Outside light

[AZsix]

We do not have an outside light on our PUP. How difficult would it be to install one? We do have a light that lights up the step. I guess I could tap into that wiring but then I'm no electrician.

We do have outlets on the outside so we could plug something in when camping with hookups.

[He Ruide]

Gary, since you have  an outside outlet it is very simple.  Of course the most popular is to hang tacky ligths on the awning. Alternatively some folks go with rope lights.

For a single light you can purchase a utility light with a spring loaded clamp that you could plug in and attach it some where.  I took the added step of rigging a motion detection light fixture that I attach to the roof supports.  Click here to see the pictures.   Since you are not an electriction I would not bother with the switch I installed and just follow the directions that comes with the light. Finally you might want to purchase bug lights as they don't attract as many bugs at night.

Hope this helps.

[flyfisherman]

Rarely have I ever used the outside light by the door ("patio light" Starcraft calls it), but I suppose when it's ever really needed it's there!

Since you never had the thing, and you have the electrical outlet right there, my choice would be for a plug-in portable light of some kind. Maybe one of those inexpensive clamp on lights where you could insert any watt bulb, clear or yellow, have the option of changing the focus of the light and you could use it elsewhere if need be. I sure would not be messing with the PU wiring or cutting any holes in the side of it.

When dry camping the outside light for me is the ole Coleman pump-up gas lantern and when the evening chores are all done and the need for that bright of light, I light up the old kerosene lantern which the light is not so harsh and it hangs not too far from the PU door so that you can see to go in or out.

That patio light on the camper has been so rarely used that the bulb had to be taken out and the base cleaned because it was corroded.



Fly

[austinado16]

Should be very easy.  12v wiring is simple, there's just 2 wires.  A colored wire is 12v power and a white wire will be 12v ground.  

Since you have a 12v light at your step, you've go a handy source of power right there.  Cruise over to the local RV place and take a look at their selection of outdoor lights and decide where you want it.  For example, you could run the wiring for it from the step light up through the floor, in a cabinet, and then out through the side of the camper.  Use either putty tape, or 3M Strip Caulk to seal and protect the wiring where it goes through the holes you've drilled.  Butt splice connectors installed with a good crimp tool (the version that puts a dent into them, and not just smashing them flat) will work great.  If you want to really have fun, some short pieces of heat shrink tubing installed before you make your butt splice connections can be slid on over the connect and then melted tight with a match.

[AustinBoston]

Rarely have I ever used the outside light by the door ("patio light" Starcraft calls it), but I suppose when it's ever really needed it's there!

We use ours so much that one of us often has to get up and turn it off when we finally hit the sack; turning it off seldom happens (unless it's really late and we're watching the fire die).

Austin

[austinado16]

We use ours so much that one of us often has to get up and turn it off when we finally hit the sack; turning it off seldom happens (unless it's really late and we're watching the fire die).

Austin

Same exact thing here.  In fact, that reminds me. I've been meaning to order one of the LED 1156 bulbs for it, to shave off a little 12v power consumption.

[eanddrice]

We too use ours a lot.  To the point of adding one on the front of the PUP and one on the roadside.  Was not too difficult to add them at all.