Replacing Front Cap LED Lights on a 3100RL

[Montana Owner]

I own a 2016 3100RL. Wanting to replace the front cap lights. Looking for a source to purchase new lights. Thanks

 

[BuckandTeresa]

I have a 2019 310RL. I had to replace the top long strip in 2022 and all three this week. Here’s what I used:

Bad one from 2022:

Amazon.com: XKTTSUEERCRR Waterproof Blue LED 3528 SMD 300LED 5M 16.4Feet Flexible Light Strip 12V 2A 24W 60LED/M (Yellow) : Home & Kitchen

Buy XKTTSUEERCRR Waterproof Blue LED 3528 SMD 300LED 5M 16.4Feet Flexible Light Strip 12V 2A 24W 60LED/M (Yellow): Indoor String Lights - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Better ones now:
Amazon.com: Vbakor Pontoon LED Strip Lights, 12V 5M/16.4FT Waterproof Marine LED Light Boat Interior Lights, Boat Deck Light for Pontoon Fishing Boats, Extension Cable Included (Amber) : Sports & Outdoors

An RV cleaner in a park in AZ used a pressure washer to clean the trailer, and I think he knocked off the big strip and then pressed it back on. A few months later the whole thing was hanging down and blowing in the wind. The answer, my friend, was to replace it with a new amber LED strip. Be careful on your choice on Amazon.
The strip I used in 2022 from Amazon was cheap, about $20, and said
it was good for exterior. Last week I turned on the lights and only the first two inches worked, and a bottom (OEM) strip was dead in some lights in the center. The next day, I was surprised to see the whole upper strip was corroded a dark brown and crumbling to pieces. The 3M clear 30 lb double stick tape was still working like a champ, but the LED strip was toast. I ordered this new strip from Amazon, which advertises good for marine and pontoon boat use, so I ordered it. It comes with wires on both ends, which was great, because I could replace both bad strips with one roll. Although the new color was amber, it was a yellow amber, and the one remaining short OEM strip was a darker amber—no match. I ordered another roll, so now all three match and the remainder is a spare. The strip comes with dark 3M double stick tape installed on it, but since my previous 3M worked so well, I wanted to use both.

Tips:
1. Get a strip that seems pretty tough for UV resistance.

2. Use 3M clear 30 lb tape. I cut it in half lengthwise to fit in the recess.

3. Get some of the smallest shrinkwrap insulation tubes at Home Depot.

4. Remove the old strip, put a wad of masking tape on the wiring to keep it from falling back through the hole.

5.Cut one of the wires two inches longer than the other, so the “bumps” of the wire twists are about 1-2” apart—this will make it easier for the wires to go back into the small hole if the bumps are not side-by-side. Twist the wire ends together, push them against the insulation towards the hole in the cap—the hole is not much bigger than the wires, and by doing this, the wire will slide out forward easier if you need to replace the light again. Slide the Shrinkwrap over the wire and carefully heat it until it is tight but not melted through.

6. Clean the light recess with a plastic putty knife (to protect the paint) and wipe down with denatured alcohol or acetone. Don’t use odor free mineral spirits, as I found it left a slick finish the tape wouldn’t stick to.

7. Check the strip lights on with no missing lights., then turn them off.

8. Cut and put on the 3M tape.

9. Push the wiring carefully into the hole.

10. Push the strip hard on the 3M tape.

11. Turn on the lights again to make sure everything still works.

12. Squirt a small amount of silicone sealer into the hole where the wiring comes out. You are done.

 

[Mikendebbie]

Thanks for the great instructions! My cap lights still work but you never know when “Blowin’ in the Wind” might come to play.

 

[BuckandTeresa]

Thanks for the great instructions! My cap lights still work but you never know when “Blowin’ in the Wind” might come to play.

 

[ACKLM8]

I have a 2019 310RL. I had to replace the top long strip in 2022 and all three this week. Here’s what I used:

Bad one from 2022:

Amazon.com: XKTTSUEERCRR Waterproof Blue LED 3528 SMD 300LED 5M 16.4Feet Flexible Light Strip 12V 2A 24W 60LED/M (Yellow) : Home & Kitchen

Buy XKTTSUEERCRR Waterproof Blue LED 3528 SMD 300LED 5M 16.4Feet Flexible Light Strip 12V 2A 24W 60LED/M (Yellow): Indoor String Lights - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Better ones now:
Amazon.com: Vbakor Pontoon LED Strip Lights, 12V 5M/16.4FT Waterproof Marine LED Light Boat Interior Lights, Boat Deck Light for Pontoon Fishing Boats, Extension Cable Included (Amber) : Sports & Outdoors

An RV cleaner in a park in AZ used a pressure washer to clean the trailer, and I think he knocked off the big strip and then pressed it back on. A few months later the whole thing was hanging down and blowing in the wind. The answer, my friend, was to replace it with a new amber LED strip. Be careful on your choice on Amazon.
The strip I used in 2022 from Amazon was cheap, about $20, and said
it was good for exterior. Last week I turned on the lights and only the first two inches worked, and a bottom (OEM) strip was dead in some lights in the center. The next day, I was surprised to see the whole upper strip was corroded a dark brown and crumbling to pieces. The 3M clear 30 lb double stick tape was still working like a champ, but the LED strip was toast. I ordered this new strip from Amazon, which advertises good for marine and pontoon boat use, so I ordered it. It comes with wires on both ends, which was great, because I could replace both bad strips with one roll. Although the new color was amber, it was a yellow amber, and the one remaining short OEM strip was a darker amber—no match. I ordered another roll, so now all three match and the remainder is a spare. The strip comes with dark 3M double stick tape installed on it, but since my previous 3M worked so well, I wanted to use both.

Tips:
1. Get a strip that seems pretty tough for UV resistance.

2. Use 3M clear 30 lb tape. I cut it in half lengthwise to fit in the recess.

3. Get some of the smallest shrinkwrap insulation tubes at Home Depot.

4. Remove the old strip, put a wad of masking tape on the wiring to keep it from falling back through the hole.

5.Cut one of the wires two inches longer than the other, so the “bumps” of the wire twists are about 1-2” apart—this will make it easier for the wires to go back into the small hole if the bumps are not side-by-side. Twist the wire ends together, push them against the insulation towards the hole in the cap—the hole is not much bigger than the wires, and by doing this, the wire will slide out forward easier if you need to replace the light again. Slide the Shrinkwrap over the wire and carefully heat it until it is tight but not melted through.

6. Clean the light recess with a plastic putty knife (to protect the paint) and wipe down with denatured alcohol or acetone. Don’t use odor free mineral spirits, as I found it left a slick finish the tape wouldn’t stick to.

7. Check the strip lights on with no missing lights., then turn them off.

8. Cut and put on the 3M tape.

9. Push the wiring carefully into the hole.

10. Push the strip hard on the 3M tape.

11. Turn on the lights again to make sure everything still works.

12. Squirt a small amount of silicone sealer into the hole where the wiring comes out. You are done.

Great instructions...my lights are ok now, but this may come in handy someday. Thought it worth mentioning that if one wants to change the color of the lights from the amber supplied by the factory to some other color (many folks don't like the amber), be aware that the lights will then be decorative only and not "legal" to display while on the road. Sounds trivial, and I've read posts where someone says they've driven their RV with their blue cap lights on for years and no-one ever stopped them, but the NHTSA does have vehicle lighting regulations (Google for details).

 

[BuckandTeresa]

Didn’t know that about the lights’ color. The amber of the new lights is close to the factory, but slightly yellower. Probably not discernibly different unless seen side by side.