using trailer for aux reverse light
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AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
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using trailer for aux reverse light
I bought a little LED driving light, meant for use on motorcycles or whatever.....
Plan is/was to connect to my trailer light connector and mount the light into the hitch receiver somehow. Tested today by clipping the leads to the ground and backup light pins. Nothing.
I don't recall if there was a separate fuse that might not be installed for that circuit. Gotta look into that. My fear is that the thing needs to be connected to other leads to for the car to sense "trailer mode" before it turns all that stuff on.
Sure do wish I had access to real schematic and logic diagrams.
Plan is/was to connect to my trailer light connector and mount the light into the hitch receiver somehow. Tested today by clipping the leads to the ground and backup light pins. Nothing.
I don't recall if there was a separate fuse that might not be installed for that circuit. Gotta look into that. My fear is that the thing needs to be connected to other leads to for the car to sense "trailer mode" before it turns all that stuff on.
Sure do wish I had access to real schematic and logic diagrams.
Club AutoUnion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 791
Likes: 59
From: Boston Area
I'm guessing the trailer lighting doesn't power on unless the car senses a full trailer electric connection being plugged into the outlet. You could buy a trailer lighting plug and wire that up, but then you may have an issue with the car thinking there's a trailer attached and turning off the rear parking sensors.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 275
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From: Fairfax Station VA
I've owned a lot of trailers, they don't have back up lights, so wiring into the trailer plug will simply leave the light on all the time.
Mounting a back up light in the hitch will make it very low and cast shadows, may not be effective.
I would buy this instead, then run the wires to my reverse lights and tap in, should be far better than a hitch mount lamp and simple license plate attachment. Simple install and simple wiring - routing to the existing reverse lights cleanly will be the biggest challenge
Mounting a back up light in the hitch will make it very low and cast shadows, may not be effective.
I would buy this instead, then run the wires to my reverse lights and tap in, should be far better than a hitch mount lamp and simple license plate attachment. Simple install and simple wiring - routing to the existing reverse lights cleanly will be the biggest challenge
Last edited by drcollie2; Nov 17, 2020 at 07:40 AM.
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 787
Likes: 86
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 787
Likes: 86
I've owned a lot of trailers, they don't have back up lights, so wiring into the trailer plug will simply leave the light on all the time.
Mounting a back up light in the hitch will make it very low and cast shadows, may not be effective.
I would buy this instead, then run the wires to my reverse lights and tap in, should be far better than a hitch mount lamp and simple license plate attachment. Simple install and simple wiring - routing to the existing reverse lights cleanly will be the biggest challenge
https://www.amazon.com/XTR-LP-REVERS.../dp/B081S91LFV
Mounting a back up light in the hitch will make it very low and cast shadows, may not be effective.
I would buy this instead, then run the wires to my reverse lights and tap in, should be far better than a hitch mount lamp and simple license plate attachment. Simple install and simple wiring - routing to the existing reverse lights cleanly will be the biggest challenge
https://www.amazon.com/XTR-LP-REVERS.../dp/B081S91LFV
maybe so... a lot more money though....
The bargman can be wired for reverse lights. The audi plug dust cover has a pin out schematic and it's supposed to be pinned for reverse lights on the center pin. Some manufacturers call this pin "Aux"...just depends on the car I suppose....
I'm with you though.... in all my years I have yet to see a trailer with reverse lights that I can remember....
and yeah, you might be right about shadows but for my purposes I think it might work well enough....+ I'm not excited about splicing into the wiring, was looking for a nice and easy plug in project. I'll probably just continue to live with it as is if I can't get it to work through the bargman connector.
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 275
Likes: 167
From: Fairfax Station VA
Splicing wires is never a good idea on a modern CAN BUS vehicle, if you haven't used a Posi-Tap before I highly recommend them. They make only a pinhole mark in the OEM wiring and they hold on tight, even in adverse weather conditions.
https://www.posi-products.com/posiplug.html
I have had a lot of motorcycles and mounted auxiliary lights down low on full fairing bikes near the fork axle. They never work well are are only good as visibility lights for oncoming traffic, they are hard to aim when low and also catch every road imperfection and render them mostly useless.
https://www.posi-products.com/posiplug.html
I have had a lot of motorcycles and mounted auxiliary lights down low on full fairing bikes near the fork axle. They never work well are are only good as visibility lights for oncoming traffic, they are hard to aim when low and also catch every road imperfection and render them mostly useless.
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