One trailer light Thread. **Trailer Light Clarification**

[Jonafare]

Well here is a question, I'm over the 10' width so I can't haul at night. Thats OK with me.

Why would I need to put amber lights on the trailer & boat? They are only seen at night.

I'm flagged all 4 corners. Permit and all.

Its great now to haul Sundays, Holidays, & day before & after holidays.

[kilowatt]

My boat is 102" wide so i do not need thhe lights on it. But the guide posts are 105" at the top so i have the amber clearance marker light mounted to the pvc that goes over the post what direction does the lamp need to be facing? front, rear or side i was assuming the side but you know what happens when you assume. I was going to drill through the post and bolt the pvc so it does not turn when i hit it but i would like to get the light facing the correct direction first.
Thanks

[JB2C]

Frank, I think if you're over 10', then this bill would not have any effect on you at all. It's only those combinations that are 102" to 120" that are affected by this. So if you're 120" or over, you don't need to worry about adding lights. And if you're 102" or under, you don't need to worry about adding lights.

Kilowatt, the bill doesn't specify the direction the amber lamps have to face. So I'd say it does not matter. However, amber usually faces forward or to the side on a trailer, while red faces rearward. So I'd say forward and slightly to the side would be a good bet.

I'd guess the idea was that if you're a wide load without the amber lights on it, you'd better have an overwidth permit. If you're wide, but no amber lights added, that should tell NCSHP that you are under 120" wide and don't need the permit. But that's just a guess. Course, not sure what good it does to add amber lights to a 118" load that cannot travel at night.

JB

[offshore3144]

Here is the light clarification:

Representative Williams appreciated your support and the support he received from all those in the boating and tourism industry. Below is the answer to your question that I received from our legal staff:

There should be two amber lights on each, the boat and the trailer, at the widest points. These points would be only for a boat trailer over 102 inches. So, if the trailer is 102 inches or less, only two lights are needed for the widest points on the boat, if the boat exceeds 102 inches. If the boat and trailer are greater than 102 inches, you will need to have operable lamps on both.

Examples:

1. Boats or Trailers over 120 cannot be towed at night and must be permited and flaged.
2. Boat over 102” but not over 120", Trailer over 102”but not over 120" = 4 Amber
lights 1 on each side of the widest point of the trailer and one on each side of
the widest point of the boat.
3. Boat under 102”, Trailer over 102” but not over 120" = 2 Amber lights 1 on each
side of the widest point of the trailer no amber lights on the boat.
4. Boat over 102” but not over 120", Trailer under 102” = 2 Amber lights one on each
side of the widest point of the boat.
5. Boat under 102”, Trailer under 102” = No Amber lights needed. Even though the
law states the trailer should have lights on the widest point of the trailer should be the fender.
From DOT: A Red light on the back of the fender and an Amber light on the front of
the fender. (At the widest point on the fender.)

Even though it doesnt say it, to be safe I would Use DOT approved amber clearance lights .

Here is the bill :

[ScottK]

GREAT post Mark.....thanks!

[offshore3144]

I think we are getting there!! Mark

[offshore3144]

JB2C - 8/28/2008 10:45 PM

Course, not sure what good it does to add amber lights to a 118" load that cannot travel at night.

JB

I agree. I bought some of the 3" X 1 1/4" dot approved amber lights today and noticed they are directional. I know it doesnt say this in the bill or on the package but they need to be mounted horizontal to get the desired light coverage. Mark

[II UnReel]

Here is a link to the NHTSA page that shows the requirements for a boat trailer. Unfortunately it doesn't show where you would put something on a boat.

Lights 6 and 8 deal with clearance lights that show width.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site...wType=standard

[BaitWaster]

Thanks for the link. As I read it, the lights need to be facing forward.

Front Clearance Lamps /
(P2, PC*or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle /
Show vehicle's width /
Minimum 2 /
Yellow /
At widest point - symmetrical - as far forward as practicable - facing forward /
As high as practicable

[JB2C]

Frank, one other thing I'd point out. You still can't haul nights, Sundays or weekends. If you are required to get the permit, you still have all of the restrictions that permit places on you. Don't want you getting into trouble!

UnReel, thanks for the link. Sounds like that's for Canada, but I think it's the same in the US. I don't see anything that says we have to meet the Federal requirements for what is a state law. But... it certainly isn't going to hurt to meet this regulation, if we're going to have to worry with putting lights on anyway. One less thing to worry about.

JB

[offshore3144]

Keep the information coming everyone. JB is right the lights are easy to install adding two more is only around $20 and you ca splice right into the harness.
I can tell that our trailers will be seen. If you see a Christmas tree heading down the road its me!!...Mark

[Overcurrent]

Frank, don't I recall correctly that your boat is under 10' without the guides? If so, I'd figure out how to make them detachable and then you'd be able to travel during daylight, without permit, 7 days/week.

[Jonafare]

Overcurrent, according to my boat specs I am 9'-7" amidship (115"), I am 8'-8" at the transom. I am going to get the boat out of storage now and measure the guide post. Hopefully, I will be able to drop the flags and go with the lights but since I'm over 114" I can't haul at night (so what good are the amber lights - go figure).

[Overcurrent]

At least you'll be able to tow 7xdaylight with no permit.

If I were in your situation I'd measure the boat carefully, and be sure that it is indeed 9'7" (though it may also be more)
You might be able to make some rubrail changes that would bring you to or under 9'6", if you're only an inch over.

I agree the amber lights won't do much good in daylight (I suspect the intent was that they be used in the dark) but if you have them they can't say you're in violation....

[Jonafare]

Well it measures 9'7" amidship as the specs say, the stern is 9'-3". The guides measure 10'-2" pulled as tight against the boat as they will go (they are at a slight angle). I think I have it figured out though... I'll remove the PVC tubes and cut the aluminum pipes down to where they are under 10'. Then when loading the boat I'll slide the tubes back on and use a pin and clevis to hold them in place.

[itwonder]

This place has tons of choices in LED clearance lights. http://www.vehiclelight.com/clli.html

I'm looking at either their 3.78" x 1/2" amber light screwed vertically to the outside of my guidepost or the 2" beehive light RTV'ed into a PVC coupling and then slipped on the top of the guidepost. These appear to be commercial quality lights.





If the hull is the widest part, for occasional night trailering I may mount one of these small lights on a suction cup attached to the hull, and power it through a cigarette lighter cord to the boat's power . Quicker and easier than tapping into trailer power.

[offshore3144]

Bob,
You would have to mount the long lights 3.78" x 1/2" amber light horizontally They are directional if you mount them vertically you cannot see them very well at all. Ask me how I know!! I tried them vertically.

Someone brought up a good point. Don't forget about vibration. The bulb type lights don't hold up very well the filament in the bulbs cant handle the vibration. The LEDs are the way to go.

I have to check this out but I believe if the amber light are mounted over 48" it is ok to see the amber from the back. Not 100 percent sure but we need to check it out. Mark

[Overcurrent]

Mylights were waiting on the front porch tonight when I got home from work. (see earlier in this thread). 14 LEDs per light, and they are PC rated with three each LEDs facing fore and aft, and eight LEDs in the center. They're allegedly "sealed" , but upon inspectingwhere thewires exit from the fixtureI'd put a big dab of siliconearound those two wires before I thought about immersing them.....I may eventually try one on the trailer and seehow it holds up getting dunked

Now, how to mount them so they're out at the widest part of the hull........without building a monstrosity......the top cap slopes outward about an inch or so from the gunwale, then I have a 1-1/4" rub rail.

itwonder - 8/31/2008 10:27 PM

If the hull is the widest part, for occasional night trailering I may mount one of these small lights on a suction cup attached to the hull

Eureka! (However, unlike Archimedes, I won't go running naked down the street........ )

That is the ticket! Great idea, Bob!

To resolve my inherent distrust of suction cups (it seems to me that they always manage to unstick at the worst possible time), I'll add a Velcro "safety" strap that will wrap around either a cleat or rail stanchion.

Off to the hardware store for suction cups tomorrow!

But tonight, I am doing an experiment with one of the large black suction cups that would be used on the bottom of a car-top carrier, to see how well it will stay stuck. As it turns out it is almost exactly the right height to hold the light out even with the rub rail. Depending on what I find in the way of suction cups at the HW store, I may use either one or two per light.

[itwonder]

I expect these will be more visible fore and aft when vertically mounted. DOT approved.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/truck_lights.htm

[offshore3144]

I am finishing my trailer up tomorrow and will take some pics. I have two rod holders at the widest point on the boat and will make a set of pvc light holders for the front and mount the rear lights on the uprights. The lights in the holders will be spliced into the wiring harness near the winch stand with a quick disconnect.