The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts roof lights?

I've seen some older trucks with usually 3 to 5 amber lights mounted on the front edge of the roof. Where these stock options for older trucks or add-ons? If they were stock, was there a separate switch for them or were they wired into the headlight/parking light switch? Did they come in any other colors other than amber (possibly green)? I've personally always liked the looks of these lights and I'm considering putting some on my '55 2nd series truck.

If this question would be better asked in a different section of the forum please move it. Thanks!

I don't know if those lights were optional factory equipment, but most were add-ons. They are required by either DOT or ICC regulations for trucks above a certain GVW rating. The add-on lights were often wired through the light switch, but in many cases, a light relay was necessary, or at least advisable, because of the lighting load. On large trucks, those lights were often wired through a separate switch and relay.

The typical arrangement for cab lights was/is three in a row at the center, front of the cab and one on each side, sort of at the edge of the windshield. In the past, a light bar with the center three was common, but later that gave way to three separate lamps in the center.

Harvester

not GVW but size - any vehicle 80" or wider requires clearance lights at each corner and 3 identification lights 6-12" apart top/center, as well as front and rear side markers if over 30' long .... since enacted as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, they've been OE [simplified chart here] .... originally the front clearance lights were green, and that's "grandfathered" in [pre-59 vehicles in Canada]

some folks think it's cool to put them on pickups, but that can be misleading in nighttime emergencies when they're ID purpose may be critical

Bill

I think they are cool & put them on some of my trucks. They are available from LMC & J.C. Whitney in sets. I wire mine into the tail light circuit but put a separate fuse incase of a short it wont knock out the tail lights.

just in case you didn't know, those light on trucks in japan indicate your speed, on that alone you can be arrested for speeding.

I've seen three different cab marker set ups. I knew they were tied to the width but also figured on changing standards thru the years. 2 markers one each side, 3 markers clustered in the middle and 5 markers 2 each side plus the 3 clustered in the middle. The ones you see going down the road these days with 10 or 12 across the cab can actually be ticketed as some are to close together though there is no doubt visablity is enhanced.

I've also seen 5 lights evenly spaced across the front of the cab.

Green center cab lites are legal in CA from 1968 back, don't do it in Arizona, they have a rule of no green or blue in their state, both Peterbilts I run for shows have green center lites boy do I have fun at the port of entry at Saint George Utah at the Az side.

Here, as soon as you put clearance lights on your truck, they better all work or you get a ticket. Just ask my brother, who had one light in a cluster of three not work.

Any light that you put on a commercial vehicle must work even if it is not a requirement if it is there it must be functional or it is subject to an equipment failure ticket. That is how it is here in Washington State anyway. I once got an equipment failure ticket for a clearance light on the outside of the mud flap on a log trailer, this was on a truck equipped with a self loader so the trailer was a hop on, witch means it could be stacked on the back of the truck like other log trucks but without disconnecting it from it tow point first as the reach will fold and the electrical cord stays attached. Anyway my argument was that the trailer was on the truck, not on the highway and if it were a standard long logger with the trailer up the trailer would be unplugged and none of the lights on the trailer would be on. Well I still had to pay the ticket and I was told all lights must work. BTW I still feel I was right but the state still got their money!!!

Mery Christmass everyone

Merry Christmas Grant and everyone!

If I put clearance lights on my 1-ton pickup and use it to pull my car trailer am I likely to attract unwanted attention from the state? I had already dropped the thought of putting faded signs on the doors because I don't want to look commercial.

And my 1-ton is legitimate under big bolts because I'm using a 2-ton front bumper on it.

with all this talk about the roof marker lights.

I am looking for a set. Min two. amber and three green or amber it the goal for a total of 5.

I am looking for matching originals in good usable shape. If any one has some email me offline at [email protected]

someone removed the ones off my truck and the guy don't know what he did with them

thanks

LMC Truck has a very good looking chrome and amber set of 5 for $59.00 and they are very old school the lenses are glass and the base is real medal.

I will check them out.. thanks

ok, I found them. they are the styles from the 60's up to around the 70's era.

I am looking for the 1950's era.

thanks

They are the same thing that came on the 40s and 50s Kenwroth trucks.

Can someone please post a link, I can't seem to find them on the LMC site or online catalog...
Thanks,
Grigg

I dont know how to do a link but the same thing is in www.jcwhitney.com I have the chrome ones on my 70. You can see it by the link in my post. George

here is J C Whitney's link: http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2003372/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2003372/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=cab+lights&reviewflag=1#review

Are these the ones you are looking at?
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2003372/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2003372/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=cab+light

I already have a set of the ones like JC Whitney has, but with blueish purple plastic lenses. Sounds like I'll want a set of replacement amber lenses to avoid trouble with the law.

I'm looking for some with glass lenses if possible.

Grigg

The lmc roof lights I found under the modern trucks like the chevy/gmc for 2003.

They are just not the right ones. NOT to say that the style was not avail.

What I want are the ones that were sold by GM. NOT after market. I do have some advertisements showing them. and an acc. book page that shows them.

I am being picky but, I want the truck to look correct. It is to bad this guy lost the orig. ones