Adding side turn signals

[CasaLoca]

I know that lots of cars and RVs now come with side mounted turn signals. My older Hurricane did not but it seemed a worthwhile project. I had learned in the past that altering the current load on the flasher circuit for incandescent lamps caused them to malfunction. Testing with some LED lights showed me that they did not seem to affect the flasher circuit. At a local trailer dealer (Texas Trailers) I found 6 1/2 inch oval lights that came with a rubber mounting grommet. Finding a good place to mount them with wiring accessibility wasn't easy but I finally found a place just ahead of the front tire. The lights came with three wires for both turn signal and clearance lights so I wired them in parallel with the incandescent turn signal up front.
It wasn't a tough job at all and now it feels good that I can give more warning when I need to change lanes.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

[axis earl]

Originally Posted by CasaLoca

I know that lots of cars and RVs now come with side mounted turn signals. My older Hurricane did not but it seemed a worthwhile project. I had learned in the past that altering the current load on the flasher circuit for incandescent lamps caused them to malfunction. Testing with some LED lights showed me that they did not seem to affect the flasher circuit. At a local trailer dealer (Texas Trailers) I found 6 1/2 inch oval lights that came with a rubber mounting grommet. Finding a good place to mount them with wiring accessibility wasn't easy but I finally found a place just ahead of the front tire. The lights came with three wires for both turn signal and clearance lights so I wired them in parallel with the incandescent turn signal up front.
It wasn't a tough job at all and now it feels good that I can give more warning when I need to change lanes.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

Now it makes me wonder why, other than a few dollars extra cost, why they don't install them at the factory. LED lights have become so much cheaper and don't draw the amps to cause any problems. Looks like another project.

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by CasaLoca

I know that lots of cars and RVs now come with side mounted turn signals. My older Hurricane did not but it seemed a worthwhile project. I had learned in the past that altering the current load on the flasher circuit for incandescent lamps caused them to malfunction. Testing with some LED lights showed me that they did not seem to affect the flasher circuit. At a local trailer dealer (Texas Trailers) I found 6 1/2 inch oval lights that came with a rubber mounting grommet. Finding a good place to mount them with wiring accessibility wasn't easy but I finally found a place just ahead of the front tire. The lights came with three wires for both turn signal and clearance lights so I wired them in parallel with the incandescent turn signal up front.
It wasn't a tough job at all and now it feels good that I can give more warning when I need to change lanes.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

Like you, I own an older Hurricane and try to keep it as updated with new technology as possible.
It would be nice, if you could post some pictures of the lights you bought and of the location you installed them.
I really think it is a good idea to make this safety related mod.

[CasaLoca]

Here are a couple of photos if I can make it work. Never tried this before.
One photo from each side and you can see they are slightly different. But then the factory installed clearance light differs from side to side. I also included a shot of the light pulled free. The rubber grommet has a rib that holds behind the skin. I used three conductor rubber covered 16 gauge wire. Where I went through the inner skin into the wheel well there was thin sheet metal. I made a 1/2 inch hole, deburred it and used a rubber grommet there to protect the wire. To make the hole for the light I used a 2 ans 1/2 inch holesaw at each end and a little battery saw to connect the two.
Finding the right spot was the hard part, the rest was quite straight forward.
Hope this helps someone.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

[samven]

Just out of curiosity could you have pulled the marker light and put in a surface mounted blinker w/marker bulb, using the supplied wiring for the marker and running just one additional wire for the blinker.

[SuperD]

VERY nice job!!!

[CasaLoca]

Originally Posted by samven

Just out of curiosity could you have pulled the marker light and put in a surface mounted blinker w/marker bulb, using the supplied wiring for the marker and running just one additional wire for the blinker.

What you suggest might be possible and it was considered. However, not really understanding how sensitive the flasher circuit might be if I added load on just one leg, I only tested a full parallel on all three wires. When that worked, I quit trying other alternatives. My first attempt was with a surface mount marker similar to the existing clearance light. It was not visible in daylight. It had to be brighter and protrude outwards. The light I ended up using was purpose built as marker/turnsignal for side mount.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by CasaLoca

Here are a couple of photos if I can make it work. Never tried this before.
One photo from each side and you can see they are slightly different. But then the factory installed clearance light differs from side to side. I also included a shot of the light pulled free. The rubber grommet has a rib that holds behind the skin. I used three conductor rubber covered 16 gauge wire. Where I went through the inner skin into the wheel well there was thin sheet metal. I made a 1/2 inch hole, deburred it and used a rubber grommet there to protect the wire. To make the hole for the light I used a 2 ans 1/2 inch holesaw at each end and a little battery saw to connect the two.
Finding the right spot was the hard part, the rest was quite straight forward.
Hope this helps someone.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

Thank you! I have never seen marker lights like this, with that bubble in the middle!
Now I have to go to the different auto stores!

[CasaLoca]

Originally Posted by Hudsoner

Thank you! I have never seen marker lights like this, with that bubble in the middle!
Now I have to go to the different auto stores!

Online you can find the ones I used.
6.5" Oval Amber Side Marker and Turn Signal Lamp Custer Products

That is their CPL65A-SMA lights.

Hope that helps.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

[Hudsoner]

Originally Posted by CasaLoca

Online you can find the ones I used.
6.5" Oval Amber Side Marker and Turn Signal Lamp Custer Products

That is their CPL65A-SMA lights.

Hope that helps.
Chuck Peck in CasaLoca

Thanks! A new project for the time when winter is finally over here in de Nordland