Ranger backup light.

[BUCKHORN]

I just put a backup light on my 2011 Ranger XP LE. I used a cheap driving light, mounted on a 1X1 piece of angle iron. I mounted this between the uprights on the frame, using holes that were already there.
There are some wires on the back part of the frame, that can be used to turn the light on when you put the machine in reverse. Some people have suggested to use these wires to power the light, but I wasn't sure how much current they can carry. (I think they are to run an optional backup alarm).
I only use these wires to run a relay, with the current for the light coming from the battery on a different wire. The wires to use are wire tied to the wire harness, at the back of the frame on the diver's side. There are 2 red ones into a female spade connector, and 1 dark one also into a female spade connector. Both of these connectors are covered with heat-shrink tubing, just cut the tubing off. This makes it handy using a standard relay, as they slide right on. Ran a fused wire direct to the relay from the battery. The other side of the relay goes to the light. The light is grounded to the new cross piece, under the light mounting bolt, using a star washer and flat washer. The cross piece is also mounted to the frame the same way, so as to get a good ground.
This setup works great, and gives you lots of light to backup with. The lights I used came from Walmart, 2 rectangular ones for about $20. I plan on using the other one mounted off the ROPS, as a bed light, run off a rocker switch mounted on the dash. There's a knockout next to the factory switches, where you can put one that matches. (Available from DigiKey.)
Sorry about being so long, and I hope I didn't confuse anybody. I will email pictures if anyone needs them.

[Russ Chastain]

I did about the same thing a few months ago. Next time, get the lights at Harbor Freight - you get a pair of lights, wiring, and a switch for $10, or $8 if you catch them on sale.

I read about using a relay for the backup light, but I didn't want the light switched on by my shifter. So I put a rocker switch in the dashboard for the light under the bed. I can use it for backing up or for hitching up a trailer - or for using my game loader that attaches to the hitch receiver, if I need to load a heavy deer into the bed. I figured I might want light without putting the transmission in R.

My switches are next to each other in the dash. I used the switch that came with the lights, and just removed it from the little POS plastic housing it came in. Cut a rectangular hole in the dash using a Dremel with cutoff wheel, and popped it in. I used a matching switch form an old burned-out electric surge suppressor strip next to it to run the other light.

Lots of great light for backing up, and for the cargo bed also. I mounted the cargo light to the rear edge of my plastic hard roof.

[Slacker]

I like that you used a relay, it's a simple bomb proof way to go. You're not overloading a circuit of unknown capacity, you won't smoke the switch and it's controlled by key power. Nice work man. The only thing I could think to add if you see it as fit is power to the relay from a switch on the dash so you could use it anytime. If someone knocks the switch on you don't come out to a dead battery. Using a matching switch switch from Digikey is a classy finish, nice.

[ww4cash]

Russ, can you send a picture of the location of the backup beeper wire?
Slacker, are you a member of SCRC? That handle sounds familiar. I used to ride with Orange County until I came back to Tennessee.

[ww4cash]

I am planning on adding turn signals to my 2012 Ranger Crew 500. I found a 2 pole turn signal pulser (or whatever you call it) at NAPA, and a Center Off switch at Radio Shack with a toggle switch as opposed to a rocker switch. I found the power wire from the Ignition Switch bundle (Yellow), I will tap into that one and run it to one side of the Pulser (Blinker?), and out the other to the middle lug on the "Turn Signal Switch" from Radio Shack. One end of the switch will be Left, the other Right. So I will run a wire from one of the switch to both turn signal lights on the Left, and a wire from the other end of the switch to the lights on the Left. Each of the four lights will have to be run to ground, as I will probably have to mount the lights in plastic. I have not done this yet, so there may be some surprises.

Another way to do it, if you want to run from the battery, is to trace the wire from your battery to your winch Contactor and attach your hot wire there instead with a fused wire. The downside is anybody can turn the light on without the key being on.

Another way is to run a fused wire from the battery (or the contactor) to a relay and on to the Blinker, and use the Yellow wire to fire the relay. For those of you that don't know what a relay does ... It has a switch in it that is powered with low amperage, like the ignition wire, but makes up contacts for a big wire. In most cases, the item being powered will get its voltage from the battery (big wires), but the wires that turn it on and off will (can) be small wires. These are used to keep from overloading the switch. Speaking from experience, I burned up a switch on a motorcycle with Fog Lights, even though the optional fog lights were factory wired through the switch (go figure). There are two small wires that go in, one hot, the other to ground that operate the switch, and two big wire that make up the hot wire to the Load. The ground is on the other side of the Load (motor, light, whatever) from a drawing point of view.

[john66vette]

There is a company in Arizona that makes LED turn signals, backup lights, license plate lights and dome lights. I bought the whole package for my 2010 Ranger XP800 for $325.00....quite an array of LED accessories for sure....now I have to figure out how to get these installed. You can go on line and click on your make and model and see them actually blinking....pretty cool. The owner is a guy named Cisco Folk, he has owned numerous Polaris Rangers and could not find a decent light kit so now you have it. He is a serious elk, deer, turkey & bear hunter in addition and comes to Idaho twice a year to hund.
john66vette

[Russ Chastain]

Originally Posted by ww4cash

Russ, can you send a picture of the location of the backup beeper wire?
Slacker, are you a member of SCRC? That handle sounds familiar. I used to ride with Orange County until I came back to Tennessee.

I don't have a pic... and I'm not sure that I ever found that harness. I *think* it is on the left frame rail, roughly even with the left rear wheel. I ran a separate hot wire from the front of the machine when I wired my light.

[Ridgekid]

Buckhorn. Thanks for the details.

[bugmanjones]

the 2 wires are on the left side right at the bed hing . the 2 connectors are taped to the outside of the harness.one is ground and the other is the hot. works good.

[Ridgekid]

I just found the wires I think you all have been referring to. Does the two wires you described Purple and Red with white stripe?