Rear facing LED lighting.....*may be controversial*

[Immaculate Reflections]

Hey folks, I've read through a few of the big LED threads (one was like 20+ pages, the other like 13). I asked this question but it just got lost in there, and after reading more I've kinda refined it a bit.

 

So, what I would like to do is add LED's to the back of my truck, preferably the bumper. Not for help backing up or camping... Here's the controversial part. I want to use this to flash people behind me who have their brights on and will not shut them off. I drive a 2 lane road with zero lights along it at night frequently. As a result, MANY people forget they have their brights on and it drives me crazy. All I want to do is flash a bright light back at them to alert them their brights are on, just like you would do for a car driving towards you.

 

What kind of lights would be best for this? Spot or flood? Also would you mount a pod to the bumper (not very clean looking IMO on the silverado), or do a flush mount? I like the idea of a flush mount but since the vertical section of the bumper slopes down, wouldn't flush mounts face the ground too much? Which would defeat the purpose.

 

Ok, flame suit on. Go.

 

lol

[RyanbabZ71]

airplane lights lol

 

I was flashed on the highway by a guy in a BMW. Funny part was when he hit his brights since his car was so low they hit my tailgate, reflected back and he almost wrecked. Karma enough for me

[Aubie_01]

I understand the sentiment, but IF somehow the car behind you wrecked or something after your flash you will be in deep shite. TBH I hesitate to flash my headlights at people these days for that very reason.

 

I am sure however some of the brighter pods would work, with a switch mounted somewhere close to the steering wheel.

[Immaculate Reflections]

I understand the sentiment, but IF somehow the car behind you wrecked or something after your flash you will be in deep shite. TBH I hesitate to flash my headlights at people these days for that very reason.

 

I am sure however some of the brighter pods would work, with a switch mounted somewhere close to the steering wheel.

Right I understand the risk. I'm not talking about strobing them so I don't think it would be dangerous.

 

I found 10, 12, 20, and 50 watt ones. Still not sure on which style to get....spot or flood

[slj2008]

I have a set under the bumper for hooking up the trailer. they get the point when flash.

[sailor9908]

Get a set of flush mounted Rigid's, a friend with a plasma cutter and put them in your bumper. I have the SR-Q back up light kit but am planning on adding a set on non diffused D2's for just that occasion and to keep the tailgaters off my ass. Personally you are too close if I cant see your headlights in my rearview and I am not afraid to let you know.

[Immaculate Reflections]

I have a set under the bumper for hooking up the trailer. they get the point when flash.

Have a picture? What kind did you get?

[07Softail]

airplane lights lol..... I love that idea and their eyes would be blistered for ever and ever!!!

 

RT

[crewl1]

Here's an idea to save yourself some money and avoid a ticket and possible road rage incident: slow down and let them pass.

 

Alternatively if you want to take the passive aggressive route to the extreme just mount some cheap laser pointers that you can fire up to temporarily blind them and get them off the road permanently.

 

People need to chillax.

[Clocked92]

Yaaaa.... I can see this turning out really bad. I understand the struggle but it just isn't worth the trouble or the possible legal issues if something ever happened. Imagine the one car that is behind you is a cop car and you flash them. They are going to pull you over and ticket you for everything they can.

 

In my province, it is illegal to have any white light projected backwards while driving, so the second the cop sees that, you're getting pulled over.

[Immaculate Reflections]

This is why I put the flame suit on. I knew there would be some ridiculousness in reply.

Some people understand it, so thank you to them for the help.

[Mack207]

I understand completely. On a previous vehicle, I wired up two 2x2 LED's with a three way switch so they would either come on automatically with the reverse lights, or be switched on. I used them for camping mostly, and only flashed them at someone once when it was a lifted truck with aftermarket HID's in a non-HID housing (they were purple as well). It got the point across. I don't condone doing this, but I also think I have the right to not be blinded while driving. I never flash my highs at oncoming vehicles if they keep their highs on though.

 

I've also flashed my cargo lights to gets cars behind me to turn their highs off. It may take a minute for them to realize it though.

[SkiDooNick700]

I wouldn't do this for fear of getting my head blown off by some lunatic. I won't be leaving this earth because a road rage situation.

[catbert]

OP: No flame here; I understand your desire & I'll admit that it sounds tempting some times. That being said, it strikes me as one of those ideas that ends up pi$$ing off the wrong person and suddenly your state legislature decides LED light bars should be banned or (more) tightly regulated.

[Spurshot]

1. The states laws on this are going to be pretty consistent, prohibiting it

2. These trucks have auto dimming mirrors .

3. A few taps of the brake lights sends the same message

4. If he's close enough to really bother you, let him by. Then, you have the opportunity to be the jerk, if that's your persuasion.

5. I'm not modifying my truck and spending my money for jerks. When they change my behavior, I've let myself down. They just don't count in my life.

6. If I installed a system in my truck to deal with jerks, it'd piss me off every time I saw it, knowing they made me do it.

7. Lots of people carry guns these days. A jerk does something out of ignorance, you escalate it out of spite, he escalates it because he's like you and not going to let it go, road rage wars are on.

...And finally, drum roll please...

8. When you do something like this, you become the groundskeeper, in the movie, Caddyshack.

 

Your mileage may vary ... or be scary.