Thanks for this video! My 4xe Rubi doesn't have the tow package, but I tapped into the ground and reverse light power inside the right taillight. I then ran a second power from the same splice up to my switch box under the hood for my AUX switches in the cab. Worked perfect! Aux back-up lights come on with the stock reverse lights in "R" but when I turn them on using the switch, only the AUX lights come on! Like you said, must be some sort of factory relay, keeping the stock reverse lights from coming on when the line gets power. For those wanting to know, I tapped into the solid Orange line (after the plug) for power and the black wire on the other side of the plug for ground. For me, the white with orange stripe did not have reverse power. There was a second light grey with orange, but I didn't test it.
I suspect that the factory aux switches already have relays associated with them, so adding another relay would be pretty useless unless you were trying to control something that required more current than the factory relays could handle... I believe that the factory relays can handle a winch, so it REALLY would need to be something that needed a LOT of amps... I'm more inclined to have aux reverse lights that were just controlled by a switch instead of also being controlled by going into reverse... That way, only use them when I REALLY need them... Having them on a switch allows me to turn them on (briefly) when some idiot is behind me with his high beams on also... :) It would be nice to have an LED matrix in the rear window where you could play some pre-programmed messages... Things like: 1. LOW BEAMS, PLEASE 2. FLASH TO PASS 3. THANKS !!! 4. SLOWER TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT 5. ZIPPER MERGE 6. OOPS... SORRY... 7. HONK LOUDER, I'M AN OLD FART AND CAN'T HEAR WELL... 8. GET OFF THE CELL PHONE AND **DRIVE** 9. BERNIE? LMAO.... THE **ONLY** 'GOOD' COMMUNIST IS A **DEAD** ONE... 10. YANKEE GO HOME !!!
I’m not sure. That’s a question I have too. I’d like to go to 35s down the road. I think a 35 would be the max and it might depend on the light being used too. The distance from the bolt in the middle to the edge of the light could make a difference.
Years ago, I had a 78 CJ5 with some extra lights on the back. It was mainly for when I was taking my jet ski on and off the trailer. One night, I was driving home from work. It was around 11:00 at night. This guy comes runs up on me on this long stretch of road with his brights on. He gets right on my tail. I mean uncomfortably close. There was a passing zone so I assumed he’s go around me but he stayed glued to my rear end. I slowed down, moved over while still in the passing zone and he stayed glued. I sped up and he stayed there. We hit another passing zone and I moved over the the right side of the lane so he could see it was clear and he just stayed there. At that point, I had had about enough. I debated what could happen for a moment then flicked on my extra reverse lights. All I saw in my rear view mirror was a look of panic on his face, then both arms crossed his face. He immediately dimmed his lights and backed off. I never could figure out what his deal was. I don’t advise anyone doing this to people, mind you. You could really temporarily blind someone and cause an accident. In that case, it was a last ditch option to get the guy to back off.
Great project. So did you connect the two red wires to the orange and white wire? Where did you ground them? I’m new to the 4xe and I’d love to add some of this type of lighting.
Have you seen the oracle reverse lights for the jl? They replace the two red reflectors on the bumper. I wired mine up to the 7 pin trailer harness for simplicity. Makes a WORLD of difference backing up in the dark.
@@emvilli honestly looking at mine I think they have a little bit. Would honestly buy again though, super bright and clean looking. Mine haven't failed yet or had any issues. I feel like they have probably had enough time to resolve issues like that though.
That cut on my palm? Yeah, did that in a fun way. I was installing a water tight case for my relays under the hood. I messed up on one of the connections and was trying to pull a wire out of where I had accidentally inserted it. I couldn’t get it to come out. I finally took my small nose pliers and was working it out. It popped loose and scratched my palm. Seemed like a light scratch at the time but has gotten ugly as it heals.
Good way to run auxiliary break lights. Are the stock backup lights weak? How are the LED headlights on the Rubicon. I have a 2022 Rubicon 4XE on order, my last one was a 2012 and the stock headlights were garbage. Enjoy your video on the 4EX, good to get input from jeep experts.
The headlights are really good. When the low beams are on, there’s a pretty defined vertical cut off to try to keep from blinding approaching drivers. It can be a little hard to get used to when on the highway at night. But they are still really great headlight.
Just got my 4xe and looking to do something similar. What gauge wire did you use? Have a link or where you bought it? Thank for all your informative videos.
@@Wrangler4XEFans thank you. I’ll look into some sort of time delay relay- not sure I have seen anything out there less than 10 seconds though. Video was great- thank you!
Thanks for this video! My 4xe Rubi doesn't have the tow package, but I tapped into the ground and reverse light power inside the right taillight. I then ran a second power from the same splice up to my switch box under the hood for my AUX switches in the cab. Worked perfect! Aux back-up lights come on with the stock reverse lights in "R" but when I turn them on using the switch, only the AUX lights come on! Like you said, must be some sort of factory relay, keeping the stock reverse lights from coming on when the line gets power. For those wanting to know, I tapped into the solid Orange line (after the plug) for power and the black wire on the other side of the plug for ground. For me, the white with orange stripe did not have reverse power. There was a second light grey with orange, but I didn't test it.
I thought I was the only one who high beams people from behind me when they tailgate me and high beam me lmfao! nice! I put mine in my spare tire
I can neither confirm nor deny that this has happened.
I really appreciate David Letterman doing :-)
I suspect that the factory aux switches already have relays associated with them, so adding another relay would be pretty useless unless you were trying to control something that required more current than the factory relays could handle... I believe that the factory relays can handle a winch, so it REALLY would need to be something that needed a LOT of amps...
I'm more inclined to have aux reverse lights that were just controlled by a switch instead of also being controlled by going into reverse... That way, only use them when I REALLY need them... Having them on a switch allows me to turn them on (briefly) when some idiot is behind me with his high beams on also... :)
It would be nice to have an LED matrix in the rear window where you could play some pre-programmed messages... Things like:
1. LOW BEAMS, PLEASE
2. FLASH TO PASS
3. THANKS !!!
4. SLOWER TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT
5. ZIPPER MERGE
6. OOPS... SORRY...
7. HONK LOUDER, I'M AN OLD FART AND CAN'T HEAR WELL...
8. GET OFF THE CELL PHONE AND **DRIVE**
9. BERNIE? LMAO.... THE **ONLY** 'GOOD' COMMUNIST IS A **DEAD** ONE...
10. YANKEE GO HOME !!!
That list is a YES from me. I’ve had some of the same ideas lately.
Would this bracket fit with a 35” tire?
I’m not sure. That’s a question I have too. I’d like to go to 35s down the road. I think a 35 would be the max and it might depend on the light being used too. The distance from the bolt in the middle to the edge of the light could make a difference.
very good! think you this is EXACTLY the video I needed!
Man I would do this just to turn it on when a driver blinds me at a stop light 😂
Years ago, I had a 78 CJ5 with some extra lights on the back. It was mainly for when I was taking my jet ski on and off the trailer. One night, I was driving home from work. It was around 11:00 at night. This guy comes runs up on me on this long stretch of road with his brights on. He gets right on my tail. I mean uncomfortably close. There was a passing zone so I assumed he’s go around me but he stayed glued to my rear end. I slowed down, moved over while still in the passing zone and he stayed glued. I sped up and he stayed there. We hit another passing zone and I moved over the the right side of the lane so he could see it was clear and he just stayed there. At that point, I had had about enough. I debated what could happen for a moment then flicked on my extra reverse lights. All I saw in my rear view mirror was a look of panic on his face, then both arms crossed his face. He immediately dimmed his lights and backed off. I never could figure out what his deal was.
I don’t advise anyone doing this to people, mind you. You could really temporarily blind someone and cause an accident. In that case, it was a last ditch option to get the guy to back off.
When you wired the lights to the white/orange trailer reverse power. Where did you tie in the other wire? Vehicle ground? Or negative wire?
@@MrTully3 Gosh, it’s been a while but I think I grounded behind the plastic in the back on the passenger side.
Great project. So did you connect the two red wires to the orange and white wire? Where did you ground them? I’m new to the 4xe and I’d love to add some of this type of lighting.
Yes, the orange and white. I grounded them to the black wire going to the trailer harness right next to where I hit the orange and white.
Have you seen the oracle reverse lights for the jl? They replace the two red reflectors on the bumper. I wired mine up to the 7 pin trailer harness for simplicity. Makes a WORLD of difference backing up in the dark.
Yes, I really like those too. I was really on the fence between doing this and doing those. They are really bright.
I have read that moisture penetrates those reflector lights, have you experienced that issue?
@@emvilli honestly looking at mine I think they have a little bit. Would honestly buy again though, super bright and clean looking. Mine haven't failed yet or had any issues. I feel like they have probably had enough time to resolve issues like that though.
Nice write up thank you! (I've shanked myself almost exactly like that with a flat screwdriver lol)
That cut on my palm? Yeah, did that in a fun way. I was installing a water tight case for my relays under the hood. I messed up on one of the connections and was trying to pull a wire out of where I had accidentally inserted it. I couldn’t get it to come out. I finally took my small nose pliers and was working it out. It popped loose and scratched my palm. Seemed like a light scratch at the time but has gotten ugly as it heals.
Good way to run auxiliary break lights. Are the stock backup lights weak? How are the LED headlights on the Rubicon. I have a 2022 Rubicon 4XE on order, my last one was a 2012 and the stock headlights were garbage. Enjoy your video on the 4EX, good to get input from jeep experts.
The headlights are really good. When the low beams are on, there’s a pretty defined vertical cut off to try to keep from blinding approaching drivers. It can be a little hard to get used to when on the highway at night. But they are still really great headlight.
ANOTHER GREAT VIDEO
Just got my 4xe and looking to do something similar. What gauge wire did you use? Have a link or where you bought it? Thank for all your informative videos.
I think it was 8awg or 6awg. Either way, the lights I used pull less than 3 amps so you don’t need a heavy wire. I picked it up at AutoZone.
Do the auxiliary lights flash on when shifting from park through reverse, neutral, and into drive??
That’s a great question. I’m going to have to find out.
If I yank it in to drive quick enough, they don’t.
@@Wrangler4XEFans thank you. I’ll look into some sort of time delay relay- not sure I have seen anything out there less than 10 seconds though.
Video was great- thank you!
@@Escape.Idiocracy That’s a good idea. Even a second or two would do it. Might have to think about that myself.
Can you share a link where you purchased those lights?
www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/traveller-3-in-color-strip-pod-light-2-pack-tw0320-05146-1379452?cid=Shopping-Google-Product-1379452&gclid=Cj0KCQiAu62QBhC7ARIsALXijXSMpdkqRkbS71DLHeg_-QWk0ZXeYXiXZRn9DzQtDgRmgklJfbmX1cEaAgyCEALw_wcB
What about the mounting bracket?
Where did you find that bracket to hold your rear pods
zroadz.com/i-23910094?q=#!year%3D2021%7C%7Cmake%3DJEEP%7C%7Cmodel%3DWRANGLER%20(JL)%7C%7Csubmodel%3DUNLIMITED%20SAHARA
I can't find the video on how you routed the wire to your aux switches.
Nice.Thanx
this is an after-the-fact video go elsewhere if you need to see how he connected
What part did I miss?
@@Wrangler4XEFans I believe they want to know how you did the splice into the reverse wire itself.
@@DanielBates71 I spliced in the harness behind the right tail light that goes to the trailer harness.