Tweet
So, we carry bikes on the rear of our 2022 22MLE. My problem is that I can't keep them covered while underway because the lights on these XLS units (and others) are small and low. If I cover the bikes, they're hidden. I've read how others upgraded their lighting and just wanted to add my setup for reference.
I stared with tearing into the back end of the trailer as much as could from the inside to see if there was any possibility I could run the needed wiring inside the trailer. Unfortunately, that didn't work out due to obstructions. So, I resorted to mounting the wiring in channels on the outside of the trailer and I think it came out great.
I purchased 12" LED strip lights for the new higher mounted lights and went with much larger LED units to replace the much smaller original ones. All from Amazon. My first problem was with the strip lights. I ordered a few different designs, but they all posed the same problem, they are designed to be able to drill a hole in the mounting surface to run the wires through, dang. I settled on a set but needed to do some modifications to the housings so that they would sit flat and be able to run the wires out. I did that by cutting a lot of plastic away from the back side so that the wires could first "lay flat" below the ridge of their base. After cutting away the plastic so the wires could lay flat, I used epoxy to cement the wires and seal them. At this step I tested them to ensure I hadn't cut or broken the wires where they connect to the electronics within the lights. All good so next I cut "channels" in the base so the wires could come out and the base of the light could sit flat against the mounting surface. I had to cut similar channels in the bases of the replacement tail lights for the same purpose.
Next, I had to extend the wires from the LED strip lights because they were only about 8 inches long and wouldn't reach the taillights.
The next hurdle came trying to ensure once all the wiring was connected the lights would all work as they should because the wire coloring didn't match the factory wiring color. After that I tried to be meticulous in measuring so everything would sit at the same heights, etc., from side to side. Goes to figure the taillights weren't originally installed at the same height so in order to cover the lower screw hole left from the factory light on the PS side, I had to mount that new light maybe 1/2 inch lower than the DS which is such a challenge for me
I'm including some pictures which may or may not make sense so feel free to ask any relevant questions.
Factory light:
Hard to make out but this shot shows the LED strip lights before and after reworking the wires:
Cutting the channels for the wires to exit the new taillights to connect to the strip lights:
Working on verifying which wire needs to connect with which to get the proper features of tail/brake&turn:
Running the wiring through the channel:
The final result:
I currently don't have room to put the bikes on and test, but I will be doing that this weekend as we leave for a 2 week trip and I'll get a shot then but I'm certain the new strip lights will be easily visible n matter what.
I stared with tearing into the back end of the trailer as much as could from the inside to see if there was any possibility I could run the needed wiring inside the trailer. Unfortunately, that didn't work out due to obstructions. So, I resorted to mounting the wiring in channels on the outside of the trailer and I think it came out great.
I purchased 12" LED strip lights for the new higher mounted lights and went with much larger LED units to replace the much smaller original ones. All from Amazon. My first problem was with the strip lights. I ordered a few different designs, but they all posed the same problem, they are designed to be able to drill a hole in the mounting surface to run the wires through, dang. I settled on a set but needed to do some modifications to the housings so that they would sit flat and be able to run the wires out. I did that by cutting a lot of plastic away from the back side so that the wires could first "lay flat" below the ridge of their base. After cutting away the plastic so the wires could lay flat, I used epoxy to cement the wires and seal them. At this step I tested them to ensure I hadn't cut or broken the wires where they connect to the electronics within the lights. All good so next I cut "channels" in the base so the wires could come out and the base of the light could sit flat against the mounting surface. I had to cut similar channels in the bases of the replacement tail lights for the same purpose.
Next, I had to extend the wires from the LED strip lights because they were only about 8 inches long and wouldn't reach the taillights.
The next hurdle came trying to ensure once all the wiring was connected the lights would all work as they should because the wire coloring didn't match the factory wiring color. After that I tried to be meticulous in measuring so everything would sit at the same heights, etc., from side to side. Goes to figure the taillights weren't originally installed at the same height so in order to cover the lower screw hole left from the factory light on the PS side, I had to mount that new light maybe 1/2 inch lower than the DS which is such a challenge for me
I'm including some pictures which may or may not make sense so feel free to ask any relevant questions.
Factory light:
Hard to make out but this shot shows the LED strip lights before and after reworking the wires:
Cutting the channels for the wires to exit the new taillights to connect to the strip lights:
Working on verifying which wire needs to connect with which to get the proper features of tail/brake&turn:
Running the wiring through the channel:
The final result:
I currently don't have room to put the bikes on and test, but I will be doing that this weekend as we leave for a 2 week trip and I'll get a shot then but I'm certain the new strip lights will be easily visible n matter what.
Comment