Hide-away strobe location

[GLS]

First of all, i'm sorry if this is in the incorrect forum, but I figured it does relate to snowplowing:)

I am already running a halogen mini lightbar (FS Highlighter), but I am also considering some hideaways for backing out of driveways etc (and I like lights:cool:

My main question is: is it possible to fit a strobe tube into the taillight of an 88-98 chevy? I would prefer to put it in the reverse lens, and I thought about just replacing the reverse bulb with that (I have aux backups). Has anyone done it? I have searched all over and havn't found anything. Any help would be great.

Thanks

[cat320]

If you take out the reverse light bulb and put external ones the strobe should fit in there .Other than that you will have to put it in the red part of the lens like I did .

[robabner]

The strobe bulb will fit in the reverse lamp with the backup bulb in place, if you have the rubber mounted strobe head and drill the hole on the side of lamp toward the tailgate it will clear factory bulb and all surrounding metal on truck.

[jt5019]

I put amber strobes in my reverse lens without removing the clear light they just fit in .....Works great.

[cat320]

I wanted to put my lights there but didn't because it looked way to tight and there would be alot of heat btween the strobe and bulb.will have to check that location out again

[JohnnyU]

I noticed while driving through an area od interstate under construction today, that some of the crew vehicles had hide-a-ways in their back up lights. One of them was in reverse, with backup lights on, and strobes going. The light was not very bright, I think if you want it to be effective, remove the factory b/u light, otherwise, it won't be bright enough to be worth the extra hassle and cost for the system.

Glad you found the forum Ryan!

[jt5019]

That is true i found that when im in reverse the clear light kinda cancels out the amber strobe.But in drive or if you are working in the road in park with the lights on they are great.

[Pelican]

I saw one of our County Highway pickups with amber hideaways mounted in the top of cab clear bed lamps. It was very effective, gets your warning light up higher to be seen further, plus it's unaffected by the reverse lights.

[sno-mover]

What systems are you guys using, Im looking at a whelen or nova 6 head/90 watt.

[Pelican]

I use a Nova random pattern box.

[sno-mover]

Pelican how many head/watts?

[jt5019]

Im using Galls StreetLightning™Amber Strobe Tube Inserts.. Whelen 60 Watt 6 head Remote Power Supply.If I get more lights i want to switch to the 90 watt. But this was given to me when my father became a full time firefighter so it does its job.

[Pelican]

Mine is a 4 head/90 watt unit. I don't have hide-aways, I've got 2 beacons plus 2 deck lights mounted on the bumper.

I wanted the higher wattage for bright flashes in daytime use.

[chayesf250]

Mine is a Tomar 60watt 6 head unit. They have a neobe strobe which is like neon, it is as bright as a 90watt regular strobe but draws less power. You should check out there site, I found it by accident but they hooked me.

[robabner]

I am also running a Tomer Neobe kit from Ebay. Very good pricing and excellent service. A 4 head kit with 6 head power supply and 4 cables I believe was 250.00 power supply locally was close to 400.00. Guy at local safety store said last vehicle he did with Tomar w/ install was 1000.00.

[ZR2DK]

definitely go with the tomar kit. its NEOBE technology combines neon and stobe (ne-obe) to make it EXTREMELY bright. even brighter than whelen's 90w system. Tomar is what i run on my personal vehicle for the fire dept.

[JohnnyU]

I looked at that Ebay auction, but I didnt find what I was looking for. None of you guys running the Ne-obe kits have pictures of what the tubes look like, do you? I was wondering if the tube had to be any larger, or if it needed more room that a regular strobe tube. Thanks!:shades

[chayesf250]

Here's a pic of the tube, a 1" hole is all it needs. Be sure use some silicone or something to keep water from getting in and fogging up your lights.

[ZR2DK]

try this, this is who i got mine from.


TOMAR NEOBE ON E-BAY (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3637675836&category=39636) waterproof ends

tomar neobe e-bay non-waterproof ends (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3638180251&category=396)

[JohnnyU]

Thanks for the picture Chayes! I ran into a guy I used to work with yesturday, he showed me his kit, turned out, he thinks he bought from the same guy on Ebay! Those lights are BRIGHT, even during the day!

[GLS]

I was under the assumption that the tomar systems with neobe was only available in clear. I figured it just had a neon glow to it and so I shyed away from it because I want them to be amber. But, I was looking at the auctions on ebay and found this (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2572386507&category=36347). I guess they do have amber tubes. Seems like a decent price. I am seriously considering this system. Does anybody use the amber ones?

[gvlawncare]

I have a question for you. What is different with the Neobe system than a standard strobe system? Is the power supply different, the strobe tubes different, or is the whole setup different all together?

[chayesf250]

It's the tubes that are diffrent, they are more of a neon strobe(neobe). To run them you don't need as much power to get as bright a flash as a normal strobe. I have a 65 watt power pack that runs 6 strobe tubes and I'd put it up against a 90watt regular strobe pack anyday. Here is a short video of my my taillights.

[cat320]

Those lights look pretty good,I think the reason I did not go with the tomar is that the base was very wide that had to mount to the plastic housing and the whelen one was smaller. but those look good.Wish there was a place wo buy there light bars that are cheep .I have not seen any kind of speacials on them like the whelen.

[CraftyBigDog]

I love these I put on my truck just for backing up!

[cat320]

Nice and clean looking do they light a very big area?Can you leave them on all the time or are they backup light switched only?

[sno-mover]

Chayes the strobes look great. how did you get the tube into the back up part of the light there looks prety tight in there.

[Snowboy]

I am looking for Federal Signal or Wheelen. I was told you should keep the strobes on for 1hr max. Anyone have independent control IE: Rear on Front off ? I am looking to set mine up that way.

[gvlawncare]

I have never heard to run them for 1 hour max. I have run strobes in a vehicle for 5-6 hours at a time without a problem.

[chayesf250]

Sno-mover thanks, it is tight. I had a guy I know that sets up the lights on the states finest vehicles put them in for me, he did a very good, clean job. I'll try to get a pic for you.

Snoboy, I have mine on 2 switches, fronts on 1 switch and rears on another. As for running strobes no longer than an hour, think of police cruisers out at night doing a detail, they could be out there 10-12hrs. As long as the pack is not in a really confined area but someplace where the air around it can circulate it should be fine.

[Snowboy]

chayesf250

I was thinking of installing the pack under the stearing wheel area or behind the seat of the extended cab. This power pack is big 10" Long x7" wide. Cant see this going behind the seat in the Xtended cab no where to mount, but under the stearing wheel i can see moisture maybe getting to it.

About run times yeah weird why he said only run it for an hour, he said cops ususly turn them off when they park for a long time.

[chayesf250]

Here's my pack behind the passenger seat, just have to tie them wires up a little. :rolleyes:

[cat320]

That looks like 14/2 house wire for your power .

[Snowboy]

Originally posted by chayesf250
Here's my pack behind the passenger seat

Did you bolt that to the floor of the truck ?

Do the leads that run from the strobe head to the supplie lines from the power pack have a waterproof conector? The kit i am looking at doesnt have that.

[chayesf250]

Yes, it's bolted. I don't really need it going anywhere. :) The package I bought was waterproof, all the connectors and the powerpack.

[Eyesell]

I have a six head unit I think is hooked up pretty cool. I have a box with 4 switches, one is power on, one is for front, one for back, and one for hyper mode. What I like about it is, you can have front only on in hyper mode, or rear only hyper, or front normal and the vissa versa, or a on at once in either mode. If you would like to see my box let me know and I can post a pic. :rockonn

[cat320]

chayesf250 When you got the wires did you have to order longer ones ? My whelen's where 15' and they really were not long enough.What did you use for a power wire? it looks like regular electrical wire for a house?

[chayesf250]

Cat320, I didn't do the install. A guy I know that sets up all the state cruisers did it for me. I also got 15' wires with my pack and he said only 1 was long enough. He had some extra wire at work so he had to splice the rest of them to make them long enough. I'm not an electrician but it looks like house wire to me, he knows what he's doing so I guess it works ok.

M&F. I was also thinking of running several switches for my
hide-aways but decided on 2. I have front's on 1 and rears on another, they are both high intensity and pursuit mode. I just ordered a lightbar which is going to run on an 8 switch panel so I just decided on 2 for the hide-aways. Yeah, post a pic. It's always nice to see what everybody else has and gives some ideas. I'll take a pic and post mine.

[Satz28]

Just completed the installation of my Nova 90W/4head hide-a-wat strobe system. I've only got the two amber rears installed in the back-up light lens.

I mounted the power unit behind the LH back seat as shown in the pic. It fits perfectly, and it's in a dry location and mounted to a metal surface as the directions specify. There is plenty of air circulation when the back seat is installed.

I ran the the strobe harnesses from the back through the existing cab holes and used new rubber gromments.

I used a couple of small sheet metal screws, and used silicone sealant when mounting the box to the back of the cab.

[gvlawncare]

Have any of you installed the hide-away strobes in the rooftop marker lights? I understand there would not be enough room in the lense for both the maker bulb and the strobe tube, but some times you have to sacrafice i guess. I am talking about a 1995 F-250.

Right now I have hide aways in the reverse lights, but would like to add a little more warning power. I also have a single strobe beacon on the roof. Do you think I have enough warning power now, or should I go for ones on the roof if they will fit? I will be plowing a parking lot that enters off of a very busy road (4 lanes + median) Or would more on the roof be overkill?

A full size lightbar is not an option for me, because I feel they take away from the appearance of the vehicle for the most part.

[Eyesell]

gvlawncare, is this your personal truck or work truck, sounds like personal, safety is never a consideration, should always be first on your list, appearence second. I think if your on a busy road such as the one you described you most definately want to be seen. Most accidents happen cause people can't see you from either the side or rear. Often enough too many lights can be a problem also, I just bought the new Whelen low profile six strobe mini light bar, as fas as looks it great cause the low profile, as far as performance, I thinks it's top notch. Cost a bit much but I wanted the brightest light available and took a bit of appearence into consideration. If your roof top light is bright enough then you won't need a bunch of extras. I would invest my money there IMO. Do a search on "lights" in this forum and you'll be amazed at what shows up.:rolling :rolling

Best of luck to ya !!:zoom

[gvlawncare]

This is my work truck. I will post a pic later today, have to get to work now.....its going to rain in a few hours.

[Adams Plowing]

If its your work truck i would go with a light bar IMO Safety far outweights the looks of a truck when ya have to pick between the two becides you can get some slick looking lightbars now and also just make it removiable then you can take it off in the offseason... but thats just my 2 cents on the subject...

[Snowboy]

I would want the strobres for the summer as well if i am parked on the side of the road or something like that. You dont see much of the strobe action in the daylight thou im sure. I see cop cars have tons of lighting, Top bar strobes front & back lights, Flashing leds on front mirors, flashing leds on passenger mirros, flashing hedlights.. That would be overkill for a truck but would be seen a mile away and would rive your crazzy plowing at night im sure.

[W-n-K Landscaping]

Speaking like I said in a previous thread as someone who drives emergency vehicles in a snow belt- the lights will drive you crazy while plowing- I am looking for a set of hideaways for my rear and side markers rigt now so that I can turn off my beacon while I'm doing lots in the middle of the night. I just get too much flash back from my twin beam rotator when we're getting our lake effect. Like we are right now!!!! Mixed in with a little thunder and lightning!

Bill
SPC Addict

[Snowboy]

Originally posted by cnypropertysvcs
I am looking for a set of hideaways for my rear and side markers rigt now so that I can turn off my beacon while I'm doing lots



Bill what you mean side markers ? You mean turn signals above the fender or something ir you talking front indicators ?

Dave.

What company you thinking of going with ? Im looking at Federal signal or Wheelen. Both look good but i am haveing more luck finding someone who will sell me Federal more then Wheelen. The wheelen rep is so reliable. I have been chaseing after him to get priceing and info.

I can get a deal sorta on both systems installed.. Looking at $800 - $900 installed. Canadian $$ that is.

[W-n-K Landscaping]

I have an '88 Blazer, and they have side marker lights in the front fenders, it will take a little work to get them in there, but it will be worth it I think in the long run to avoid getting flash back while plowing. I think on my next truck I will look at the smaller strobes for the rear bumper, or possibly some flush mounted LED's- not sure yet.

Bill
SPC Addict

[Snowboy]

ok yeah now i got a picture of what that looks like. I was thinking the same thing putting leds on my bumper and on my front mirrors. I would imagine it would take the same amount of time. I ought take it to some shop and see what they say. I could prolly do the install for that i am sure.

[W-n-K Landscaping]

I wouldn't go with anything on your mirrors- you will get flash back from the snow with strobes or led's- plus you're in a truck, so you want to keep things kinda low so that the cars around you can see them. Bumper height or so would be good, as well as having something on the roof for additional/true 360 degree warning. I know that in NY you have to have a full 360 degree's of warning wen plowing, but for the most part if you are running strobes on all four corners and have a light, the cops will leave you alone- as long as you're not doing anything stupd of course!! LOL!!!

Bill

SPC Addict

[Snowboy]

Use these on the back bumper maybe... Blue or clear would be good.. Clear would be good cuz you could use them as back up lights as well so they say.

[Snowboy]

Bumper hight eh.. I just got the thought of maybe putting them in the front parking lights as well as the headlights. I was looking at a 6pack power supply.

here a pic of the front of my truck...

[W-n-K Landscaping]

Blue in NY is for a Vol Firefighter- I have one of those on my dash, with an interchangeable green lens for the Vol ambulance corps i drive for. I would use the amber ones, and I would mount another light for back-up. The LED's are bright, but at this point in time from what I have seen on the emergency equipment they diffuse the light too much to be useful as back-up lights. The technology is somewhat new though, and it is improving on a rapid rate, so maybe they will have an alternative soon. I would also have to be careful running any kind of flashing white light too- that is also a color reserved for emergency vehicles, or show vehicles being used off road only.

I would like to see a pic of your truck when you get it fully outfitted, you are putting alot of thought and research into it and it should look sharp.

Bill
SPC Addict

[Snowboy]

Bumper hight eh.. I just got the thought of maybe putting them in the front parking lights as well as the headlights. I was looking at a 6pack power supply.

here a pic of the front of my truck...

[W-n-K Landscaping]

The front marker lights would be ok, as well as ones in the rear, I would caution ou about the headlights- check into the regulations in your area about any flashing or alternating headlights. I know that it is illegal in NY to run any kind of flshing headlights unless you are an emergency vehicle, or funeral vehicle. They also run Purple strobes! Wierd color, but I'm sure it was as close to black as they could get. I see alot of them still running amber though. I know that one of the recent studies that was conducted by I think NFPA, showed that most people will react better to amber lights with an alternating pattern- the same pattern can cause a hypnotic effect, and red lights cause people to look at the light and there fore end up driving closer. Just think about how many tow truck drivers are out there on the highway in bad weather, by themselves going about their business with fewer accidents than either the police ( red flashing most of the time) or emergency apparatus such as firetrucks or ambulances.

Scary thought for someone like myself who often ends up working on an accident in the roadway on a regular basis.

Bill
SPC Addict

[Snowboy]

Bill-

Blue here is for plow trucks. I dont think i can go down the road with my strobes on.. I would love to but doubt i could do it.
Red and white is usualy cops have on the top of the crusier.

Amber is used by the City guys and Phone co's towing.. I guess all in all you could use whatever color you want as long as you know when and how to use it.

A amber strobe on the roof of my truck as well as a blue one i can get away with haveing on driveing down the road day or nigght i have seen many plow guys do that.

I have a idea for my back rack i once saw 2 clear strobes on either end of the rack and in the center of the rack a unit with 2 blue strobes in one box.

I dont do snow plowing yet i do sidewalk work for a guy in winter and a lil grass cutting in the summer for myself. I just like the idea of the strobes and have wanted to do it for a wile. Since i wont be putting a blade on the truck this year i think i will invest in strobes as a treat for myself. I wanted to register my bussiness and write it off as an expense but i wont have any income for my bussiness this winter to write it off from.

Dave.

[W-n-K Landscaping]

Well, the strobes on the headache rack are a good idea- especially if you are going to be parking on he side of the road- winter or summer. Any kind of warning implement will help should you ever have someone hit your parked vehicle- your insurance company will frown on you using your personal vehicle for work purposes, and might not cover any claim sumitted should you ever have an incident. Good luck with your shopping, and you might want to wait til next year or look at the tax laws to see if you can still write them off if purchased this year.

Bill
SPC Addict

[Snowboy]

Here is a pic of what i was gona put on the mirror's. I saw a cop pull somone over on my street and i was glareing out the window at the cop car checking out it's light system..


I would like to do the headlight flasher as well but thats overboard and would be purely for show and off road or at a site with my truck parked..

I got a ticket last year for beeing in a fire zone at the court house i was clearing snow at. I was like what the hell whre am i suposed to park. The cops do it and id ont see the city ticketing them. I talked to the guy i work for and he got in contact with one of the head people int he court and they got it taken care of. :D neat to have that power.

[Snowboy]

I do the sidewalks at the court house and just drive in and around there sometimes to bring bags of Calcium to nuke the walks instead of walking to the Calcium bins. The majority of the time its dark out and noone other then our crew is there but we are there during the day on storms and sometime i use my truck to carry the calcium and spreader.

Very light work purpose's yeah and im sure insurance would not cover the cost of a accident but who knows. It's not worth $15hr to get a $5000 ploicy taken out for commercial work.

I should prolly talk to the guy i work for and get him to put my truck on his policy for the building. I charge him maybe 2 hours time if i use my truck on site just to cover fuel and dragging in calcium in my truck.

[Eyesell]

Just like snowboy said, lots of lights get people looking at them and not watching there driving. The lights kinda mezmorize them. I read a post here that someone wrote, when car accidents happens, the police car in front should not have it lights on because gawkers slow down to look at all the fancy lights, not watch where there going, only the car in the rear can have it lights on.

Just my 2 cents :rolleyes:

[Snowboy]

Well i wouldnt go crazzy with the lights. I mean look at the fire trucks they have loads of lights on them. I wouldnt go that far thou. Strobes in the front and rear and maybe down the road a 2 head strobe in the center of my back rack and then 2 strobes on either side. The advantadge to the strobes on the rack is you can change the colour of the lense in the summer from blue to amber for if you are working ont he sode of the road at one of you buildings or what not.

[JohnnyU]

Well i wouldnt go crazzy with the lights.

I used to think the same thing, but now I find myself seeing strobes and flashing lights for days after a snowstorm [When there aren't really any there] There are sometimes when I just turn off the roof light. THis year I added rear facing lights, so that I still have something going when I want to relieve myself of the excessive flashing. Beleive it or not, it does start to get to you, usually around hour 8 or 10....

[Snowboy]

Originally posted by SnowyBowtie
I used to think the same thing, but now I find myself seeing strobes and flashing lights for days after a snowstorm [When there aren't really any there] There are sometimes when I just turn off the roof light. THis year I added rear facing lights, so that I still have something going when I want to relieve myself of the excessive flashing. Beleive it or not, it does start to get to you, usually around hour 8 or 10....


This year i wont be in the truck that much. I do the sidewalks at a busy court house. The strobes are so people can see me and so it doesnt look like i am just any ordinary truck. I will have the strobes installed so i have control of front and rear.

[Snowboy]

I think i will pass on Strobes this year.

I was at the Canadian Public Worx expo today 12/04/03 and looked at the LED's and they are supper bright for something that is only 3 1/2" x 1 1/8. The further you are fromt he light the broghter it gets the more you start comeing towards it it is not a attractive and wont draw you to the light.

Here's pic of it..

[Snowboy]

Here is a video of them in action.. Check out the front grill the 2 little lights..

[Snowboy]

In action shot.. In the front grill the 2 lil guys. I can even install this myself compaired to strobes i wouldnt be abale to.

How can i get the video showing here ?