I am building a 1915 pickup and I want to install a couple of kerosene (electrified) tail lights. My original and alternate plan have gone in the toilet due to the tailgate which would hit the lamps when opened.
That really only leaves mounting them on the side of the bed with home made brackets which I can do but I was hoping this ingenious audience might have other ideas...
Thanks in advance.
John
You should be able to craft some brackets to fit the lamps under the bed, and set back so that the tail gate, when dropped, won't whack them.
Did that on this ole pickup, the smaller lamps are brake lights, the tail lamp is over the license plate.
And my state law makes reflectors mandatory too, mounted those on the tail gate iron straps.
Dan,
A friend has his tail/brake light mounted about where yours is. With all the horror stories lately about T's getting rear-ended I'm trying to make me VERY visible.
Thanks for the idea.
The previous owner of my pickup had installed a passenger side tail light to match the driver's side one. They hung up too high under the bed, so I fabbed up a couple of extension brackets and lowered them about 6 inces, they are much easier to see from behind now.
Bob McDonald has some awesome (outside bed) lights/brackets. I have pics on another machine so hopefully he'll see this and chime in.
I am probably going to have to fab some brackets to lower then similar to what you have done.
Later, I also bought a couple of stick-on rectangular reflectors from the local CarQuest. They had holes for screws in addition to the sticky foam tape. I installed them on the tailgate under the latch fittings, I think they match the size and shape of the latch fittings pretty well.
John
This is how I did mine, and used orig. Ford brackets (found 2 and made 2 for the trailer to match.) they were on a TT truck hanging down
under the bed. In 30 years I've only found 2 of them. If your in the area stop by and take a look.
Bob
Bob's is a good example as they are "up in your face" ! You might utilize the support bracket on each side of the tailgate, John - be easy to fabricate a bracket and bolt it to the bottom of the support iron.
It's hard to say what someone may have done back in the day with a home built truck bed, but I'm thinking low and well underneath.
Wow, Bob, those taillights are awesome! They even have side reflectors, well done!
I like what Bob has there and are located the way I have envisioned fabricating brackets.
TT Truck bed? Let me check the catalogs!
You won't find those type of brackets in a catalog, John.
Mark and John
The mounting bracket is easily made by modifying a reg. (old)tail light bracket and a Ford-O tail light. The small marker lens pointing outward is done by moving the mounting bolt on the Ford-O light from the side to the back and making a orange plastic lens to fit in the small license lens hole. Not for the purest but I like it.
Bob
This bracket was on my Hercules-bodied Delivery when I got it, and it appears to be original to the truck. It was made from some steel strap, about 3/16 x 1-1/2". It originally had an oil tail lamp, but I changed it to an electric one.
I thought I was getting all of it in that shot, but I missed the top part. All that's there is a hole for the light's mounting bolt. It's shaped round on the top for a finished look. Quick and easy, and quite functional, in keeping with the truck-ness of the vehicle.
I made one to match for the other side, so I could have two taillights.
BTW, it has reflectors too, mounted on the tailgate. I don't know whether they're required in Arkansas, but I think it's a good idea to have them.
Mike,
Those look pretty darned sturdy! Yet another great idea.
Another way. Lights are somewhat period looking. No brackets required. "Stop-N-Tail Pedestal" Got them at Tractor Supply.
BTT. Watching this.
Here's one I have on my 23 TT.
I built a couple of brackets similar to Bob McDonald's and I think I will be quite visible.
I think I'll mount yet a third light underneath to illuminate the license plate.
Want to thank everyone who provided ideas. I've had a great time building my little truck I affectionately refer to as "The Bucket".
I'll get some pictures here soon.