Exterior camp lighting

[SWbySWesty]

So this is something I didn't see already on the forum. Exterior camp lights.

For a primitive camp, generally we would set up near the van. Do you simply go the lantern route (I do) or have people added lighting on their roof racks or side pillars to have camp light?

Thoughts? Pictures? I am thinking a simple magnet mount LED light (like ARB or similar auto shop lights) would provide ample camp light while being 12V and energy efficient. This would eliminate the need for green canisters for a lantern. :REOutCampFire03:

A remote control would be too cool :snorkel:

 

[teotwaki]

I'm sorry but I did not get a picture....

At TacoDoc's Desert Rendevous there was an Adventure Trailer that had really nice LED lighting for the interior of the side cargo boxes and for the general area around the trailer. The outside lights were placed at the corners of the trailer, possibly mounted to the bottom of the tent platform.

It looked as if it was very pleasant to work around that trailer at night.

 

[SWbySWesty]

Well, it's not really a picture per se, and an Adventure Trailer isn't a van so it's different.

I think some Sportsmobiles have an exterior light bolted to the body for a camp light.

 

[theksmith]

aux light in rear hatch works fine on most trips:

more info: http://www.offroadpassport.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7019&postcount=246


FYI, you can get an inexpensive remote control relay for your light from autozone like this: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Performance-Lighting-PL-SW29-Wireless/dp/B000BRJF62/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1301333401&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Pilot Performance Lighting PL-SW29 4 Channel Wireless Remote Switch: Automotive[/ame]



other than that, i carry a coleman pack-away 4 AA collabsible lantern that i frosted the lens on, for tent or whatever: http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=2000000264&categoryid=24757&brand=

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I use a couple of the ARB LED 12V lights, utilized to best suit my needs. If my awning is setup I have a light mount for the awning that nicely projects the light on the area. Otherwise I have it hooked to the liftgate, tent, inside the tent, etc.

 

[teotwaki]

Well, it's not really a picture per se, and an Adventure Trailer isn't a van so it's different.

I think some Sportsmobiles have an exterior light bolted to the body for a camp light.

Agreed it is a different platform but the concept is not different. Mount four lights on the roof of the vehicle to provide perimeter lighting. Attach them to the body, roof rack or whatever. Pictures of your rig would be helpful. Use LEDs for low power consumption and reliability, attract less bugs and save the portable lantern for things further away from the van.

 

[SWbySWesty]

yes, pictures would be useful for anyone posting them. That's why I posted up, to get ideas of how others mounted and did it.

I didn't post because I did it...not yet anyways.

 

[carcrafter22]

My ambulance came built in with 2 floodlights on each side and in the rear. They work great.

 

[teotwaki]

see the lights mounted on the rack at the corners? if tilted downward more they'd flood the area around the van

Van belongs to member Blackeye

 

[teotwaki]

more forum members vans with exterior lights

 

[Sheep Shagger]

I have LED spot lights, mounted on 2 opposite corners of my roof rack. That way I can get to all 4 sides of the van with 2 lights. Very bright 900lumns (same as headlight) and use very little power, so no battery drain.
I have them switched on the inside of my rear door, and also off a relay on my alarm auxiliary circuits, (so I can turn them on and off from my key-fob, remote you wanted), and the rear one is also wired to the reverse light circuit.

It took a long time to work out the wiring diagram so then can be turned on/off from any of the locations (keyfob/rear door/reverse), but it's really useful. The mounts are dirtbike hand-guard mounts. I just swivel and point the light to the area I want to lightup, no need for tools.

Here is a very bad pic's trying to show them in action. Anything more than point&click with a camera and I'm useless.

 

[coastsider]

Energizer HardCase Pro LED Area Light

I use various lanterns for around camp, but these are my new favorite piece of lighting kit. They are rubber encased LED and last around 30hrs on 3AA's, pump out 50 lumens and are magnetic so they work awesome on any metal surface of my AT trailer (I use them under the lid and side boxes for floods) or truck. They operate with a push click on the lens and are shock resistant from a three foot drop, not sure about water resistance but I'm sure the rubber case helps. You can get them at Kragen for around $12.00 a piece! Here's a link if you want to buy http://www.camping-gear-outlet.com/camping-gear-305520.html.

 

[SWbySWesty]

sheep shagger posted exactly what I'm looking for although Coastsiders lights are a neat proposition except for batteries

 

[Ozarker]

I've seen inexpensive solar landscaping lights used, they worked well and are in different styles to meet your decore requirements (LOL).

I had some at my cabin and they worked for awhile, but if I got some new ones, I would work on them to make them more weather proof, I think mine leaked from the rain.

Very cool vans here!!!! That sign, says short wheel base only, how short is short. Where and why, who checks that?

 

[SWbySWesty]

I do have a single pathway solar light which I just got at a garage sale (works fine) and plan to use it as a night time marker light for when I get up and walk away to pee. Maybe I'll do a quick Autozone stop and see what kind of LED 12V options they have...we'll see