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VWhiker
Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2008
Posts: 22
Location: Elverson, Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Another brake light finally installed |
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We finally got around to installing our CHMSL. It's the Hella LED from Daniel Stern lighting, and we're very happy with it.
The challenge: the guillotine wire clamps that came with it didn't ensure a good connection, probably due to the varied gauge of the existing wiring and the LED lamp. So I waited for a warmer day and then butt-spliced in the wires to the right brake light.
It sat on the Westy's back shelf for a while waiting for an even warmer day--to ensure the mounting tape would stick. The LED's are bright enough even through the dark tint that I decided not to cut a hole through the tint.
The wire runs out through an existing notch in the right rear taillight assembly and up the channel of the hatch just outside the weatherstripping. The wire is held in place there with four 3M "decorating clips" with Command adhesive that have been sitting around here waiting for a project. Then the wire is zip-tied to the defroster wire and again to the A/C mesh behind the shelf.
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Dan
'84 Rabbit GTI
'85 Westy "Buttercup"
'92 Mazda Miata
'03 Jetta
'04 Jetta wagon TDI (wife's car)
'96 Autozam Scrum (ORV) |
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tikibus
Samba Member
Joined: July 07, 2006
Posts: 834
Location: Rochester, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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Hey BD,
Great link! Thanks!
You've made a good point.
When does a Driver ahead of you make a move?
"I'm braking now...HARD."
Good drivers in the flow keep a good distance away, even in normal situations. The Vanagon, even more so.
Although, I'll make this point:
Will every bell and whistle, Doesn't just mean more confusion?
There will be Drivers who use Braille to Drive and Park.
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Happy Trails!
Mark
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Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC |
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Jamos
Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2005
Posts: 762
Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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I'm finally going to install one of the 3rd brake lights in my rig, and went to JC Whitney to find the long, skinny LED light bar.
If I'm looking at the same one that others have used:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/auxiliary-50-led-light-bars/p2011775.jcwx
It's on sale right now for $5!
Just thought I'd let some other folks know!
Seems like a heck of a deal.
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'86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5 |
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Ken J
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Joined: January 02, 2009
Posts: 331
Location: Charlotte
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| Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:27 am Post subject: |
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| AlanD wrote: |
That does sound like progress as long as it isn't too "busy" or annoying.
I saw a vehicle where the middle light bar would flash several times each time the brakes were applied, and then was steady on. I was behind him in stop-and-go traffic when it was dark, and it drove me crazy! All that blinking each time he hit the brakes every few seconds was hard to stand.  |
It drove you crazy, but you really noticed it, didn't you, which is what the guy in front of you was aiming for. I think that Mercedes is testing a blinking light in maybe Canada. (I've been hearing that story for years now). It blinks faster the harder you step on the pedal. A light touch blinks it gently and if you slam on the brakes, it blinks very rapidly.
From what I can tell, the blinking brake-light is illegal in the US. Probably all states, as they all use the Uniform Traffic Safety Code. I doubt that too many cops would know about this and stop you for it, but then there are some crazy traffic cops. When I was on the job in Evanston, IL many, many years ago, I saw one of our traffic cops with a tape measure, measuring some guy's bumper from the ground up. I thought WTF? In Illinois at the time, there were specs about how high or low a bumper had to be. I saw another one sticking his night-stick up a Harley's exhaust pipe. He was checking to see if there was a baffle in it or if it was a straight pipe, which I guess was illegal.
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More Hot Lighting Products are here!
www.VWlights.net
www.BullysPulleys.com |
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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
Posts: 1604
Location: East Bay Area, California
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T3 Pilot
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Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1507
Location: Deep South of the Great White North
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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
Posts: 1604
Location: East Bay Area, California
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PDXWesty
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Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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dhaavers
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Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7757
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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^^^ That's the same one I put in last year. Good - simple - bright.
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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PDXWesty
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Joined: April 11, 2006
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Location: Portland OR
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, I went lazy and did the GoWesty kit last week. I figured I'd pay the premium since they did the legwork of finding a nice product. Also, I like to support all of our vendors. They also have a cool little youtube video on how they do the installation.
It's a quality light and it's adjustable up and down once you mount it. And, I'm happy to report, it's brighter than hell. It's fun to put on the brakes at night and see the faces in cars right behind you...
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Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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zippyslug31
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Joined: July 20, 2007
Posts: 799
Location: Central Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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I got a cheapo LED light bar off of fleabay; paid maybe $10. Pretty easy to install by tapping into the brake lights... so far so good.
If (ok, WHEN) the LED lets go I may go the GW route too. Thanks for the heads-up that this exists.
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previous:
'80 westy
current:
'90 syncro westy 2.5L subi, triple knob, 16" wheels.
'84 sunroof van, 2.1L motor. |
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shadetreetim
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Joined: January 10, 2011
Posts: 1994
Location: Riverside, California
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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Installed on a tintop... looks factory.
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Tim Potts
Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!
'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5 |
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kuleinc
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Joined: August 10, 2007
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Location: East Bay Area, California
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Darren2dream
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Joined: April 12, 2011
Posts: 162
Location: Redwood City, CA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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I just picked one from Amazon that I plan to install in this weekend...
24 LEDs, with an adjustable bracket mount so you can set a good angle. In hindsight, I might have gone for the 48 light one. Rather than using the double sided sticky tape (which we all know will fall off) I just removed it and drilled two holes in the mounts so I can attach it firmly to the shelf. It fits easily between the edge of the shelf and the window, with about an inch in between them. 
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006W2HWPQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
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84' Wolfsburg Westy GL 1.9 Manual |
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PDXWesty
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Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6247
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2012 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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Mine has been holding strong now for 4 1/2 years with the sticky tape provided. Seems like that's pretty good. I don't think it's going to fall off anytime soon.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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Jake de Villiers
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Joined: October 24, 2007
Posts: 5911
Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 12:07 am Post subject: |
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| shadetreetim wrote: |
Installed on a tintop... looks factory.
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That's what I have on the back of my pop-top. It looks like it came with the van - but you can see it a long way off! 
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'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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timichango
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Joined: April 07, 2012
Posts: 858
Location: Squamish, BC, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 12:24 am Post subject: |
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| tikibus wrote: |
When does a Driver ahead of you make a move?
"I'm braking now...HARD."
Good drivers in the flow keep a good distance away, even in normal situations. The Vanagon, even more so. |
Agreed—defensive driving dictates that you should have enough following space & time to maneuver out of the way of a collision if your braking distance isn't adequate. I always assume that if the chap in front of me is decelerating, then they could make a panic stop decision at any moment, and I back off accordingly. Once I'm sure they're actually decelerating, and not panic-stopping, then I'll reduce my following distance again.
I like a bit of runway in front of me—less chance of getting caught off guard in front, and more room to run away from yahoos behind me.
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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vroomhilde-San: Our 1991 Silver Vanagon Westy automatic + Subie EJ25 |
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midmo81
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Joined: September 23, 2012
Posts: 114
Location: Columbia, Missouri
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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In a moment of camper whimsy I modified a $5.00 Wallyworld lantern as my third brake light. Put in a proper 12volt bulb in the red housing. 
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1981 AC Westy |
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9810
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| midmo81 wrote: |
| In a moment of camper whimsy I modified a $5.00 Wallyworld lantern as my third brake light... |
Nice bit of camp -- takes me back to the original third brake light: 'Winky the Cat':
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