I think it's a cool idea!

I'm sure it would come in handy during pulling or backing in to a tight
camping spot, or while traversing remote regions at night.

Chris.

On Fri, Jul 11, 2008 at 1:39 AM, Christopher Gronski <gronski@gmail.com>
wrote:

> I've always loved the axillary lighting you see on big rigs, especially the
> side mounted turn signals, and the guide lights they have to see the SIDES
> of their vehicle as they're backing up (How amazing would that be backing
> into a dark campsite at night?). Having just purchased bar end signal
> lights
> for my motorcycle, I wondered about side mounting lights on my Vanagon. I
> thought about all kinds of lights and mounting options when it occurred to
> me that the ends of my van-cafe tube bumpers are 3" circles facing more or
> less directly forward and aft:
>
> http://www.van-cafe.com/vanagonparts.jsp?pa=ip&ip=497794936
>
> Though 4" is MUCH more popular I was eventually able to track down a vendor
> that carried round 3" LED lamps:
>
>
> http://www.bigrigchromeshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=BRCS/PROD/MLIT/UP39471B
>
> Now I realize there are logistical issues with wiring the lights,
> particularly if I want to use the light's dual brightness functions (low
> for
> running, bright for turn / stop). I hope to solve some of these by splicing
> into my trailer pigtail as it's attached to a little gadget that allows
> some
> multi-function already.
>
> So I'll have eight round 3" LED lights, four facing forward and four facing
> aft, half the lights on each side (symmetrical). I've decided to call them
> "Gronski Lights" thus immortalizing me in the Vanagon community if they
> catch on with the tube bumper crowd. Heck, vendors could even prewire the
> tube bumpers for this setup. Here's how I'm picturing setting up the
> Gronski
> lights:
>
> Front Bumper (Facing Rear) Upper Tube: Dual function red lamp. When my
> lights are on, it will be on low red acting as a marker light. During stops
> or turns the high setting will be engaged.
>
> Front Bumper (Facing Rear) Lower Tube: Dual function white lamp: This lamp
> stays off most of the time. It lights on the high setting when I'm
> reversing, and lights on the low setting tied to the interior lighting or
> perhaps a timer. The idea here is that the light illuminates your entry or
> exit from the front doors. I may even rig something up for campsite
> lighting.
>
> Rear Bumper (Facing Forward) Upper Tube: Dual function yellow lamp. When my
> lights are on, it will be on low red acting as a marker light. During stops
> or turns the high setting will be engaged. Functions exactly as it's mate
> on
> the upper front bumper, just this one is yellow not red.
>
> Rear Bumper (Facing Forward) Lower Tube: Dual function yellow lamp. This
> lamp stays off most of the time. When I turn my Projektzwo fog lamps on,
> this lamp will light on high, acting as additional fog lighting. It lights
> on low when I'm reversing. This last light is the only one I'm not
> convinced
> of it's function yet. 'm also toying with the idea of not going LED at all,
> but instead fitting an actual fog lamp in this position.
>
> So, I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on these Gronski
> lights....
>
> Christopher
>