HELP!!: My wife bought me Unrequested Ranger Parts - Need Installation Advice.

[rang19ca]

She made the attempt on the gift, that's a nice thing. Explaining how it really won't work, she should understand. Best of luck working this out.

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[GTGallop]

I still want an additional LED Light bar for the rear bumper. I just need to shop around a little more before turning her loose on the internet.

 

[FunInTheSun]

I'd wire that reverse light with a switch in the cab for those tailgaters. I'm sure that would make them back off real quick at night.

You know, you can just shift it into Reverse...
Not sure if the Reverse LIGHTS will come on, but you can make the shift (No, it won't hurt anything...).
But it feels creepy =8^O

 

[Fritz]

I have one of those that came on my used ranger, I know it’s hooked to a four way. Maybe I’ll check it out see how they did everything.

 

[myothercarizahearse]

Or blind them and they plow into your rear.

that's a stretch

 

[9zero1790]

this will sound silly but i had an idea to take a couple of those and put one on each outside edge of the frame facing out, then running a relay and switch to them so i could have red, amber or white lights under the body and possibly even tap in some place to turn signals. that way id have a mid ship signal for those folks that like to get right next to you. I got the idea one night late as i passed a kenworth. driver said he used the tail gate strips for pickups and stuck them on where you could see the shine but not the part. it was pretty slick.

 

[GTGallop]

Or blind them and they plow into your rear.

I think you greatly overestimate the power of the Chinesium LED Lights on this. It's no Death-Star.

 

[Motorpsychology]

At least she tried. Sounds like you have a great wife!

You can always repay her thoughtfulness...

 

[Motorpsychology]

At least she tried. Sounds like you have a great wife!

You can always repay her thoughtfulness...

 

[SigOris]

That may work if only tieing in reverse lights. I think it uses the brake light circuit to sense the trailer. I usually need to tap my brakes to get it to sense my trailer, turns may do it too, haven't tried that. They are the same filement on the trailer.

My suggestion was to try it using alligator clips vs cutting and slicing and see what happens

 

[D Fresh]

Explain to your wife your truly appreciate the great gift but it will be difficult to install on the Ranger so you will be happy to return it and get something you want. Then duck!

This dude knows what's up.

 

[Fritz]

The part in question is this: Nilight TR-04 Truck Tailgate Bar 60" Triple Row 504 LED Strip with Red Brake White Reverse Sequential Amber Turning Signals Strobe Lights，2 Years Warranty

It connects to the Ranger with a 4 pin trailer wire and a fifth loose wire for reverse lights.

Since when do 4 pin harnesses not have a reverse light? I always thought that was part of the deal?
A - Ground, B - Left (turn / brake), C - Right (turn/brake) and then D was reverse. Did something change when we went with all digital LED lights?

Any way.... Here's my quandary.

How do you install this thing? According to the instructions I plug it in to my trailer light harness and leave this unsightly plug hanging out there. Then I hack the reverse wire somewhere and put the extra fifth wire on it.
1. I do not want to put in a cool light bar and then have a towing pigtail poking out under my tailgate.
2. I do not want to have to hack into a wire for reverse. It defies and defeats the purpose of waterproof plugs.

Is there a better way to install what I have? I don't mind purchasing an adapter that goes behind the bumper and hooks into a wiring harness. That's how I added trailer lights to my 93 ranger back in the day. Walmart sold it for like $10. You unhooked a harness from the main and then this add in harness sat between the main line and the rear harness. Worked out BEEEEE-YOOOO-tifully.

Or a different option. I've got $45 sunk into this light. Getting an adapter to make it work is probably another $20 to $40. Is there a Sub-$100 light kit that is as good / better than this one that installs easier? If so I can return this and just get that one.

I didn’t want to pull it all apart but this is what I think is going on.
The black box is connected to the four way and the white wire is tapped into a grey and brown? wire from the truck harness. That must be the reverse.

 

[Fritz]

View from the rear, the 4 way plug doesn’t stand out too much but I’ve got a lot going on back there.

Excuse the potato quality photo and finger half over the camera. The sun was in my face and a wasp was after me. lol
Also a shot of my fancy hardware.

 

[GTGallop]

I didn’t want to pull it all apart but this is what I think is going on.
The black box is connected to the four way and the white wire is tapped into a grey and brown? wire from the truck harness. That must be the reverse.

Does yours think the truck is towing a trailer all the time?

 

[JohnnyO]

I ran the 4 pin plug wires down behind the left side of the bumper, attached it underneath with a zip tie or two, popped out the license plate light, and plugged it into the 4 pin plug. I have the tow package with both plugs next to the license plate.

I ran the backup light wire up to the left taillight and connected it to the backup light wire with a Scotchlock connector. If memory serves, I connected it to a yellow wire. There are two wires to the backup light socket so I had a 50/50 shot of being right and I guessed right the first time.

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