Towed vehicle lighting

[3175375]

I have had my 2015 Ford Fiesta modified time use a Blue Ox toe bar. The installation added a 2 - sockets, 2 - 1157 bulbs, wiring and a standard 6 pin receptacle to the car.
They didn’t tie into the license plate lamp or the’cyclops’ or 3rd brake light on the car.
I have added blocking diodes to tie the license plate lamp and will do similarly for the cyclops light.
I am preparing to also add ‘towable’ to my 3 F-250SDs and have spoken to Blue Ox about availability of a kit to provide taillight, brake light, license plate lamp and cyclops light functionality to said trucks.
Their kit doesn’t provide the last 2 functions.
I asked them why not, as those functions missing are required (Cyclops since 88 or so) on all vehicles.

I will do the mods, as I think it’s just wise, but do any of you know if illumination of the license plate and cyclops functionality is required for a towed vehicle or not?

Blue Ox, when I asked about it was silent...

 

[70bigblockdodge]

No cyclops light on my 2017 Mac flatbed.
I have never seen a cyclops light on a towed car behind a tow truck, they have a rotator on top though.

 

[300rag]

I have had my 2015 Ford Fiesta modified time use a Blue Ox toe bar. The installation added a 2 - sockets, 2 - 1157 bulbs, wiring and a standard 6 pin receptacle to the car.
They didn’t tie into the license plate lamp or the’cyclops’ or 3rd brake light on the car.
I have added blocking diodes to tie the license plate lamp and will do similarly for the cyclops light.
I am preparing to also add ‘towable’ to my 3 F-250SDs and have spoken to Blue Ox about availability of a kit to provide taillight, brake light, license plate lamp and cyclops light functionality to said trucks.
Their kit doesn’t provide the last 2 functions.
I asked them why not, as those functions missing are required (Cyclops since 88 or so) on all vehicles.

I will do the mods, as I think it’s just wise, but do any of you know if illumination of the license plate and cyclops functionality is required for a towed vehicle or not?

Blue Ox, when I asked about it was silent...

Up in this neck of the woods, the high mount stop lamp is not required on a towed vehicle. I had mine done with the Blue Ox kit, but did not drill into the lamp housings. Mine was done using blocking diodes and the existing bulbs, and the plate lamp was not illuminated.

 

[cbarge]

The Feista's are wekk known for wiring issues especially in salt belt climates.
I had a customer with same car wired up for towing behind his pusher RV.
Lots of green death and always had trouble with the lights.
He got rid of it and got a 2wd Rav4.

 

[3175375]

The Feista's are wekk known for wiring issues especially in salt belt climates.
I had a customer with same car wired up for towing behind his pusher RV.
Lots of green death and always had trouble with the lights.
He got rid of it and got a 2wd Rav4.

My Fiesta - bought it in July, 2015 new. It presently has 104k and runs great. Most of the miles are highway miles.
I haven’t had any electrical issues. The car is a TOTAL base model - 5 speed, crank windows, no remote control, 35-40 mpg, 0% loan

 

[300rag]

It has come back to me. My brake lights were activated when the pedal got pushed by the Blue Ox Patriot I used...

 

[3175375]

It has come back to me. My brake lights were activated when the pedal got pushed by the Blue Ox Patriot I used...


View attachment 400312

That’s a trailer brake controller, correct?

 

[300rag]

That’s a trailer brake controller, correct?

No. That is the system to apply the brakes in the towed vehicle. It sits on the floor, braced against the driver's seat with the actuator attached to the brake pedal.

https://www.blueox.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BRK2010BRK2012.pdf

It also has a breakaway lanyard to apply the brakes if you are unfortunate enough to have the toad come off the back of the coach.