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Third Brake Light Options?

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by teletech, Aug 26, 2020.

  1. Aug 26, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
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    Hey there, it was pointed out to me that my factory brake lights aren't particularly easily seen lurking under the spare/gas-can rack as they are and that a third brake light would be a good idea. As much as I feel it's the other driver's responsibility to not drive into the back of me I realize that won't replace the Jeep if they do, so I suppose I should make an effort to make it easy for other drivers to see me between checking their phones. :-\
    What have you folks done about this?
    I'm not crazy about a plastic LED thing but would much rather find something that looks vintage and either sits above the spare or inside the middle of it.
    Of course, I'll need to either drag a new wire back from the brake light switch that bypasses the turn signals, or else find some little electronic widget that can parse the turn/brake signals coming from the signal unit. Have people come up with a ready solution for this issue?
     
  2. Aug 26, 2020
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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  3. Aug 26, 2020
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I'll vote for led. they pack a punch for size and you can get creative. I'ld go from the switch or plumb in a 2nd switch dedicated to the center high mount stop light. Otherwise it will flash when turning or always be on.

    I've got to do this soon for a trailer brake controller.

    Round here people paint the taillights and headlights black.:shrug:
     
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  4. Aug 26, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    LED light mounted in the middle of my spare. I took the easy way out with the wiring and just ran another wire all the way from the brake light switch.
    20200826_055101.jpg

    Edit: it doesn't show well in the picture, but that thing is BRIGHT...13 diodes in a 2 1/2" light.
    Its a Truck Lite #1050
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2020
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  5. Aug 26, 2020
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    yep . that's the only way to do it
    run a dedicated wire from brake light switch to third light
     
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  6. Aug 26, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    They used to sell kits back'n'da'day for cars, had diodes & a wire to each light.
     
  7. Aug 26, 2020
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  8. Aug 26, 2020
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    I realize the value and significant brightness of the LED lights but, I don't like them on vintage vehicles. Just my opinion. I'd vote for a vintage light or reproduction of one.

    They do make some small LED lights that are basically bolts with a single diode. As bright as they are, maybe one of those would suffice and not look out of place on the back of the JEEP. Motorcycle guys use them I think. And maybe people use them as marker lights on trailers and such. Just a thought.
     
  9. Aug 26, 2020
    Boyink

    Boyink Super Moderator Staff Member

    Tulsa, OK
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    With a bright enough LED you could mount it out of sight behind the tire and just let all the holes in the wheel light up.

    Dad had installed a stock 3rd brake light extension on the TJ, but it blocked my rear-view visibility so I yanked it. I was going to put a small round LED in the middle of the wheel (like an earlier photo showed), but never got around to it. Missouri isn't tough on issues like that, my brakelights are fully visible, so I skipped it.
     
  10. Aug 26, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    Ummm, if they can't see your brakes how do they see your turn signals?
     
  11. Aug 26, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

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    I agree with this, from an appearance standpoint. But in this case,safety outweighs appearance IMO. Too many oblivious idiots on the road these days.
    They make lights like that for Wranglers....maybe adaptable to CJ bolt pattern?
     
  12. Aug 26, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
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    It's not that they can't be seen, just that the visual field is busy and if you were in some dopey H3 and close to me it might be a challenge. I'm just trying to be courteous and improve the odds of keeping my Jeep in the era of distracted-driving.

    I really don't like the look of obvious LED on my vintage rides, but am all for making the lights brighter and producing less heat to save my old plastic, so I'm thinking a vintage (or repro) light with a LED "bulb".
    I do sort of like the ones that light up with "STOP", and while they aren't small enough to slide a wheel over, I could attach it with wing nuts so it's in the middle but removable should I need the spare. I might even add a lock hasp so it locks my spare tire on. Pity, I had an original years ago I sold.

    Indeed, I remember installing a few of these for family members (under some duress) back when they became all the rage. I wonder if the wiring logic would be correct for the Jeep. I guess I can find one someplace...
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2020
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  13. Aug 26, 2020
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I made a simple bracket of sheet metal. Connected to a lug nut on the spare.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Aug 26, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
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    Did you wire it direct to the brake light or use a converter?
    I'm seeing 2-to-3 tail-light converters for towing for $23, seems worth it to not clutter up the wiring harness along the frame.
     
  15. Aug 26, 2020
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Wiring was the one big job I paid for during my build. It looks to be just cut into the harness in the rear of the jeep.
     
  16. Aug 26, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
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    How many wires go to it and did you use a standard harness? I'm wondering if it has electronics built-in or they built/bought a non-standard harness that brought the brake light back.

    Anyway, seeing the 2-to3 converters I decided to give one a shot, along with a vintage signal which I'll mount to the center of the spare carrier with wing-nuts so I can remove it to dismount the spare.
    Fingers crossed it works out.
     
  17. Aug 26, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    That's gonna look Cool. :cool:
     
  18. Aug 26, 2020
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

    Bainbridge...
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    I put a third brake light on my wife's '63 Bug. I used a Porsche rear fog light and mounted it in the rear window. Worked out pretty good and I had the Porsche light too...
     
  19. Oct 9, 2020
    teletech

    teletech Member

    Santa Cruz, CA
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    I bought a 2-to-3 light system towing adapter and hooked that up so I would have a divorced brake light signal.
    Then I pounded three dimples in the housing to clear the studs on my spare tire carrier, then drilled a few holes in that carrier so I could stab the studs on the light through and wingnut it on. The end product works, aids visibility significantly, and looks vintage alright. It's awfully big though. I might replace it with something smaller but we'll see.
    It's brighter than it looks, I had the flash on the camera active since it was in the shop.
    For now it's done and I have bigger problems with the Jeep that the third brake light being a bit large.
    DSC_0009.JPG DSC_0011.JPG DSC_0013.JPG
     
  20. Oct 9, 2020
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

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    I like that a lot... :clap:
     
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