LED Trailer Lights (Pipe-Lights) - The Hull Truth

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 11:04 AM

I noticed one of the new advertiser on the forum, Pipe-Lights.

Looks like a great product for those of us that have PVC guide-on posts.

I am thinking about getting the brake/turn lights and the backup lights. I contacted the company and they will bundle a package with everything that is needed at a good price.

Has anybody installed these and what are you thoughts?

flats cat · 10-06-2006, 11:09 AM

LED is the way to go I am going to install a new set from Sea Sence and that have a limited lifetime warrenty. I am probably still going to unplug when I back in old habits are hard to break.

South Point · 10-06-2006, 11:19 AM

Are you planning to run the back up lights and brake lights in sequence on each pole? I don't believe I have ever had back up lights that did anything on a trailer. Do you think the lights will really help backing at night?

Skiboat Dave · 10-06-2006, 11:19 AM

I have them on my trailer and I LOVE them. They are super bright!

I did make a mistake putting them on. My boat rail rubs the guide posts about a foot down from the top of the rail, so I mounted the lights "below" the rub point. My thinking was, LED's are brighter when you look directly at them. So if I had them at the top of the posts they would be a little high for the cars behind me to get the full effect of the light.

I other words, I have say 4 feet of guide post, then the light, then about a foot of guide post above the light. That upper foot is where the boat hits when I load.

If I have a lot of wind and my boat pushes on the guide post (above the light) when loading, the screws that holds the pipe light on are the only thing holding it together. I have broken off the pipe light once and have come close a few other times.

I should have mounted the lights right at the top so that I am pushing on the guide below the light so there is no joint.

If I break another I will remove the guide PVC and buy new PVC pipes and mount the light at the top.

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 11:30 AM

I already have backup lights that I installed this year in May. They are AWESOME. I just want to go the LED route and these look to be great and make a very clean installation.

Thanks for the input Dave!

Dave, does the support for your post go all the way up inside the PVC?

My guide posts have square galvanized tubing that goes all the way up to the top of my PVC posts. My post are 60" tall.

BW23 · 10-06-2006, 11:36 AM

I debated installing a similar LED light on my guide ons.

I recently had to get the trailer inspected in DE and asked the guy, how high can I mount them ?

He said no more than 5 feet. Might pay to check your regulations before you do the install.

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 11:41 AM

Good point BW23, I think the same rule applies in NC.

Jimm · 10-06-2006, 11:50 AM

Question on Pipe Lites-- how do you keep the pipes from turning? I would imagine that the pipes turns when you load and also when you hit bumps on the highway.

606zpx · 10-06-2006, 12:57 PM

I have 55 watt low profile back up lights under my rear truck bumpers and they work great when you need to fool with the hitch in the dark and especially when turning the trailer in tight confines to make certain you dont strike a curb or obstruction. Have not though about putting them on the trailer though. Hmmmm, sounds like another project.

Bolton · 10-06-2006, 01:25 PM

LED's are going to take over the world soon. Go LED on everything!!!!

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 01:34 PM

This is what I have now. Having backup lights on the trailer is the shiznit.

I am thinking of the pipe light tail lights up high on te PVC guide, and backup lights down low if I go the pipe light route.

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 01:37 PM

Skiboat Dave,

In the picture above, your see the square galvanized tubing I was talking about? It goes all the way up the PVC pipe.

Do the pipe lights allow for this? In other words, is the inside diameter of the pipe light coupler the same as the PVC pipe?

Thanks!

Skiboat Dave · 10-06-2006, 05:34 PM

My square galvi tubing only runs about 1/2 way up. As far as the pvc turning, there is a bolt at the bottom of the pipe that goes through the pipe and the galvi tube.

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 05:37 PM

Dave,

Will these lights work for me seeing how my tube runs all the way up the the inside of the PVC?

Is the inside of the light "coupler" wide open just like the PVC??

First Light · 10-06-2006, 06:27 PM

What is that other black and grey thing on the side of your wooden bunk - aft of the led light?

HOTSPOT · 10-06-2006, 06:35 PM

First Light,

Those are Boat Buckle Stainless Steel Ractchet tie downs for the transom.

See my post in the CC titled "Pimp My Trailer."

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/t...04144&posts=21

rwidman · 10-06-2006, 06:47 PM

I truly believe LED lighting is the wave of the future and a good bet for the present (although there are people here who disagree).

The problem with putting lights on guide posts is the likelihood of misaligning or damaging them when loading and unloading the boat. I'm on my second set of guideposts. Visit your local boat ramp on a busy day and notice how many trailers with guide posts have one missing or bent. Quite a few where I boat.

I installed mine on the trailer frame where the original lights were installed. I put rigid reflectors on the square tubing of the guideposts and reflective (conspicuity) tape on the PVC part.

Kajun · 10-06-2006, 07:19 PM

i recently installed a set of pipe-lights on my trailer and absolutely love em.....i have been through so many sets of of regular lights over the last few yrs i decided to go LED...well i bought a regualr LED set and mounted them in usually place...3 months later..BURNT LED's.....i ordered a set of pipe-lights and KNOW that these wont be getting dunked underwater so they should last for a long time.

i bought my set of pipe-lights from the guy that makes them on ebay....instead of buying them through boatersworld or some retail place that marks them up too $99....you can get them directly from the guy who makes them on ebay for $65 shipped.

to keep the PVC from twisting..just screw a metal self-tapping screw through PVC into the metal pole.

HOTSPOT · 10-09-2006, 11:38 AM

Kajun,

Does the support tubing that is mounted to your trailer go all the way up your PVC pipe like mine?

First Light · 10-09-2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Kajun - 10/6/2006 6:19 PM i bought my set of pipe-lights from the guy that makes them on ebay....instead of buying them through boatersworld or some retail place that marks them up too $99....you can get them directly from the guy who makes them on ebay for $65 shipped.

Was in West Marine yesterday and they were about that same price.