suggestions on backup lights?

[siume99]

I was at AutoZone tonight and they had some lights that mounted to the truck hitch.  I'm pretty sure that they wire in to your transmission (reverse) wiring.  But, I was wondering if there is a setup out that also allows you to have a manual switch on the dash so you can have them on while loading.  (I don't think it's the smartest thing to put the parking brake on while in reverse and the truck off.)  Thanks in advance.

[FIRECAT]

I'm running PIAA's as backup lights, unsure about which model, I'll check.  Right now I just have them hooked in to the reverse switch, but I don't see any reason why you couldn't put a switch on them also.  I have mine hooked up with the PIAA supplied relay, so my reverse light wire is just used to turn them on and off, not to power them.

[HillHound]

I could use a set of brighter back-up lights also.  I don't know if it's the fact that the lights are dim or the rear-window tinting makes it seem that way.

[siume99]

Hillhound, for me it is the window tinting.  It looks good from the outside, but functionality of backing up is gone.  What about installing "extra-bright" backup lamps, instead of mounting new lights.  Do they melt the plastic?  Are they noticably brighter?

[chevy4x4trucks]

The easiest thing to do would be to just pick up a set of 2x4 driving lights and mount them to the trailer hitch and just hook them up to the battery and mount a switch in the cab.  I don't know if you can hook them up to work both ways.  Plus it's more convenient having a switch, you don't need them on all the time when you backup.

[mikeb]

I'm pretty sure if you use an isolation relay with the inputs from either the reverse switch or the switch you mount on the dash you'll be able to get it to work.  I'm looking to put a couple of reverse lights on the back also.  I've already installed brighter halogen lamps to the backup lights, but with the tinted rear window and the tinted rear window on the shell, it's still not enough.