Still confused on trailer lights

[MAXXIE]

I wanted to "dress up" my trailer for night time use so I picked up a 12 pack of yellow marker lights from Wal Mart. My question is (I did ask this last year but did not really get a clear answer), I mounted on each side, one of these yellow marker lights, between the wheel & the regular tail lights. Is this legal in Pa.? When asked last year I was directed to a web site that pointed out where to mount the standard lights: front marker, Tail/Turn light, but did not address any extra lights someone may add. Can someone add extra lights? Or do I just need to stick to the basic set up? I know most will answer: Just keep it simple & you don't have to worry about getting pulled over, but it does look really cool with a few extra light's on it at night + it helps when I'm pulling the boat onto the trailer at night. Anybody got a straight answer on this? Thanks, MAXX

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

yes it's fine.... on the rear you can have red or amber (must have red for tail and brake) and on the side you can have amber.... you can have as many as you want.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

correct.
Amber in front of the axle.
Amber or red behind the axle.

Last visible light from the side must be red. This is usually the taillight, as most incorporate a side view lens of some sort.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

OK, so just as long as I have this correct: It's OK to have yellow lights anywhere on the side, infront, or behind the axle, as long as I have red tail light. My tail has a side lens as well. I've been worried about being pulled over, I'm a freek when it comes to trailer lights. I check them every single time I hook up, if for some reason one is not working, nothing moves until it's fixed. I see all types of trailers on the road with broken or non working lights & they seem to not care at all. I guess they don't realize the danger involved. Thanks, MAXX

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

some trailers dont matter because you can see the truck ahead of it but yes it drives me insane when only 1 light works or neither even if i can see the vehical. i seena 15 foot travel trailer once it had the lense covers there and the wires sticking out about a foot i guess they dont work, now thats dangerous since its wider then the vehical.

yellow before the axle red after and tail lights at the back

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

while laws on the matter vary from state to state, generally the axle is not relevant.... the viewing direction IS.... amber on the side and red on the rear and yes it is a good idea to have the rearmost side marker be red. here is mine

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

Yep, smokeonthewater, that's what mine looks like, well atleast the light set up. I don't have such a large boat. Thanks, the picture tells me what I wanted to know.

 

[RichRab]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

Buy youself a couple of red lenses to carry with you and you might sleep better at night.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

I am planning on changing it slightly tho.... the side markers on the steps behind the fenders are currently amber.... looks great from the side but I don't like seeing amber outside the red from the rear so I'm going to swap them for red ones and move them to the tongue for a total of 2 more lights and the two rearmost on each side being red...... BTW my trailer is all led's so the amperage draw is minimal.... also I wired the markers separate from the tail lights so that if one of the many splices failed I would still have tails.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

Sounds like you've been directed to the Federal regs. But you're gonna have to check your particular state's additional regs very carefully.

For example, in CA, after meeting Fed requirements for trailer lighting, you can festoon the trailer with however many extra amber and red lights as you want, except that any light visible from the rear and any light within 2 feet of the end of the trailer (other than the license plate light) MUST be red.

 

[jphake]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

I dont know if this helps or not, but figured i would mention.

I worked at a garage for a couple years in Pa, while i didn't have my state inspection license, i worked with guys that did, and this is what I have learned in regard to cars...think if would be the same for trailers:

In PA, Red lights....braking and turn signals only, rear of vehicle. Amber....turn single and running lights (sides of the trailer). White/clear....backup only. These are the only colors allowed.

The law doesn't mention on how many lights you can have, as long as they are not a nuisance or distracting to other drivers. However, all lights added as aftermarket have to be in working order.

The location and color of the lights you have added is identical to the location I have factory installed lights on my trailer.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

Biggest fear is getting pulled over, I'm quite sure it falls into the same area as tinted windows, it depends on the cop that your dealing with. Most of the time it's daylight when I'm going to & from the lake anyway, but that one time I stay a little later, Bam! I'll get stopped.

 

[oaksld]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

As stated before, red in the rear and rear side, amber everywhere else... but even if you have 100 of them they must all work... at least thats for commercial vehicles.. I'm with you, it bugs the crap out of me to see people pulling any type of trailer and not have properly working lights.

 

[apollo5646]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

To really clear up the matter next time you are running down the interstate at night just watch the tractor trailers that you pass and notice how some guys have the tractor and the trailer lit up like a Christmas tree. You can in all cases put on as many lights as you want as long as the colors are correct. You will not see a professional driver with greens and blues and such running down the highway. I would as stated before keep it amber on the sides except for the last one at the end make red and then keep it only red on the back side even though you will see some cars with amber rear turn singles only. Red looks better on the back end anyway. I say light it up crazy like and think about adding some dedicated backup lights to it as well. I seen a cool picture on the EZ loader website that you can have as an option dedicated underwater loading lights. Now that would be cool check out. I too am a freak about making sure lights on the trailer work so it bugs the crap out of me that none of mine are working right now I guess I'm going to be chasing ground issues this week.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

While I think you'll be just fine following the advice given, here's an interesting fact. The side marker lights are actually classified as clearance lights. There are specific rules regarding clearance lights on commercial vehicles that if you were to apply them to a pleasure boat would have you lit up like a christmas tree.

For instance, if the windshied or tower on the boat is taller than the vehicle you need six amber clearance lights on it. If the full width of the boat exceeds the width of the trailer you need side markers on the boat. You can only imagine what kind of confusion would come from all that so by in by the laws are relaxed significantly for non commercial situations like boats and such.

So go ahead and light her up if you want but don't if you're going to sweat being pulled over. After all, the idea is to have fun an half the fun is getting there and back safely.

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

I have never seen clearance lights on a tower/arch/bimini on any boat. That's a new one. Any reference you can provide?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

he was speaking hypothetically ....... WOW I can't believe my spell checker didn't have to kick in on that one LOL

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

P a class 7 insp lic. You must have at least a yellow at center of trailer both sides .Red both sides extreme rear of trailer. There is a law about having lights that aren?t factory equipment. Can?t remember the correct terminology.Would have to get book out. Locals don?t know them and the state boys really don?t care. Go for it. Just make sure they all work. You won't have any trouble.As for the tractor trailer's they fall under a different set of inspection laws and how many lights isn't one of them as long as they all work.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

You only need three red lights across bottom of trailer (rear), not 6. yellow side lights are determined by the length of the vehicle being towed. These are not state by state laws. They are D.O.T laws.trailers less then 30 ft only one. over thirty need two on the sides.The red markers on the rear can be on top or bottom. No lights need to be on boat.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Still confused on trailer lights

I just picked up a 4 pack of mini 55w spot lights really cheap. I was going to use 2 of them for docking lights on the bow. Not a perm. mount on the boat, just something I can keep in the storage area under the front bow seats. I think I'll mount the others as extra reverse lights, that's a good idea & they are sealed & submersible.