Good day, Dave,
I am wondering if I can replace the roof-mounted front and rear (amber and red) clearance lights on my 1994 Winnebago Vectra. First, I have broken and lost a couple to low-hanging tree branches. Second, the lenses are getting very hard to find replacements or, and the salvage yard ones are brittle from ultra-violet and aging and easily break when installing. Also the gaskets are deteriorating. I am thinking of removing them, covering the wire/screw holes with a strip of fiberglass and Dicor sealant, and installing new ones, either 3/4″ round or 2″ LED types on the front and rear cap faces. Any thoughts on this? Thanks for your great, helpful articles over the years – appreciate them. —Doug, 1994 Winnebago Vectra WMC34RC
Hi, Doug,
The Vectra is one of my favorite motorhomes. My folks had a 1993 33’ model and loved it. The only issue they had with it is just what you are having, the clearance and marker lights being mounted on top and exposed to everything!
They did this for several years and then finally, in 2004, they reintroduced the Vectra and had the lights flush mounted in the vertical side of the front and back cap. This not only protected them better but they had less exposure to the sun due to the angle.
According to the parts page on the Winnebago website (love Winnebago questions!), the front amber lights are part number 107749-01-000 EA LIGHT ASM-CAB MARKER, AMBER – KD 509-0-1, and the rear red ones are 107749-02-000 EA LIGHT ASM-CAB MARKER, RED – KD 509-0-6.
Winnebago parts from “Winnebago Parts”
I called Mobility RV in Hanlontown, IA, which also goes by “Winnebago Parts,” and they have them both in stock! That is hard to believe that you can get documentation and parts for something over 30 years old. The amber light assembly is $29.66 and the red is $33.59. You can reach them at 800-933-7742.
From my understanding of the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) requirements, the amber are in the front and indicate width and height, while red lights are on the rear and also indicate width and height. Side markers are amber and required on any vehicle longer than 80”. They indicate width of the vehicle.
I also did an internet search, and it seems that KD 509 is a common light fixture used on several vehicles and readily available. Some even state they fit Mack Trucks and Winnebago motorhomes! You should be able to find a footprint that matches what you have now.
How to replace clearance lights
When you remove the current fixture, there should be a small hole for the wiring. Typically, Winnebago inserted a rubber grommet and sealant to reduce moisture penetration. Some manufacturers simply cut a large hole in the cap to make it easier to fish the wires in and out, then relied on the rubber gasket of the light fixture to keep out moisture. However, if the lens was removed or cracked, water could leak or wick into the fixture and cause a hard-to-find leak inside. It is important to seal not only the hole for the wire, but also any holes created by the original screws.
I don’t think you need a fiberglass patch unless there are spider cracks in the fiberglass, then maybe just some resin. But the sealant is a good idea. However, for others that might have a larger hole for the wires and no grommet, the fiberglass patch might not be a bad idea.
You might also enjoy this from Dave
What sealants do you recommend for an RV, and what areas need to be sealed?
Hello Dave,
Love your RV help! I hear so much about inspecting your RV for sealant. Even though ours is under a roof most of the year, I have already had to reseal some of the seams on the roof with self-leveling sealant. I also see some of the caulking down the slide out seals looks like it needs to be redone.
Big question: What sealants do you recommend for each area of the RV? And what are the specific areas to look at? Also, along the edge of the roof, should the trim pieces be removed and resealed? We are pretty handy and don’t mind going on the roof, but we don’t want to do anything that’s unnecessary.
Thanks so much in advance. —Pam, 2019 Flagstaff 832IKBS
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Thank you, Dave! 🙂 Great information, especially the name of the parts store; thank you! Have a great day, wonderful weekend, and safe travels! 🙂
Thanks again Dave for another good report.
I have nothing but very positive things to say about Mobility RV Parts. Great knowledgeable and helpful staff working there who have assisted me with my Winnebago parts needs over the past few years!
Thank you Dave. I have purchased some things from Winnie Parts over the years. With regard to the lites – there must be variations in the KD-509 series lens as I have found them at truck outlets – however they aren’t exact fits and break on snapping them on. Seem to be just a tad too small for the mounting plate. I hadn’t checked with Mack Truck dealer – maybe they are the right size! Not sure what to do with this yet – however, your information is invaluable as usual. Thanks again!