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Feedback on Gowesty "third brake light"?
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One more islander...
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:18 pm    Post subject: Feedback on Gowesty "third brake light"? Reply with quote

I'm thinking about picking up one of these, among other odds and ends, while the Gowesty sale is on:

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


At $29.95, and considering that Gowesty is usually fairly pricey, it seems really cheap. Doing a search elsewhere for similar LED light kits turns up prices from $85 to $100.

Has anyone installed this kit? Did you find it of reasonable quality? I like the idea of the third brake light; is this the best way to go, as of Nov 2012?

Thanks!

---
Kathy
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rc3
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I just installed one on my 87 , The Instructions are good and it was a easy mod. The quality seems fine to me and hard to beat for the price. there is a 15 % discount through November 26 use promo code thanks12 at check out.

Best regards
Robert
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joseph928
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 5:42 pm    Post subject: light Reply with quote

Blue Bay Bus You are right it is a good price. Just put one in, about 30 min. Works real well nice and bright. Went into a syncro westy with air so the wires were easy to run but there instructions cover all scenarios. Very Happy
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One more islander...
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the feedback!

I'd looked at the video they'd produced on how to install it, and the instructions certainly were clear and extensive. I was just concerned about the price, which seemed really low compared to other alternatives online.

I think it's time to take advantage of that Thanksgiving sale... Very Happy

Cheers

Kathy
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madspaniard
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 6:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the kit is worth the money. I would have gone with the kit if available at the time I installed my 3rd brake light
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singler3360
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

One more piece of feedback that after all is said and done, I also think their kit is worth it. I like that it sticks to the glass.
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86syncrowesty
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Second all the others. I searched for an option without success but my one suggestion would be to consider an led brake bulb upgrade at the same time.
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jmranger
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No direct experience with GoWesty kit - which looks very nice.

For people looking for an alternative, JCWhitney seems to still stock the LED bar described in this thread. ~$10, but tap splice/connectors and grommets unlikely to be included. Their website changes all the time - better to search for SKU 283526 and/or MFG P/N PL06147. I'm very pleased with that setup.
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 3:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jmranger wrote:
No direct experience with GoWesty kit - which looks very nice.

For people looking for an alternative, JCWhitney seems to still stock the LED bar described in this thread. ~$10, but tap splice/connectors and grommets unlikely to be included. Their website changes all the time - better to search for SKU 283526 and/or MFG P/N PL06147. I'm very pleased with that setup.


X2 on the JC light bar. I wouldn't be able to get my window blanket tight to the rear window if there
were a light stuck to it. Running wires and hooking up a third brake light is pretty easy, I think it is
a worthwhile mod that may help you be seen better!
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Home Team Van
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 6:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jmranger wrote:
No direct experience with GoWesty kit - which looks very nice.

For people looking for an alternative, JCWhitney seems to still stock the LED bar described in this thread. ~$10, but tap splice/connectors and grommets unlikely to be included. Their website changes all the time - better to search for SKU 283526 and/or MFG P/N PL06147. I'm very pleased with that setup.


That's what I went with. If installing on a Westy, I think the JC Whitney light is a no brainer as you can attach it to the rear shelf.
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CessnaJon
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 7:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My only concern is applying it to a tinted window.Any one done this yet?
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specialev
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 7:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's bright enough that people would see it through the tint.

Every van should have something like this retrofitted. I've got the GW kit and I like it. Install is simple and helps me be seen!
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My concern was whether or not it will adhere to the tint;will the tint adhesive support the light and stay stuck to the glass?
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SloFloSyncro
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

CessnaJon wrote:
My concern was whether or not it will adhere to the tint;will the tint adhesive support the light and stay stuck to the glass?


I personally would cut a section of the film out and steam it free. I wouldn't want to go to the bother of an LED Brake Light, then reduce it's effectiveness by the tint.
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 9:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SloFloSyncro wrote:
CessnaJon wrote:
My concern was whether or not it will adhere to the tint;will the tint adhesive support the light and stay stuck to the glass?


I personally would cut a section of the film out and steam it free. I wouldn't want to go to the bother of an LED Brake Light, then reduce it's effectiveness by the tint.


My 3rd brake light is glued to the tint film. No problem so far. I tested the light's brightness before installation (tinted vs. not tinted window) and decided the difference was minimal. The light is super bright, I don't feel you lose any effectiveness. The biggest advantadge of a 3rd brake light is it's position and height but I understand people wanting to cut out the tint film under the light. In my case it was not worth it. Maybe I can take a pic this weekend.
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911pickup
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 5:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like a great product for the money. I mounted an LED strip on the inside of my Westy and it works great. The only downside is when I brake at night it lights up the inside of the rear window. If I had it to do again I'd go with the Westy kit; especially with the 15% discount.
One thing you may want to add is a brake strobe module. Makes the center brake light very visible and it's super cheap ($4.95)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-vehicl...e/195/845/
I've had one in my Westy for about six months and I like it a lot.
Ron
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Ryan Keating
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 6:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I installed it with the led bulb kit. Works great and was easy to install after watching the video. I would suggest it and think the price is fair.
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PostPosted: Sat Nov 24, 2012 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

911pickup wrote:
One thing you may want to add is a brake strobe module. Makes the center brake light very visible and it's super cheap ($4.95)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-vehicl...e/195/845/
I've had one in my Westy for about six months and I like it a lot.


Ugh. No. Really, no.
Well, to each its own, but no.
Yes, it's more visible, but when I see such a flashing light, my brain doesn't tell me "he's braking". It's telling me "what the heck am I seeing". Not good. Same for people that wire their center braking light with flashers. Creates confusion, and prevent reflexes from kicking-in.
Have I said no already? Wink

If you really want to improve your odds, take a bit of time to check that your brake lights turn on even when very slightly depressing the pedal. If they don't, your brake light switches are worn - and those too are $5 parts (two per van). Search for 113.945.515G or 113.945.515H. Details in this thread.

Sorry for the off-topic excursion.

JMRanger
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911pickup
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

As you mentioned, "Each to their own." I've had friends, who were following me, tell me how attention-grabbing the flashing center brake light was. This could be, in part, because very few cars have flashing rear, center brake lights, so it grabs people's attention.
The main purpose is to be noticed, and a flashing rear brake light does that. Will it save me from getting rear-ended? Only time will tell.
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

911pickup wrote:
Looks like a great product for the money. I mounted an LED strip on the inside of my Westy and it works great. The only downside is when I brake at night it lights up the inside of the rear window. If I had it to do again I'd go with the Westy kit; especially with the 15% discount.
One thing you may want to add is a brake strobe module. Makes the center brake light very visible and it's super cheap ($4.95)
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-vehicl...e/195/845/
I've had one in my Westy for about six months and I like it a lot.
Ron


Agreed, If I were doing it over, I might also try surface mount, as the LED strip on the rear shelf definitely creates a red glow in the rear window. It's not a glare, per-se—it doesn't affect my ability to see clearly out the rear window, as far as I can tell—and isn't distracting anymore, but initially it was a bit offputting.

The upshot is that you definitely know exactly when your brake lights are kicking in.
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