Date:         Fri, 11 Jul 2008 01:39:38 -0400
Reply-To:     Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Your thougs on 3" LED lamps at the ends of my van-cafe tube
              bumpers. The birth of Gronski Lights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I've always loved the axillary lighting you see on big rigs, especially the
side mounted turn signals, and the guide lights they have to see the SIDES
of their vehicle as they're backing up (How amazing would that be backing
into a dark campsite at night?). Having just purchased bar end signal lights
for my motorcycle, I wondered about side mounting lights on my Vanagon. I
thought about all kinds of lights and mounting options when it occurred to
me that the ends of my van-cafe tube bumpers are 3" circles facing more or
less directly forward and aft:

http://www.van-cafe.com/vanagonparts.jsp?pa=ip&ip=497794936

Though 4" is MUCH more popular I was eventually able to track down a vendor
that carried round 3" LED lamps:

http://www.bigrigchromeshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=BRCS/PROD/MLIT/UP39471B

Now I realize there are logistical issues with wiring the lights,
particularly if I want to use the light's dual brightness functions (low for
running, bright for turn / stop). I hope to solve some of these by splicing
into my trailer pigtail as it's attached to a little gadget that allows some
multi-function already.

So I'll have eight round 3" LED lights, four facing forward and four facing
aft, half the lights on each side (symmetrical). I've decided to call them
"Gronski Lights" thus immortalizing me in the Vanagon community if they
catch on with the tube bumper crowd. Heck, vendors could even prewire the
tube bumpers for this setup. Here's how I'm picturing setting up the Gronski
lights:

Front Bumper (Facing Rear) Upper Tube: Dual function red lamp. When my
lights are on, it will be on low red acting as a marker light. During stops
or turns the high setting will be engaged.

Front Bumper (Facing Rear) Lower Tube: Dual function white lamp: This lamp
stays off most of the time. It lights on the high setting when I'm
reversing, and lights on the low setting tied to the interior lighting or
perhaps a timer. The idea here is that the light illuminates your entry or
exit from the front doors. I may even rig something up for campsite
lighting.

Rear Bumper (Facing Forward) Upper Tube: Dual function yellow lamp. When my
lights are on, it will be on low red acting as a marker light. During stops
or turns the high setting will be engaged. Functions exactly as it's mate on
the upper front bumper, just this one is yellow not red.

Rear Bumper (Facing Forward) Lower Tube: Dual function yellow lamp. This
lamp stays off most of the time. When I turn my Projektzwo fog lamps on,
this lamp will light on high, acting as additional fog lighting. It lights
on low when I'm reversing. This last light is the only one I'm not convinced
of it's function yet. 'm also toying with the idea of not going LED at all,
but instead fitting an actual fog lamp in this position.

So, I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on these Gronski
lights....

Christopher