Why Do Some Trucks Have Lights On The Roofs

These roof mounted lights are clearance lights since the trucks they are used on a work trucks that sit higher than a normal 1 2 ton truck.

Why do some trucks have lights on the roofs.

It was always my understanding that the white light bar on the roof of a pickup truck not colored clearance lights was for off road illumination such as at a work site where lighting is necessary for people working outside the truck or for sportsmen to handle their gear in the dark. Trailers over a certain width have to have 3 lights in the back not including the brake and turn signals over a certain length they need to have lights on the side too. Peterbilt 379 classic guide headlights. Why do some pickup trucks have lights on their roofs.

Also clearance lights on a big truck help identify to other people that the on coming vehicle is a big truck. They are best used when the driver actually gets out to look for clearance. Some states only require four lights but it is better to go ahead and do all five to stay legal for the whole united states. Lights required by the federal government on big trucks people put them on pick ups because they look neat and some people think it makes them look macho just like jacking up the truck so high you need a ladder to get in and out or taking off the muffler or putting a brush guard on the front when the truck never leaves the city and never hauls anything but groceries for the wife.

If the light does not directly reflect off the bottom and you notice the light replects on the underside of the object then it s possible to clear it. Torpedo style lights are the most popular for flat tops and are traditionally associated with peterbilt trucks. And you might ve also noticed that the truck has five little lights on its roof. To mark the top most outline of the truck per dot for a wide variety of overhead clearance needs.

Colorado s western slope is an area that by nature is primed for adventure enthusiasts and thrill seekers. Trucks over a certain gvw need to have the lights on top you asked about. Many drivers also mount their train horns in between their cab lights. By product expert posted in faqs trucks on wednesday december 27th 2017 at 1 37 pm.

These lights serve a specific purpose. And so that s why certain vehicles have little orange marker lights on the roof. Though if you re like me you re probably still a little fuzzy on exactly why they re mandated. All of these rules are for safety.

Now every time you ll see them you ll know they re mandated by the government.