Unique Boat Trailer Lights

by DoDo729 in Outside > Boats

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Unique Boat Trailer Lights

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Ever follow a boat trailer on the highway and the lights weren't working, or they were too small and below the trailer and very hard to see? Well that could have been me.  Was never comfortable driving with my boat trailer with those small lights, so I thought I would make it very easy for drivers following to see.  I built a second set of lights that are above the boat, clearly visible, lets me check to see if the lights are working and it serves the dual purpose of securing my boat to the trailer. With the two small clearance lights facing front, I can look in my rear view mirror and see that the lights are working.

This is a simple project that only takes a couple of hours to build and the cost is minimal. It does require some welding and wiring.

MATERIALS LIST:

3 - Pieces of 1/8" X 1" flat bar (length will depend on the size of your boat.)
1 - Set of trailer lights
2 - Small clearance lights
Trailer wiring
2 - Nuts, bolts, and washers
2 - Bolts with wing nuts
Nylon tie straps

INSTRUCTIONS:

Start by cutting your flat bar into 3 pieces.  The length will depend on the size of your boat and just how high you want your lights. Mine are about the height of my truck cab.  The main upright bar will have to be bent slightly to come straight up off of the front upright on your boat trailer.  At the bottom of this piece of flat bar, drill two holes, one above the other.  This  is where you will bolt the flat bar to your trailer upright.  Clamp this flat bar to your trailer upright and drill matching holes in your trailer upright.  The pictures will make this a little clearer.  This will be your main mount.

Now take the short piece of flat bar, clamp it to the top of your main mount flat bar and weld the two together forming a T.  On each end of the short flat bar you will have to drill holes to match your trailer light set.  You will also have to drill 4 more holes on this piece of flat bar to mount your small clearance lights.  The trailer lights face the back and the small clearance lights face the front.  

Bolt the long portion of the flat bar to the front upright of your boat trailer.  Your boat will have to be on the trailer for the next part.  I found that the flat bar with the lights on it had quite a bit of movement back and forth.  So what I did is take another piece of flat bar and bent it to fit from the T flat bar to the aluminium handle on the front top of my boat.  You can weld the two pieces of flat bar together or drill a hole  and bolt them together, which is what I did.  With the upper portion welded or bolted together, clamp the bottom of the flat bar to the handle on you boat and drill a hole through both.  This is where you use a bolt and wing nut.  This not only steadies the upright portion of the flat bar, but also secures your boat to the trailer.  

Now you wire the lights to the wiring on your trailer, hook every thing up to make sure it works and you are done.  

***NOTE*** - This is a little hard to explain, but the pictures will make it very clear and easy to build.