Tail lights, round, oval, LED, hologen, flatbeds and trailers.

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Unlike 20 years ago there seems to be an endless line of different tail lights/back up lights available now. Lets say for a flatbed, whats preferred, round, oval, other? And the layout, one over the other, side by side, at an angle? And then LED over hologen, one uses less power, flashes faster, spossed to be more reliable, doesn't melt snow. The other is hotter and melts off snow, uses more power, dimmer, slower flash and brake response, looks old. On LED's, whats the good ones? I assume the more LED's the brighter/better looking. I notice on the backs of semis and other trucks that some LED lights are nice and bright and have full coverage and others just suck.  Then what about those LED back up lights? Bright enough to be of any real use? My head is spinning.I just wanna look at pics and pick something.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:I am going to have to pick up some lights for my flatbed project pretty soon and Im in the same boat as you... I have no clue where to look. I know I want oval LED(melting snow is not an issue) but not sure where to get a quality set. I dont see why an LED backup light wouldnt be useful. anyone have a good source for these?- Christian M.C3 Welding & Fabrication - CNC Plasma Cutting-Mobile Welding-Custom welding and fabwww.c3welding.com
Reply:I prefer led. I buy lights with as many diodes as possible. Yes led back up lights work. I like round because it is easy to cut the holes either with a hole saw or circle cutter on plasma cutter.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:II have bought a bunch from eastern marine. I believe there site is trailer parts superstore. Lots of choices good pricingMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:I would think for back up lights the SMD LED lights would be better than the diode lights. I just know the SMD lights I stuck in my stock back up light housings on the truck aren't very bright.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:There are economy led lights that have fewer LEDs in them. The series 40 (4" ) round seem to be the most durable as well as most common. As for backup lights I don't think that they illuminate  as far but a wider more close in light. To the OP go to Humprey truck parts for a good selection and they have some hooked up so you can see the light output.
Reply:Its personal preference really as to the shape.Yeah, these Back up lights of mine are very bright.Look at them compared to the tail lights.
Reply:Originally Posted by M J DThere are economy led lights that have fewer LEDs in them. The series 40 (4" ) round seem to be the most durable as well as most common. As for backup lights I don't think that they illuminate  as far but a wider more close in light. To the OP go to Humprey truck parts for a good selection and they have some hooked up so you can see the light output.
Reply:Just my personal preference, but if rear visibility is a big concern, I'd go with work lights/driving lights mounted on the rear in a protected location in addition to reverse lights (to be legal) to get the best rear visibility.MikeConstans Fides et IntegritasLincoln Weldanpower 150 ACAirco Aircomatic MIGet CAV II w/ spoolgunMillermatic 30a wirefeeder
Reply:Originally Posted by Brink, M.E.Just my personal preference, but if rear visibility is a big concern, I'd go with work lights/driving lights mounted on the rear in a protected location in addition to reverse lights (to be legal) to get the best rear visibility.
Reply:LED's work well on trailers pulled by trucks with standard incandescent bulbs.  The incandescent bulbs provide enough resistance to operate the flasher correctly.  LED's on their own will hyperflash when connected to a standard flasher.  Not enough resistance to heat up the flasher unit.  You have to add a resistor to the circuit.I don't know about the very new trucks, and whether they're compatible with LED's."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:You can buy a solid state flasher that will blink to the same rate no matter the resistance.  I did find out that on my 1996 that the cruse control will not work if you have led tail lights.Carlohttp://public.fotki.com/Naudi2U/
Reply:If you want maximum output I would use 4" round halogen like on ag equipment  they are available in flood spot beam or trapezoid beamMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:I was at the auto parts store today waiting for the one worker to get off the phone. I wandered off to the light section and found a few LED fog light boxes that had a "try me" button on them. I pushed the button, laughed, and walked away.I am almost certain the back up lights will have to be halogen/incandescent to be of any worth. As for the tail lights, I think LED will be good, just have to get some with lots of little leds inside.I saw a truck today that had both round and oval lights. Hmmm, round or oval?12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:You know when you have bright enough lights when you engine dies 200 rpm when you switch them on.
Reply:Originally Posted by gxbxcYou know when you have bright enough lights when you engine dies 200 rpm when you switch them on.
Reply:Don't forget about those darn frectangle ones! Oh the choices! My next trailer lights will be LEDs (because all the cool kids have them) and preferably a red / amber combo of some sort.
Reply:They make a 40 series ( 4 inch round ) in a clear version that provides a wide light area. They are usually mounted on the rear cab on a semi tractor for hooking up.
Reply:This taillight set up uses three LED bulbs that fit into a 3/4" hole.  They are about ten bucks each.  There are 34 in each tail light.  Of course you can use any pattern you want with those bulbs.  We're a little partial to our design.Boat lights (oval) are easy to install.  2 1/2" holes with a 4 1/4" center spacing works perfect. Attached Imageslife is good
Reply:I went LED on a new-to-me trailer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by PipelinerDon't forget about those darn frectangle ones! Oh the choices! My next trailer lights will be LEDs (because all the cool kids have them) and preferably a red / amber combo of some sort.
Reply:I have some lights and others are on the way. I can't decide on layout yet.This overall is 37" wide, 12.5" tall. The rectangle 3" blocks surrounding the boarder is the framing of the truck that would be behind the diamond plate that the lights would be in. Which one looks better? Other ideas? Drinking isn't helping.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:Get a spot light for the backing up. Works really good for guys tailgating you
Reply:Led will save ur battery more toThere are times I get out of a the truck to hold a spot light for the driver to see while backing up. I have led's for the tails and I did find some back up lights that are led and brag about lots of lumens. We shall see. But the problem now is the layout of the tail lights.  As you see by my previous post there are so many possibilities. Besides the 6 different designs I posted there is also side by side, one vertical and one horizontal, both at an angle to make a  design. All of them just lined up, and stuff.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
Reply:I used basic trailer tail lights forever, the car hauler, (7,000 LB), went through them often. One of my adopted extra sons, (I have toys they like), was annoyed about losing two lights in one trip. He made boxes of 16 gauge hot rolled, and put oval LED brake/turn, running lights. That's a couple years ago.
Reply:A problem with LED is they send light in only one direction, and don't even lend themselves well to reflectors. You can do high lumen back up lights that do a good job on a spot, but light spread is lacking. I find it disorienting to back up in otherwise blackness, with only a spot of light.
Reply:The led back up lights I ordered say they are a flood type and something like 3600 lumens each. I will be testing them before cutting any holes for them. I like allot of light! If they aren't up to the task I will go with other means of light. We have been happy with the "fog lights" on the back of our one truck, I am just hoping to keep with one theme on this truck though.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829