Mount Motion Lights Outside RV

[Hoopy Frood]

We used these little solar lights from Harbor Freight. They have dusk to dawn sensors and come on dimly at dusk. Motion sensors trigger them to be bright if there is motion. We like them a lot. They come with attachment tape on them but I wouldn't trust it. Use the tape I linked in my post above.

https://www.harborfreight.com/115-lu...ack-56252.html


Attachment 42199

How do your neighbors feel about them?

[TerryH]

How do your neighbors feel about them?

Honestly we very seldom have neighbors. When we are in a campground these pale in comparison to what a lot of other campers are leaving on. The dim mode is not bright at all. They have a switch so you can just turn them off and on manually if you feel like they are going to bother anyone.

[Hoopy Frood]

I was kind of joking, but not completely. Many people seem to be unaware that everyone else doesn't love their outside lights as much as they do, like the onground rope lights, underawning lights, and hanging pendant lights. The main complaint I have is when people go inside for the night, they leave all the lights on. Not a problem if the light never goes out of their site...

[Hoopy Frood]

Of course if you're parked there, what do you need outside motion lights for anyway. I'd enjoy the dark, and starry sky.

[TerryH]

Of course if you're parked there, what do you need outside motion lights for anyway. I'd enjoy the dark, and starry sky.

My wife is a stargazer. The place we are camped is the only certified dark sky area within 600 miles. But sometimes we do go outside at night. You know, investigate things that go bump in the night and such. Kinda cool to see when we do.

We have all manner of offending lights that we turn off so she can do her thing. The rear patio becomes her observatory.

[Timmer]

My personal word of caution is the classic "they don't make things like they used to." The problem with any of these projects is you mount what you have now and then it fails in a year or two and the replacement has a different mount so now you are stuck with the previous screw holes or permanent body tape. Maybe that makes the mounting tape a better choice as you could tape over the same area?

I haven't mounted anything on my camper so I have never thought about it until now, but on my boats I have always mounted a plate first, and then mounted things on the plate. If I don't like the angle or get a new unit I can change it on the plate and fill the previous holes with caulk just for aesthetics. Here is an example, although you might find something better for your camper - https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/bass...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

Another possible solution is to consider buying back up units of whatever you purchase. It might be more expensive but you may appreciate the insurance. We have 6 solar lights on our pasture fence posts at home and they failed every couple of years. We were tired of replacing them and they weren't all that expensive so we bought a 18 pack or something of the sort. Now when one fails I can just use the same mounts to replace them. I think I've replaced 2 so far and have plenty left for the future.

[ForBruce]

that 3m tape is what i use also. some car manufactures use that to hold the side chrome moldings on cars. very water proof and will not come off

[EddieK82]

I have 2 motion lights, one above each entry door, on my Momentum 31G. Both are attached with 3m double side tape that we use in the autobody shop. I used the 3m proprietary adhesion promoter on mine but it's not 100% necessary. Clean the surfaces well with alcohol and the lights aren't going anywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BO913C...cm_wl_huc_item

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Adhesion-P...453933&sr=8-17

Thanks! This is what we did. It's the 3M tape that can last up to 250 degrees. Been working great for a few days now. Just tough getting them on as the plastic teething on the tape is new.

[EddieK82]

I've been thinking about doing this also. What type of lights did you folks use?

These are the ones I used: https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Refle...%2C205&sr=8-11

[EddieK82]

The reason I want them is because in the northeast people tend to be weekend warriors and they're not as respectful here. I want a light to let them know that they shouldn't be on or near our rig. Stay for a summer in either Sea Pines or Lake and Shore (Both Thousand Trails) and you'll understand. Since I've mounted them with the 3M tape, they've been working fine.