Tailgate LED lighting

[DaveCrampton]

I've just found this thread when searching for something else. Loving the spots in the tailgate.

I fitted an LED bar light in my Shuttle connected to a leisure battery. It's switchable. I have spots which turn on by touching the metal outer ring. If I fitted these I think I'd need a separate isolator switch incase anything inside the boot touched them turning them on accidentally.

 

[5huttleCamper]

Actually both, I have an ON-OFF-ON switch in the rear panel so I can use either

Because I have a shuttle I get a plastic trim along the top, so I took the light bar to pieces, screwed it directly through the back and re-soldered new wires that went through the rear but you could use it in its standard form in any van without the trim, I'd suggest adding some double sided tape along the length of the back as well as the screws on the end

View attachment 147654

LAP Electrical LAP900DF 900mm Direct Feed Interior Light

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And the mini floods...

LED Autolamps 7705BM Heavy Duty Compact Flood/Work Light PN: 7705BM

Discover the LED Autolamps 7705BM heavy-duty compact flood work light. Perfect for robust lighting needs, offering powerful illumination in a compact design.

www.beaconsandlightbars.co.uk

Hi there,

I’m currently fitting those LED floods you’ve fitted to my T6 Shuttle tailgate as you have done. However, I’ve removed the OEM rear courtesy lamp assembly but used its power loom to supply these lights in the tailgate with a protective fuse for them. So, having tested them before I fit my new ply rear panel, I’ve noticed they remain permanently lit but quite dull and then operate correctly when I open the tailgate as they should. It appears the CANBUS system is causing the LEDs to remain on with what I presume is a low residual current? Do I need a load resistor here? I did notice on the OEM courtesy lamp unit there is a diode across it, is this something I need to replicate on my new LED-based spot lamp circuit?

 

[TallPaul_S]

I'm looking to do this soon, I've got a pull out bike drawer in the back of my van and for night rides it'd be great to have illumination over the drawer when it's open to let me see when putting the bikes in.


As you can see, the drawer comes out slightly further than the tailgate


I need to fit it soon as I want to fit a rear curtain and removing the trim panel with the curtain attached would be a right faff.

I was looking at these led units, one either side on the lower tailgate, they're angled so they'd be pointing towards each other at about a 45 degrees angle down:

Scene Lamp - Black

Scene Lamp - Black

www.ledautolamps-uk.com

However, seeing as they're 1900lm, I think one would be enough. Then looking at the trim in the back of the Caravelle, I could mount one on this section:



Which would save me the massive hassle of removing the tailgate interior trim (which if it's anything like the sliding door trim, is NOT something I wish to repeat!). I think nearly 2000lm would be enough, right?

 

[TallPaul_S]

My light was delivered the other day, I've *ahem* "mocked up" the position and wired it in temporarily to a switch off the LB.

Just need to wait until it gets dark now!





On a side note, in this position it could have other uses...


I don't think it'll be enough light on its own so I'll probably end up adding a couple of these to the bottom of the tailgate.

LED Autolamps 7815BM Compact Clearance Lamp

Made by LED Autolamps, this compact LED clearance lamp is ideal for confined spaces, at only 77mm long. Made with 3 x 5W LEDs, it offers exceptional light output, and is ideal for heavy duty applications, where reliability and robustness is essential. Main Features 12/24V multivolt 3 x 5W high...

lightbaruk.co.uk

 

[TallPaul_S]

I don't think it'll be enough light on its own so I'll probably end up adding a couple of these to the bottom of the tailgate.

Oh, boy. Erm, I was a little wrong.
Std non LED boot lights. This pic is about as I see it.

New boot light.



This pic shows just how bright it is. Even 15ft away from the back of the van there's still ample light to see anything.



Even with the tailgate closed, there's enough light to see and do stuff in the pitch black.



I might even be a bit TOO bright, it'll be angled down more slightly when fitted but I'm concerned it floods light too far back.

Accidentally switch this on in the middle of a campsite at midnight and I'd not only piss off everyone in tents in a 50ft radius, I'd attract everything single flying insect for 50 miles, and probably some small aircraft too...

 

[DaveCrampton]

Hi there,

I’m currently fitting those LED floods you’ve fitted to my T6 Shuttle tailgate as you have done. However, I’ve removed the OEM rear courtesy lamp assembly but used its power loom to supply these lights in the tailgate with a protective fuse for them. So, having tested them before I fit my new ply rear panel, I’ve noticed they remain permanently lit but quite dull and then operate correctly when I open the tailgate as they should. It appears the CANBUS system is causing the LEDs to remain on with what I presume is a low residual current? Do I need a load resistor here? I did notice on the OEM courtesy lamp unit there is a diode across it, is this something I need to replicate on my new LED-based spot lamp circuit?

Sorry, I don't have any knowledge of fitting lights to existing van wiring.
I used my leisure battery as a self contained circuit.

Hope someone can help you here.

 

[mmi]

I’ve noticed they remain permanently lit but quite dull

Any different after the van has been locked - as the BCM should shut down after about 60 seconds from locking??

 

[FerrisBFW]

Oh, boy. Erm, I was a little wrong.
Std non LED boot lights. This pic is about as I see it.
View attachment 238404
New boot light.
View attachment 238405
View attachment 238406

This pic shows just how bright it is. Even 15ft away from the back of the van there's still ample light to see anything.
View attachment 238407
View attachment 238408

Even with the tailgate closed, there's enough light to see and do stuff in the pitch black.
View attachment 238411


I might even be a bit TOO bright, it'll be angled down more slightly when fitted but I'm concerned it floods light too far back.

Accidentally switch this on in the middle of a campsite at midnight and I'd not only piss off everyone in tents in a 50ft radius, I'd attract everything single flying insect for 50 miles, and probably some small aircraft too...

will you run a supply from your leisure battery?

 

[TallPaul_S]

will you run a supply from your leisure battery?

Yep, I've been doing that today in fact.

I'm wiring up some extra lighting inside the van, all running off the LB, this is one of them. I've decided to stick with the 'plentiful' light from this one, and I'll add a smaller, less powerful light lower down for when I just need to get stuff out the rear drawers etc.

I made a foam mount for the light which not only let me route the cable and mount the light without any drilling or altering the factory trim, it let me angle the light downwards a bit more so there should be less light thrown 30ft backwards.






It took me ages to decide where to put the switch, I don't really want to cut into the plastics, so I've run the wires for a switch through the Caravelle interior plastics and out the jack compartment cover, it'll then go to a switch mounted on the rear of the 'headboard' of my bed frame (which I'll be building in a week or 3).

 

[DaveCrampton]

@TallPaul_S I like the standalone unit with sink.

Could you show us what you have, how it was made, what it does. I would like a small unit, which I can put in my Shuttle when I go away (with the central seats removed), to allow me to use a sink and cooker. I have been meaning to make something using a small sink and one of those small gas cartridge stoves.

Cheers, Dave C

 

[TallPaul_S]

@TallPaul_S I like the standalone unit with sink.

Could you show us what you have, how it was made, what it does. I would like a small unit, which I can put in my Shuttle when I go away (with the central seats removed), to allow me to use a sink and cooker. I have been meaning to make something using a small sink and one of those small gas cartridge stoves.

Cheers, Dave C

View attachment 239018

Full details here in my van build thread

TallPaul's Caravelle - MTB wagon!

So I'm back from my Alps trip now, body/mind/bike are just about recovered!! :D Where are you booking in for the ACC retrofit? I've got it booked in at VW Retrofit in Redditch in a couple of weeks. After doing a lot of digging they seem to be the only ones offering the follow to stop function...

www.t6forum.com

Basically, it's a standalone unit secured down via the caravelle seat rails, has a fridge, sink, and water in it, with a pull out table and storage for a 2 burner hob.

 

[5huttleCamper]

Any different after the van has been locked - as the BCM should shut down after about 60 seconds from locking??

Good question, I need to test this. Thanks

 

[TallPaul_S]

So the extra super duper strong double sided tape was no match, it seems, for a black T6 in 19 degree sun...

A couple of times I've gone out to find it in a partial state of failing off, so I've now the bullet and riveted it to the plastic trim, along with a hole for the cable to pass through.