Idaho and Turtle Lake in Michigan this summer. Oh as an extra warning, our lights will be on but our clothing will be off.

**ependydad** · 01-14-2019, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campah

Let me know where you are camping so I make sure to go to a different campground! I think that is the most annoying thing (okay speakers too) when camping.

I was thinking about this the other day... and how people get so upset at something so little. When I looked around and realized that without moving from where I was standing, just looking in each direction, that I could literally see 5 or 6 light poles for the park roads and RV park buildings.

A neighbor’s parking lights being on wouldn’t change the light level around me.

If that’s the case, there’s nothing to be bothered by.

onetonford · 01-14-2019, 10:11 PM

On my old fiver I had a rotary switch to check the lights with no truck hooked up. I also had a toggle with a flasher to blink the light if we got broke down on the side of the road. I also had it fused in side with the hd mechanical flasher relay.

jdhreiss · 01-14-2019, 10:18 PM

You can plug an electronic flasher (automotive) in the cable rather than a fuse and all the exterior running lights will flash. Good deal if you have to leave the trailer if it becomes disabled. Been carrying one for years. Just remember which 2 slots to use.

Joe R.
2019 2304DS Ultra Light
2013 F150 5.0 Super Crew

JohnD10 · 01-14-2019, 10:23 PM

Funny how lights can make some peoples tighty whities get crickled about something like this!

But I'll bet they won't have a problem starting a campfire two feet away from their neighbors awning!

adarklake · 01-14-2019, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campah

Let me know where you are camping so I make sure to go to a different campground! I think that is the most annoying thing (okay speakers too) when camping.

They say you meet the nicest most helpful people on these forums.

I wonder what goes through the head of people like this? “Gee, I could hop on a post and write something productive and answer someone’s question... Nah, I’ll go grouse at a stranger and be difficult instead.”

I’d like to thank all of the helpful contributors to this discussion. I’ve learned how to test marker lights without hooking up the TV and I also learned a valuable safety tip with the flasher idea. You’re the real heroes.

dannyabear · 01-14-2019, 11:33 PM

Trying to be nice and helpful, by letting you know that not everyone agrees with your choice of lighting or music.

bareftn · 01-15-2019, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Campah

Let me know where you are camping so I make sure to go to a different campground! I think that is the most annoying thing (okay speakers too) when camping.

So please tell me what's the difference between leaving on your marker lights on or some string of lights on your awning or patio that are tacky or ugly each his own I say. This the last thing I worry about when camping , its Smokey fire pits that bother me

jdhreiss · 01-15-2019, 07:06 AM

PS:

LED marker lights will need the electronic flasher, not the old school silver can type. The electronic flasher is clear/smoked plastic and works on time intervals, not temperatures.

PEACE OUT

cfb1141942 · 01-15-2019, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gdub2

MGo to Amazon and search for liteswitch 2.0 for RVs. This is what I have it plugs in your 7way and has a on/off switch.
we luv it. Is also safer than a fuse or wire.

I purchased mine on ebay direct from the manufacturer. Thought it was cool but a bit pricy, so I made a lower offer on multiple units (As gifts for my camping friends) and saved a couple bucks. Seems like a qulity build (company is in Wisconsin, not sure if they just distribute or not). The TTs look great with this ambient light source.

adarklake · 01-15-2019, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyabear

Trying to be nice and helpful, by letting you know that not everyone agrees with your choice of lighting or music.

Eh, I don't like it when people near me play music either. But you know what? They paid just as much for their site as I did. We all have our camping pet peeves, but I'm not going around to various forum posts and telling strangers not to camp next to me. It's rude.

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