Fog light backup lights...

[Saurian]

Here's a thought... There've been a few times when off-roading at night, that I have gotten into somewhere that I can go no further, and had to back out... But you know, the reverse lights on the Cherokee are just not that bright, and while it has not been an issue yet, backing next to a dropoff because a fallen tree took out the trail with poor lighting has been a little hairy... They're OK for normal backing, but they don't illuminate as far back as I would like them to. So I had this twisted idea. What if I mounted a set of fog lights under the back bumper, or even high on the luggage rack, wired into the reverse light wiring, so that when I shift into reverse, they would come on... I would probably do a bypass switch on the system, so that I could function with regular reverse lights around town without blinding people... I did the fog lights on the front, that install went easily enough, came with relay, switch, and everything... Here are my questions for everyone...

Could I directly wire larger lights into the reverse light wiring without overloading it, or should I go relay system?

Where would the easiest point be to access the wiring supplying the reverse lights from INSIDE the Jeep... (preferably without having to dismantle the headliner, or any side panels unless they would come off easy.)

Has anyone done or seen anything like this before?

This'll be one of those "when I get money" things, which probably won't be for a while, but any help is always welcome and appreciated...

 

[Tug-n-pull]

on my old YJ I mounted a 100 watt flood to the inside edge of the bumperett pointing back with a switch. When I needed to back up it was all good. When a jerk got on tail with his high beams all up in my mirors I could sure make him swerve and dim them lights in a big hurry too! hehehe tug

 

[siminsez01]

maybe think about mouting them on the rear bumperettes, that way they wont be under the bumper and get ripped off and they will also allow the lift gate to open no problem. i just ran some roof mounted fogs and came in through the rear hatch and along the drivers side headliner molding (no need to take it off, just shove the wire in there with a screwdriver if need be). You might have to slightly unscrew the oh sh*t bar. ended up wiring them up to the cigarette lighter so that when the jeep is not in the 'on' position they wont work and therefore wont kill my battery if i leave them on.

a cheap light kit is only $15-20 at walmart or auto zone and it will come wiring/fuse/switch. you will prob need some more 16 gauge (i think thats what comes with the kits) to run all the way from the rear to the dash tho.

 

[MudderChuck]

I have mine mounted under the bumper and moved towards the gas tank with a small bracket. Tucked pretty much up and out of harms way. Roof mount would probably work better, but not an option around here, police frown on uncovered roof lights of any flavor.
I put a relay in the left rear panel (behind the spare tire), the wiring bundle for the tail lights/back-up etc. runs through there anyway.
I was lucky and found a major hot wire, for the trailer lighting. The hot wire was labeled aux. power (guess it was for interior lighting in a travel trailer).
Don´t know how you are going to run a switch for it, without running wires the length of the XJ, though.

 

[90Xjay]

I had to do what you are talking about but I did it out of need.
When I bought my rig last year the back-ups did not work. I always thought it was just the neutral start switch. When I got into fixing it, I found that my rig had a different transmission than what she came with. The ECM still plugged in but the harness for the neutral start switch and back ups had been cut off by the installer. (retard)
I went to Harbor Freight and bought a set of those oval shaped driving lights with brackets for about $15.
I mounted them under the bumper on either side of the hitch receiver and had to run a power wire the whole length into the engine compartment and through an existing grommet hole under the master cylinder. From there I installed a quality lighted rocker switch for about $6.
IF you do this make sure you put the switch where you won't bump into it with your knees on the way in or out of your Jeep. I had to move mine further to the right because of that problem.

Turns out that now off-roading at night is better. Esp when you have to pull through gates and need the light behind you and many times I had to turn mine on to help someone behind me do something. They are a good asset.