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I found this very interesting. I was just walking behind a travel trailer at my local storage yard, I noticed the RV's taillights looked oddly familiar. On closer inspection, sure enough the old lenses for C5 tails are reused for LED's for modern travel trailers and RV's. What this means is, if you want LED taillights, then you could buy these for $18 a pop - way cheaper than paying 400% the price for something identical but with the 'corvette tax'. For sure these are not as nice as halo style lights, but still more vibrant than in the incandescent options.
Thanks for taking the leap - please report back if they really fit. I'm 99.999% certain they are exactly the same lenses as I was in my Corvette at the time and was able to take a closer look. I think the lenses would sit slight shallower than the OE fitment becuase of the LED housing, but you'd have to look twice to notice.
There's a few things about those that would have to be taken into consideration just by looking at them.
They don't seem to have the curvature that the stock tail lights have. The backs of the housings are also completely flat. Ideally you would need to use some nylon spacers to flush them out or try to work against the curvature of the C5 fascia (I actually run something similar when I flush mounted my tails). Personally I wouldn't just sit them in and go to town tightening up the sheet metal screws as I'd imagine you wouldn't be happy with the results. You'll see what I'm talking about if you remove one of your stock tail lights.
They also would have to be spliced - into something - to work. When you buy these lights you will see just dangling wires out of the backs of the housings. You'll have to work out what powers what.
$18 each is appealing but considering the issues the lights will have, the work spent, and that better setups can run ~$200 - which to be brutally honest is not a lot of money for taillights - I'd go that route.
If anyone works anything out though would be interesting to see what they did.
There's a few things about those that would have to be taken into consideration just by looking at them.
They don't seem to have the curvature that the stock tail lights have. The backs of the housings are also completely flat. Ideally you would need to use some nylon spacers to flush them out or try to work against the curvature of the C5 fascia (I actually run something similar when I flush mounted my tails). Personally I wouldn't just sit them in and go to town tightening up the sheet metal screws as I'd imagine you wouldn't be happy with the results. You'll see what I'm talking about if you remove one of your stock tail lights.
They also would have to be spliced - into something - to work. When you buy these lights you will see just dangling wires out of the backs of the housings. You'll have to work out what powers what.
$18 each is appealing but considering the issues the lights will have, the work spent, and that better setups can run ~$200 - which to be brutally honest is not a lot of money for taillights - I'd go that route.
If anyone works anything out though would be interesting to see what they did.
Thanks for the updated info. I am consider doing this tail light project and see how it looks, I know that the back of the led lights are flat it was shown in the web site with the dimension. I have not started on it yet because I want to check and measure the OEM size and make sure that it will fit. Also you mention about the curvature of the OEM tail lights, I was going to to put my blackout lens back on it anyway, and that has a little bit of the curve to accommodate the curve a bit? But nylon extension can be use to push the led light out a bit almost the same space distance used for the flush tail light mod. The wiring already worked out, it was listed in one of the site as to what power what.
For the amount of money it is good to play, so if it works great and if it don't work then I can always wire it to my trailer. :-)
You are right to a degree. These RV lights are only using the Lens (the transparent red part) of the C5, and that part is absolutely flat on the back (with a lip). Elsewhere on the forum you'll see me fiddling with 3D printed parts to match up to the lens - I broke an old one apart, and it really is dead flat on the back, with no Left or Right difference. What is NOT completely flat though is the C5 reflector housing (the black plastic part). Because the OE reflector has a single bulb, the reflector is angled depending on side of car. This may be less important with LED's as they have more of a 'mat' of light than a single source.
The lugs in the back of the car that the lens and reflector screw into provide the angle, so being flat on the back might not be an issue - BUT your mileage may vary... You will need some kind of solution to prevent hyperflash though (resistors would work I guess).
Originally Posted by Velocity_Vette
There's a few things about those that would have to be taken into consideration just by looking at them.
They don't seem to have the curvature that the stock tail lights have. The backs of the housings are also completely flat. Ideally you would need to use some nylon spacers to flush them out or try to work against the curvature of the C5 fascia (I actually run something similar when I flush mounted my tails). Personally I wouldn't just sit them in and go to town tightening up the sheet metal screws as I'd imagine you wouldn't be happy with the results. You'll see what I'm talking about if you remove one of your stock tail lights.
They also would have to be spliced - into something - to work. When you buy these lights you will see just dangling wires out of the backs of the housings. You'll have to work out what powers what.
$18 each is appealing but considering the issues the lights will have, the work spent, and that better setups can run ~$200 - which to be brutally honest is not a lot of money for taillights - I'd go that route.
If anyone works anything out though would be interesting to see what they did.
Good luck. Hopefully this works out for a few of you. But I question the value. $72 for the lights and that's before any wiring or anything extra you might need to make it work. When it's only $200-$300 for a plug and play set, I'm not sure it's worth the time and money for something that won't be perfect.
I have not had a chance to test it out so if you do anything, it is on your nickel.
I am still trying to find out the exact measurement of our OEM light. Once I am confirm the size then I will order a set to test. I find the Ebay sell it even cheaper than $18.00 a piece.
With all that said I think it will work as good as the vendor is selling it. Just a little bit of mod then it will function right.
Beside I have a hyper flash unit install already so I think I am good to go.
Good luck. Hopefully this works out for a few of you. But I question the value. $72 for the lights and that's before any wiring or anything extra you might need to make it work. When it's only $200-$300 for a plug and play set, I'm not sure it's worth the time and money for something that won't be perfect.
tdogg21,
You maybe right about the price for a almost ready plug and play set. But I have also read that a lot of OP are doing mod to the $200-$300 set to make it right. I have also heard complaints about that type tail of LED tail light as well.
As I have mention before, if the trailer LED didn't work out, I can always put the OEM set back in no harm done.
Then I'll just install the LED set to my trailer.
But if it works then maybe another path for people that wants LED without paying the Corvette tax.
You maybe right about the price for a almost ready plug and play set. But I have also read that a lot of OP are doing mod to the $200-$300 set to make it right. I have also heard complaints about that type tail of LED tail light as well.
As I have mention before, if the trailer LED didn't work out, I can always put the OEM set back in no harm done.
Then I'll just install the LED set to my trailer.
But if it works then maybe another path for people that wants LED without paying the Corvette tax.
Good luck! I'm all for trying new things and if a better solution is found, that will be great. I paid $250 for mine with the halo mod. Literally plug and play. Three years later and not a single issue. Hopefully the wiring won't be too much of an issue and it'll be worth it. I'll be interested to see the finished pictures and hear how the install goes.
09-17-2017, 02:03 PM
Corvette taillights on Travel Trailer
