I want to renew the side marker lights. I have been told that they must be orange in colour by law, but the markers in existance are clearly white. Can anyone tell me if I can simply replace like for like since thats what is on the van at present. Any help would be appreciated.
If the caravan was legal with the lights that it was
fitted with new it will still be legal. I would have
thought you could clean that lense, soap & stiff brush,
perhaps.
As usual with legals there are exceptions and complexity within the rules. Your answer may be different depending on when the caravan was manufacturered and its length. Pre and post 1990 manufacture and above or below 6m in length can change matters under the Road Vehicle Lighting Regs 1989. It also depends upon whether you want to take the van overseas where they may have different rules
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Did it previously have an insert that either stopped it shining to the rear? or at some time had a red coating (now faded) because regardless of age lighting regulations do not allow any white running lights to show to the rear unless reversing.
I would suspect it was may have been orange or red/white at one time and someone has changed it.
As suggested above clean the lens and pop a orange bulb in
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Personally I would try giving your existing lenses a good clean with soapy water and an old toothbrush. After drying them properly give them a coat, inside, of Tamaya translucent orange paint, available from model/hobby shops. I've used it to successfully rejuvenate faded lenses and bulbs which have had advisories at MOT time. Got to be worth a try at a bit over a quid a jar the last time I bought some.
Or, as Al says, put an orange bulb in, though I'm not sure orange festoon bulbs are available, in which case just paint one, as above. Slightly off topic, Halfords want around £11 for a single orange stop/tail bulb but £3ish for 2 clear ones, guess which ones I buy.
Having said all that, those lamps look like they may be retro-fitted, as side markers on vans, obligatary from 1990 I believe, are usually red/white and mounted higher up on the body.
Pete.
------------- Don't panic!
Hit it with a pointed stick!
Nostalgia's not what it used to be.
Quote: Originally posted by floggitt on 13/1/2011.
As suggested above clean the lens and pop a orange bulb in
...if the lens can be cleaned (and I'm wondering if it's a clear lens that has become discoloured or an amber lens which has faded because of sunlight) and if an amber bulb of the same fitting is available.
Otherwise I think replacement of the lens with an amber one should solve any legal problems.
Hi, those lights you have are made by Jokon, if you take the lens off you will find a number on it, this is the part number, telephone Leisure Shop Direct as they will obtain a replacement lens for you, they are able to obtain parts that are not necessarily listed on their website.
When i replaced my exact same lenses on my old caravan the girl at the end of the phone at Leisure Shop had access to a catalogue with many more spares than they currently list and was very helpful.
Not sure if your lights were meant to be orange originally but it probably would not hurt to replace with orange lenses.
Thank you all for the excellent help.It's off to the accessory shop today to see what they have. I have 4 [ 2 running lights at the front and those ' repeaters '] of that type on the van and 2 of the square red one's on the back, so just for the exercise I may just change them all. I'm grateful for the help.
Good Morning folks. Following on from my earlier post I have now read the Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 (Regs) (must be winter and little else to do!!!). So verse and chapter….(just so you can bore your mates in the Pub.)
Table V1 of Schedule 1 of the Regs sets out the vehicles which must have side marker lamps. Table V1 of Schedule 1 makes it mandatory for a trailer being pulled by a car to have a side marker lamp EXCEPT for a caravan.
Schedule 9 Part 1 paragraph 7 of the Regs indicates that where side marker lamps are obligatory, or installed as an optional extra, they shall be amber in colour or, if within 1 m of the rear of the vehicle it may be red or, if the vehicle is a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1990, it may be white when viewed from the front and red when viewed from the rear
A side reflector is required on a caravan where its length (excluding any drawbar) exceeds 5 m
Most European countries require side marker lights on caravans where the body length exceeds 6m. This requirement will come into effect in the UK when caravans become subject to EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval, probably in 2013. That only applies to new vans
Many manufacturers included the optional side marker lamps so that they could sell their vans in countries which require such lamps.
So, OP, check the year of manufacture of your van. The lamp has to be orange but could be white when viewed from the front and red when viewed from the rear if your van was made before October 1990
Your enquiry RSM related to side marker lamps. So, if you want to change any rear lamps the same advice may not be relevant. It may be innappropriate to change everything to orange, if that is what you mean from your last post.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Phil, thats very interesting. I read thro it with interest. My van is actually '91 so that means it must be orange. Ok, no worries there, I'll renew those. Also I will renew one of the markers at the back which I understand must be red. I've just come back from my Accessory shop and I have sourced 2 new side markers [orange] and 2 new front running lights [white] and 1 new rear marker [red]. However...there's always an however isnt there... The connection method on the orange markers is vastly different from the original. Try as I may I cant find bayonet connectors to fit. Any Ideas, Would solder do the job? I'm a little stuck for an idea.
Thats the problem with some folks. They look at the bits and pieces that come with vans and think that they can improve on their design/spec etc and forget that they still have to fit on to an older van that has not been altered!!!!!
As for the technicals if you just wait someone will come along.........
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I would put new clear lenses on and as Big Al says put in yellow bulbs, this must be the easiest way out. These lenses do deteriate with age as did my front marker lights
Quote: Originally posted by Vectratot on 14/1/2011
I would put new clear lenses on and as Big Al says put in yellow bulbs, this must be the easiest way out. These lenses do deteriate with age as did my front marker lights
I checked with the accessory shop and they tell me yellow bulbs are not available for the old style marker light. I may have to resort to the paint tip given earlier, but would prefer to use the new parts.
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Topic: Clear side marker lights
