Docking Lights

Outbumn · 10-20-2007, 11:44 AM

After pulling in last night and trying to back the coach down our driveway, around the house, and into it parking spot, I started to wish Winnebago would put docking lights on their coaches.

Has anyone installed after market docking light?

Outbumn · 10-20-2007, 11:44 AM

After pulling in last night and trying to back the coach down our driveway, around the house, and into it parking spot, I started to wish Winnebago would put docking lights on their coaches.

Has anyone installed after market docking light?

Scratch & Goose · 10-20-2007, 01:38 PM

2006 Meredian does...

jimandsue60 · 10-20-2007, 03:03 PM

Mine has them, maybe winny has a kit to install them on yours

Jim

THutch · 10-20-2007, 03:56 PM

You may want to check with Winnebago as your coach may be pre-wired. I emailed them on ours before installing a ceiling fan in the bedroom, and they sent back drawings for the overhead, which located the pre-wired harness exactly. I drilled a hole and reached in with my pinky and there was the plug. They were great in helping with this.

UFO Pilot · 10-20-2007, 04:36 PM

My new Winnebago Destination came with them as standard equipment.

AFChap · 10-20-2007, 05:33 PM

Standard on my '03 Ultimate also ...maybe standard on diesels & not on gas? Good suggestion anyway to ask Owner Relations to see if the wiring is already there.

UFO Pilot · 10-20-2007, 05:40 PM

My Destination is a Gas Pusher. Maybe they are putting them on new models?

gMw · 10-20-2007, 08:29 PM

I have them as an owner installed add-on. I bought a switch from my dealer and mounted it into a 'blank' space in the dash..

Dsouthw524 · 10-21-2007, 02:54 AM

If your problem is that you needed more lighting while backing, I suggest you may find that the instalation of some inexpensive driving lights under the rear bumper controlled by a seperate switch may suffice.

On a past coach I did that install and used power from the stock back up lights and then a Manual switch so that I could choose when I needed the extra illumination.

Pusherman · 10-21-2007, 04:44 AM

gMw - how did you do this install? The docking lights I see on the Meridians have a molded area in the rear fascia. Where did you mount the lights and how? I'm interested too.

powermower · 10-21-2007, 10:27 AM

I have a 2007 Meridian with docking lights. They do not come on until the ignition is turned off. We were backing into a campsite & I was disappointed that the docking lights didn't come on. I turned off the ignition and they came on. Is this a safety thing so that you don't use them while you are driving?? Another thing...does this fall in the same category as the roadside porch light that has to be turned on from inside the bay door. Inconvenient!

AFChap · 10-21-2007, 07:04 PM

I recommend you have your docking lights checked out under warranty. Sounds like yours might be wired to go on when the ignition is OFF rather than when it is ON as they should be.

I have rarely used ours, but as I recall, they come on ONLY when 1)the docking light switch is turned on; 2)the ignition is on and engine running; and 3) the transmission is in reverse. I have wanted to have them on to help in utility hookups in the dark, but that doesn't work since they only work with engine running and tranny in reverse! ...too many safety overrides for my taste!

Jeeperrmartin · 10-21-2007, 07:24 PM

I had a friend I told his lights were on. He was parked for an hour or more, and his engine wasn't running. I don't know if he was in reverse or not.

He told me he had run the engine batteries down once because he never noticed they were on.

I think he said his wife hit the switch while she was doing the curtains.

UFO Pilot · 10-21-2007, 08:00 PM

I know mine work while parked with the engine off, kinda like porch lites. I haven't tried them while the engine is running.

quikduk · 10-21-2007, 10:24 PM

I bought a set of new/uses docking lights for $10 that require a little "surgery" to install. Once I get matching paint made up and a location selected, I'll post the results.

For now, I am only considering a rear set but I may add additional pigtails into the harness I make up for a set of fronts just behind the front wheel well arches.

BTW, I am planning on wiring to the reverse/neutral safety switch as well as a manual override switch on the dash.

bruceh · 10-22-2007, 07:25 AM

I have an 01 adventurer that came with two taillights per side. One was a taillight only and the other was a brake/turn/taillight/backup light. I removed the tailight only and replaced it with a second multi-light. I have more backup light but it is not a huge difference. You can also put in more powerful bulbs.

These are light weight fixes but meet my needs. If you are really serious, the other suggestions will be more useful.

Another side benefit is that if one of my turn signal bulbs die, I am still in business.

Trek-Cyclist · 10-22-2007, 07:42 AM

I noticed that Country Coach and Monacos use the small porch lights for docking lights,
Plastic/Chrome.What do yo want for 300,000??
Some porch lights even have an off/on knob on them if you wanted to tap into the running lights you could turn them on manually.

It wouldn't take more then drilling a hole in the front and rear plastic wheel wells to run wires to the Aux Terminal and install a switch...

Outbumn · 10-22-2007, 12:39 PM

Wow,

Looks like I will need to get a diesal pusher.

Trek-Cyclist · 10-22-2007, 05:16 PM

Well that's not true, some DP's don't have them either... My neighbor with a 3 year old Beaver Patriot 40 DP No docking lights!