A simple question...

[clay68c10]

...but I've never had anything newer than 68's. So, what do the sidemarker lights do on a 69+ truck do? Are they turn signals, park lights, or both? I've wired my front sidemarkers to blink with the signals since it seems a waste to have them not do anything when I'm getting the FU stare changing lanes in traffic. I haven't gotten around to doing the rears yet and figured I'd ask what they're 'officially' supposed to do.

[red71cheyenne]

On base model trucks, they were just reflectors. Thats how my Blazer is set up. I'm going with deluxe markers though, and will be wiring them to do the same and blink with the turns on the front. On 71 and newer this was standard, but the rears are still only markers. They do not flash with the rear turn signals.

[Palf70Step]

My 70's have lights in all 4 side markers, but it has been so long since the truck has been together I forget what they do. I am not sure if it was 70 or 71 that lighted side markers became standard.

[special-K]

With side marker lights,the front marker alternates blinking with the front marker/turn signals...pretty neat lookin`.

[Longhorn Man]

in 68 and 69, they were optional,reflectors standard
in 70, lampps became standard.
I did a poll on this years ago, and have since lost track of it, but I know in 70 at least, some trucks had just markers, and others had markers and front directionals. There seemed to be difference what trim level it was, but, I never looked into the whole "where was it built" angle of it.
To drive the point home, my first truck, a 70 longhorn, the side markers would blink.
My current truck, also a 70 longhorn, side markers are steady burning.




If you wire up the rear, one wire to the brown, and then the other wire to the green and then yellow on the other side of the truck... your rear markers will blink, but they'll also turn off whenever you hit the brakes. Rear markers have never been required to blink up untill recent years... the last 4 or 5 years maybe.

[mbgmike]

They were originally mandated by federal law so cross traffic could see the vehicles front or rear when in an intersection at night for safety reasons. Thats why the first ones were just lights or just reflectors. Cars and Trucks both.

[clay68c10]

Cool. Thanks for the info, you guys rock! I've got the 69+ tail harness coming since mine is pretty brittle and PO/u-haul hacked. I may or may not do the sidemarker signal thing with it.