Outside lighting at door.

[MelGoddard]

I have just traded in my 25' FC for a 30' FC, and BOTH have a round LED light in the middle up high. (I needed the storage and room, and that -East-West bed in the 25'er was a nonsensical headache.)

The only purpose that I can see for them is to shine into my neighbour's bedroom. It seems to serve no useful purpose otherwise.
The entrance door on both FC's do not have any kind of a light, that enables one to see the door lock at night to put a key in.
Somebody at the dealership told me that it's a 'scare' light. So who are we 'scaring'?

There IS a little light at the lower left of the stairs, but it doesn't seem to do much.

Can anybody tell me what Airstreams 'philosophy is in their lighting placement? Or do they indeed have one?

Why can't they use 'Normal' illumination like 'Normal' people?

[Protagonist]

Could it be to illuminate the area under your awning? If you leave the awning out at night, it can get very dark under there.

That would explain why it's in the middle and not closer to the door.

[dkottum]

The scare light brightens up the patio area at night and the step light brightens the steps. Some late models have a light over the entrance door, but you have to get in to turn it on, so we have a little squeeze light on our keychain to see the locks.

[Mrjkq]

I have not heard the term scare light but it's nice to have an illumination light that gives that security needed when you here someone outside your door at 3 AM. My iPhone has a built in light that works just fine for finding the key hole or buy a pocket flash light, I hope that's the biggest Airstream complaint you ever have.

[AnnArborBob]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

I have not heard the term scare light but it's nice to have an illumination light that gives that security needed when you here someone outside your door at 3 AM.

I wonder about this: has anyone ever had someone outside their door at 3 AM that needed to be scared off? Did the "scare light" really do the trick?

[SteveSueMac]

You don't seem happy with the lights or windows of your trailer. And these aren't cheap trailers. There are lots of fun little solutions folks think of for things that bug them - like those window poppers recommended in the other thread and even simple things like a $2 key chain LED light could solve the lack of direct keyhole lighting.

Hopefully you can enjoy your experience with a laugh or two at things like this and benefit from all the great (and creative) advice this group of folks offers.

Good luck!

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by AnnArborBob

I wonder about this: has anyone ever had someone outside their door at 3 AM that needed to be scared off? Did the "scare light" really do the trick?

The light doesn't scare people off. But if the wind picks up and you're scared your awning will be damaged, the light lets you see what you're doing so you don't have to retract your awning using the braille system!

[tjdonahoe]

I like the shinning light in the neighbors bedroom, you could get shot....

[Mrjkq]

Originally Posted by AnnArborBob

I wonder about this: has anyone ever had someone outside their door at 3 AM that needed to be scared off? Did the "scare light" really do the trick?

Maybe it's just me but light is security especially when boondocking or in a remote area, the light has a purpose if you don't like it don't use it.

[CRH]

Mine only has the step light. I wish it had the round light higher up.

[westcoastas]

Last fall my previously owned Airstream's light above the door wouldn't work so I decided to stick a solar-powered light with motion detection above the rear trunk and the entry door. Always had a night light to see my keys. Thought I was smart and efficient.

Then summer showed up.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, that term baffled me too. "Scare light" Well, where I come from it's called a "porch light". Makes sense because, at our homes, the light is on and illuminates our porch. Maybe we could change it to a scare light for Halloween?????? Of course my trailer doesn't have a porch.

[JCWDCW]

I've always felt that AS missed the boat on lighting at the back side of the trailer.Most SOBs have a light up high that shines down on the utility area so you can troubleshoot water/electric and even sewer problems.
I agree that a light under the awning is a very helpful idea.
JCW

[CDONA]

My first neighbor as a rv newbie had those style of lights, both sides, they called them prison lights. "Scare lights" didn't seem obnoxious enough.

[MelGoddard]

Originally Posted by Mrjkq

I have not heard the term scare light but it's nice to have an illumination light that gives that security needed when you here someone outside your door at 3 AM. My iPhone has a built in light that works just fine for finding the key hole or buy a pocket flash light, I hope that's the biggest Airstream complaint you ever have.

Oh, I have others!
Eg. Location of fresh tank drain;
-Windows that require two persons to open;
-A radio that is worse than that awful Farenheit;
-An East-West bed on the 25' that's very difficult to get in or out of.
That's one of the major reasons that I traded to a 30 footer.
For a start:
There are a number of items that I question Airstream sanity on; they certainly march to their own drummer!

[MelGoddard]

And if I DON'T leave the awning out due to weather? ??

[MelGoddard]

Working on it!

[MelGoddard]

Good Answer!

[DKB_SATX]

My '70s trailers have a light above the door that shines down toward the step. I've replaced the incandescent bulb with LED and find that it's a very useful light in a dark campsite (my unit boondocks a lot, and both on our own and with the unit we also do a lot of dark state parks.) The "scare light" needs a deflector, I think. Since it's bright and right around eye-level it blinds you walking toward that side of the trailer. My '75 doesn't have one and I've never wished for one. The '76 has one and I have an LED replacement for it, but I'm also thinking about some sort of deflector to direct light more up and down rather than directly into the eyes.

[dkottum]

David, i have also had my eye out for a deflector hood for the "scare" light. I was looking at some stainless steel bowls the other day thinking if I could find one exactly the right diameter, I could cut out the bottom portion and leave the edge all around to serve as a bezel. Still it the thinking stage though.