Led Tailgate Bar Question

keith_mc88 · July 4, 2010

I am looking into getting an LED tailgate light bar w/ reverse. Any of the ones I have looked at have running lights.

Can you have the running lights off on the bar but everything else (turn signals, reverse, brakes)? Is it as simple as not plugging it in?

Major_Kong · July 4, 2010

I installed a Plasmaglow mini fire and ice light bar on my rig. I did not want the turn signals or brake light activated so instead of plugging it in, I cut the plug off and spliced the running light and reverse light wires into the left side tail-light wires. I took all but 20 minutes to install.

brandon_guzzo · July 4, 2010

All you have todo is not connect the runing light wire when you splice into the tails. When I hooked mine up i tested it like that but i kindda liked the running light so i hooked it up.

c4cruiser · July 4, 2010

I have seen a number of trucks around here with LED bars and I'm really surprised that the majority of the ones I have seen have lights out. Don't know if it's because of a harsh ride or if water gets into the bar, but they look pretty cheesy with a number of lights out.

If the harness wiring for the light bars uses standard wiring and color coding like a trailer wire harness, then just don't connect the brown wire to anything.

keith_mc88 · July 4, 2010

Thanks for all the help guys! Really appreciate it.

stefman722 · July 5, 2010

I had one on my Colorado before buying the silverado and it worked fine with no lights burnt out for 2 years! I never bought another one yet.

chakis24 · July 5, 2010

I have seen a number of trucks around here with LED bars and I'm really surprised that the majority of the ones I have seen have lights out. Don't know if it's because of a harsh ride or if water gets into the bar, but they look pretty cheesy with a number of lights out.

If the harness wiring for the light bars uses standard wiring and color coding like a trailer wire harness, then just don't connect the brown wire to anything.

yeah, ive seen alot like that too. ive had my plasmaglow fire & ice bar for a few years now and no issues with the lights themselves, although a week or so ago the right taillight portion remains on for some reason, even with the truck off. ive checked all the connections and nothing is crossing there, so there must be something going on with the light bar's wires. but i cant figure out how the light would be getting constant power. i could just disconnect the running light part of it, but i like it. thankfully its not enough of a draw to kill the battery.

its actually really weird because it only does this intermittently. when it starts to do this (the right half of the talight staying on) when i hit the left turn signal the whole bar flashes instead of just the left side. brakes still work, tailights still work, right signal works, etc. and when it stops doing this and the right half goes off like its supposed to, everything works properly.

and the backup part also works perfectly, but the backup light wire is separate from the other wires (when you get the bar, the 4 functions for the tails, left turn, right turn, and brake run together since theyre part of the plug but the reverse light wire is completely separate and must be hardwired in- why they did it like this i dont know, probably because a standard 4 way plug doesnt have reverse?)

flukehit · July 5, 2010

I have seen a number of trucks around here with LED bars and I'm really surprised that the majority of the ones I have seen have lights out. Don't know if it's because of a harsh ride or if water gets into the bar, but they look pretty cheesy with a number of lights out.

If the harness wiring for the light bars uses standard wiring and color coding like a trailer wire harness, then just don't connect the brown wire to anything.

yeah, ive seen alot like that too. ive had my plasmaglow fire & ice bar for a few years now and no issues with the lights themselves, although a week or so ago the right taillight portion remains on for some reason, even with the truck off. ive checked all the connections and nothing is crossing there, so there must be something going on with the light bar's wires. but i cant figure out how the light would be getting constant power. i could just disconnect the running light part of it, but i like it. thankfully its not enough of a draw to kill the battery.

its actually really weird because it only does this intermittently. when it starts to do this (the right half of the talight staying on) when i hit the left turn signal the whole bar flashes instead of just the left side. brakes still work, tailights still work, right signal works, etc. and when it stops doing this and the right half goes off like its supposed to, everything works properly.

and the backup part also works perfectly, but the backup light wire is separate from the other wires (when you get the bar, the 4 functions for the tails, left turn, right turn, and brake run together since theyre part of the plug but the reverse light wire is completely separate and must be hardwired in- why they did it like this i dont know, probably because a standard 4 way plug doesnt have reverse?)

I also have a plasmaglow, my problem was moisture inside the light bar, shorted out the electronic inside the bar.

Sent it back and they replaced it for free and also sent me the fire and ice which is cool, but not as cool as my night raider.

Gave the fire and ice to a buddy and helped him install it. Very different from the hard ridgid light bar I have.

chakis24 · July 7, 2010

I have seen a number of trucks around here with LED bars and I'm really surprised that the majority of the ones I have seen have lights out. Don't know if it's because of a harsh ride or if water gets into the bar, but they look pretty cheesy with a number of lights out.

If the harness wiring for the light bars uses standard wiring and color coding like a trailer wire harness, then just don't connect the brown wire to anything.

yeah, ive seen alot like that too. ive had my plasmaglow fire & ice bar for a few years now and no issues with the lights themselves, although a week or so ago the right taillight portion remains on for some reason, even with the truck off. ive checked all the connections and nothing is crossing there, so there must be something going on with the light bar's wires. but i cant figure out how the light would be getting constant power. i could just disconnect the running light part of it, but i like it. thankfully its not enough of a draw to kill the battery.

its actually really weird because it only does this intermittently. when it starts to do this (the right half of the talight staying on) when i hit the left turn signal the whole bar flashes instead of just the left side. brakes still work, tailights still work, right signal works, etc. and when it stops doing this and the right half goes off like its supposed to, everything works properly.

and the backup part also works perfectly, but the backup light wire is separate from the other wires (when you get the bar, the 4 functions for the tails, left turn, right turn, and brake run together since theyre part of the plug but the reverse light wire is completely separate and must be hardwired in- why they did it like this i dont know, probably because a standard 4 way plug doesnt have reverse?)

I also have a plasmaglow, my problem was moisture inside the light bar, shorted out the electronic inside the bar.

Sent it back and they replaced it for free and also sent me the fire and ice which is cool, but not as cool as my night raider.

Gave the fire and ice to a buddy and helped him install it. Very different from the hard ridgid light bar I have.

did they change the fire and ice? mine is a rigid light bar with white reverse lights in between the red.

SierraBrad · September 28, 2011

Looking for input on a Recon White Lightning LED Tailgate bar, anyone have one? Pros and Cons? Is the PlasmaGlow Fire and Ice better?

Black4x4Z71 · September 29, 2011

I installed the Rampage light bar and I am truly impressed with it. My backup lights on the truck are plenty bright as they are so I chose the light bar without the backup feature and saved a lot on the cost.

I followed my wife while she was driving the truck home from another city and what a difference in visibility these running lights make from a distance. Kind of reminds me of the Cadilac LED tail lights.

http://www.rampageproducts.net/pdf/rmpg_cat_12-13.pdf