LED tail light upgrade?

[chriscowles]

The incandescent tail lights on my 2020 MiniLite aren't very bright. I'm considering replacing them with LEDs. (They obviously meet legal requirements.) If you do that on a truck you run into hyperflash issues related to the truck not being calibrated to the low load from the LED lights, relative to the load from the incandescent bulbs you're replacing.

Is that any concern on a trailer? I'm unclear how it could be since you should be able to switch trailers with no ill effects.

 

[TitanMike]

The incandescent tail lights on my 2020 MiniLite aren't very bright. I'm considering replacing them with LEDs. (They obviously meet legal requirements.) If you do that on a truck you run into hyperflash issues related to the truck not being calibrated to the low load from the LED lights, relative to the load from the incandescent bulbs you're replacing.

Is that any concern on a trailer? I'm unclear how it could be since you should be able to switch trailers with no ill effects.

Can't speak for all trucks but many trucks control trailer lights via a relay and flash rate isn't affected by trailer LED's if truck has incandescent bulbs. Others are merely controlled by BCM and flash rate is "computer" controlled independent of load.

Trailers are an added load that can change flash rate if older tapped light connection where flasher controlled lights directly. Some trailers could have more than a couple bulbs flashing so relay seems to it load on flashing device stays constant.

 

[BarabooBob]

I have switched to led lights on all of my utility trailers and have never had a problem. Today I switched my boat trailer lights and they work properly.

 

[acadianbob]

How does one go about doing that? Is it a bulb replacement or a complete replacement of the whole lighting unit?

 

[chriscowles]

How does one go about doing that? Is it a bulb replacement or a complete replacement of the whole lighting unit?

Many are sealed units, which is what makes them waterproof. In my case, if I do it, I would replace the entire unit. It's surface mounted so I don't have to match a hole cut in the wall, except maybe a small hole the wire passes through.

 

[Oaklevel]

I also have changed the taillights on a couple of utility trailers, No issues.

I was lucky they were an exact size swap.

 

[TitanMike]

Many are sealed units, which is what makes them waterproof. In my case, if I do it, I would replace the entire unit. It's surface mounted so I don't have to match a hole cut in the wall, except maybe a small hole the wire passes through.

I has one of my led tail lights fail recently. Found an exact t replacement for the sealed unit with an incandescent bulb type. The tail light assembly itself isn't sealed, just the LED unit inside. Covers are removable. I then just put an LED bulb that replaces 1127 bulb type in socket.

Cost of replacement tail light assy with non replaceable LED unit and new replaceable bulb was actually less than LED tail light assy. Should I have problem in future I can now just replace bulb.

Found both at an RV dealer while on the road.