Tacoma towing lights

What is the best way to hook up tow lights for our '02 Tacoma? We are
getting it set up to be towed behind motorhome, and there are light kits
with diodes? and wiring, etc. Sounds like alot, can I just run wires to
rear tail lights and splice in?

I'd suggest not 'just splicing in to the existing lights'. The days
when these systems were just a fuse, switch and a bulb are (long)
gone... (Yes I do vehicle electrical work...)

EIther buy, or make a set of lights. A cheap trailer light set can do
you just fine.

Don't forget that the towed vehicle must have brakes aciivated when
the towing vehicle brakes (not lights, the brakes) You can get a
citation if you don't have this.

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 11:53:05 -0500, "stubbs" >
wrote:

>What is the best way to hook up tow lights for our '02 Tacoma? We are
>getting it set up to be towed behind motorhome, and there are light kits
>with diodes? and wiring, etc. Sounds like alot, can I just run wires to
>rear tail lights and splice in?

Peter D. Hipson wrote:

> I'd suggest not 'just splicing in to the existing lights'. The days
> when these systems were just a fuse, switch and a bulb are (long)
> gone... (Yes I do vehicle electrical work...)
>
> EIther buy, or make a set of lights. A cheap trailer light set can do
> you just fine.
>
> Don't forget that the towed vehicle must have brakes aciivated when
> the towing vehicle brakes (not lights, the brakes) You can get a
> citation if you don't have this.


How on earth can the brakes of the towed vehicle be activate?

--
Rob Munach, PE
Excel Engineering
PO Box 1264
Carrboro, NC 27510

Several companies make them. Check with an RV shop.

The law requires brakes on any towed load over 3K GW. A really small
car would be OK probably, but not a typical car, suv or truck.

I've never heard of this being enforced, however were there an
accident it might create a liability problem.

RV'ers were a bit ticked off about that rule, too! <g>

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 11:12:11 GMT, Rob Munach >
wrote:

>Peter D. Hipson wrote:
>
>> I'd suggest not 'just splicing in to the existing lights'. The days
>> when these systems were just a fuse, switch and a bulb are (long)
>> gone... (Yes I do vehicle electrical work...)
>>
>> EIther buy, or make a set of lights. A cheap trailer light set can do
>> you just fine.
>>
>> Don't forget that the towed vehicle must have brakes aciivated when
>> the towing vehicle brakes (not lights, the brakes) You can get a
>> citation if you don't have this.
>
>
>How on earth can the brakes of the towed vehicle be activate?

Rob Munach proclaimed:

> Peter D. Hipson wrote:
>
>> I'd suggest not 'just splicing in to the existing lights'. The days
>> when these systems were just a fuse, switch and a bulb are (long)
>> gone... (Yes I do vehicle electrical work...)
>>
>> EIther buy, or make a set of lights. A cheap trailer light set can do
>> you just fine.
>> Don't forget that the towed vehicle must have brakes aciivated when
>> the towing vehicle brakes (not lights, the brakes) You can get a
>> citation if you don't have this.
>
>
>
> How on earth can the brakes of the towed vehicle be activate?
>
Inertial brakes, or tie them to the brakelight. The latter best
done thru isolating diodes.