Tail light replacements

Split from General / Technical for discussion of anything electrical, electronic... 12v, Inverter, Satellite, Headlights, flashlights etc.
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Colorider
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Tail light replacements

Post by Colorider »

I've been wondering what happens when my tail light lenses or housings crack. I have the older red/yellow/white ones. I don't really care if I keep the yellow or go all red, but what can I replace them with? Are they standard Ford Econoline fixtures, a generic RV fixture or proprietary Chinook?
"Harvey the RV" - 1994 Chinook Premier, Dinette, 7.5L V8
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Blue~Go
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by Blue~Go »

I believe that in your "era" they are just standard Ford Econoline 1992+ van taillights. Perhaps they came on the back of the cutaway chassis. My 1999 does also have the typical Ford van taillights. Mine are the ones without the amber lenses (durn). But I looked at a 1997 Premier that still had the amber lenses, so they must have stockpiled some (I forget exactly when Ford quit putting the amber ones in their vans.... must have been around 1994 or so). I would be surprised if the normal van body taillights changed between 1992 and up (that is the shape of them and the metal cutout in the normal van body), so you may very well be able to source a wide range of years' van taillights.

I think in 2001 (or thereabouts), Chinook changed to a push-in taillight from a Ford... Explorer? You can tell the difference because the van taillights are smooth, whereas the other ones have three bulges. I would guess that some changes to the fiberglass body mold might have been made for that (but don't know for sure).
1999 Concourse
pdemarest
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by pdemarest »

I remember reading somewhere on the forum that the taillights on the later models - mine included (2003) came from the Ford Expedition.
Paul Demarest
2003 Premier V-10
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kdarling
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by kdarling »

Yeah the early ones were supposed to be stock Econoline. Lots of those lights available on eBay and Amazon. For instance,
https://www.amazon.com/1992-1993-1994-E ... B004DS1L30
1992-1994 Econoline light
1992-1994 Econoline light
image.jpeg (14.2 KiB) Viewed 2559 times
While we need confirmation, I'm pretty certain that owners with the smooth version like above should also be able to use the 1995-2006 Econoline lights that are red & white. Plus a choice of custom lights if you want a different look. E.g. on eBay:
1995-2006 E350 lights
1995-2006 E350 lights
---

However, my 1994 Chinook apparently came with different lights plus a different body shape to fit them. Compared to the stock E-series replacements like those above, my lenses are slightly shorter, more curved, have no gaskets, and even the sockets have different locking tabs. So Econoline lights simply don't fit, even after modification.

Hmm. Come to think of it, they're also ribbed, unlike the flat smooth Econoline replacements. And red-white-yellow instead of a later pattern. I wonder... maybe I should look for another truck model or even brand. I bet Chinook was using up old stock with mine.

Edit: well, I finally looked at their part number (duh) and figured out what tail lights Chinook put on my Concourse... they used 1989 Aerostar tail lights !!! No wonder Econoline lights didn't fit. Well, at least I finally know. Mischief managed!
1989 Aerostar used in my 1994 Concourse
1989 Aerostar used in my 1994 Concourse
image.jpeg (25.37 KiB) Viewed 2559 times
Checking my picture collection, I now see that Chinook used the Aerostar lights up through mid 1995. I even found what is likely a late 1991 flat hood Ford Concourse with them, probably a result of the mold starting to be updated for 1992.

--- To recap, with some model year overlap, it looks like for the post 1992 Ford Chinooks:

1992-1995 Chinook : used '86-'95 Aerostar (red-white-yellow / ribbed)
1995-1997 Chinook : used '92-'94 Econoline (yellow-red-white / smooth)
1996-1999 Chinook : used '95-'99 Econoline (red-red-white / smooth)
2000-2005 Chinook : used '97-'02 Expedition (red-red-white / three bulges)

Kevin

PS. There are lots of really cool looking Expedition lights available on eBay, from clear to smoke to multi-LED. Could be fun to put one on a late model Chinook to make it stand out at your next rally :)
Last edited by kdarling on May 3rd, 2017, 2:03 am, edited 57 times in total.
1994 Concourse dinette, Ford 7.5L (460 V8)
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Blue~Go
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by Blue~Go »

Yes, Expedition, that's it for the later ones. I knew Explorer didn't sound right. Thanks for correcting me.

The '97 Premier I looked at, and my '99 Concourse definitely have the stock Econoline taillights. Reason I'm so confident is that I had an Econoline-bodied campervan just before my Chinook, and at one point I had to remove/repair one of the van's taillights. My Chinook ones are just like those were. The surface is smooth, and there is a smooth black "rubber" rim around the edge (whereas the later Expedition ones have three "Michelin tire man" type bulges, and maybe don't have any visible rubber).
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Colorider
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by Colorider »

AH-HA!

It's the ribbed Aerostar lights on my 1994 Premier. Thanks guys. Glad I asked. It seems odd that they'd spec the Aerostar lights instead of the Econoline lights. Too bad they didn't have the foresight to know how much more successful the Econoline would remain (along with the aftermarket) compared to the Aerostar.
"Harvey the RV" - 1994 Chinook Premier, Dinette, 7.5L V8
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kdarling
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by kdarling »

I'm very glad you asked, too. Can't believe I never checked the part number before. D'oh! LIke everyone else, I just always assumed they must be some kind of Econoline lenses.

Note to Aerostar replacement lens buyers: you want the ones WITHOUT support for the rear washer. Otherwise at least the right rear lens will have a large top notch cut out for the tank or pump. Instead you want the washerless solid top versions.

Interestingly, Chinook sold an all wheel drive Aerostar popup roof camper in at least 1991. That must be where they got the idea for using that particular lens.
1991 Chinook Aerostar
1991 Chinook Aerostar
From the lens years being used, it looks like Chinook went with whatever they get the most of, for the best price, by waiting until less expensive replacements were widely available.
1994 Concourse dinette, Ford 7.5L (460 V8)
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kdarling
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by kdarling »

Okay, now that I knew the earlier units used Aerostar tail lights, I simply had to try to modernize mine to match my front LED daytime lights and billet grille :D

While there are lots of cool aftermarket taillights for the Econoline and Expedition versions, I only found one Aerostar aftermarket set. So..

From this crusty old lens:
Aerostar lens
Aerostar lens
To this Euro style:
Aftermarket Euro lens
Aftermarket Euro lens
(Still cleaning up old caulking someone had put around old lens.)
new rear
new rear
Still not sure I love them yet, as I miss the yellow a bit, but I do like the modernized feel of them... and of course, having a unique Chinook with them :). --- edit six months later: I love them!
Last edited by kdarling on December 8th, 2017, 4:47 pm, edited 3 times in total.
1994 Concourse dinette, Ford 7.5L (460 V8)
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Colorider
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by Colorider »

Hah. Who knew my original post would end up costing you money. :lol:
"Harvey the RV" - 1994 Chinook Premier, Dinette, 7.5L V8
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HoosierB
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Re: Tail light replacements

Post by HoosierB »

kdarling wrote: --- To recap, with some model year overlap, it looks like for the post 1992 Ford Chinooks:

1992-1995 Chinook : used '86-'95 Aerostar (red-white-yellow / ribbed)
1995-1997 Chinook : used '92-'94 Econoline (yellow-red-white / smooth)
1996-1999 Chinook : used '95-'99 Econoline (red-red-white / smooth)
2000-2005 Chinook : used '97-'02 Expedition (red-red-white / three bulges)

Kevin

PS. There are lots of really cool looking Expedition lights available on eBay, from clear to smoke to multi-LED. Could be fun to put one on a late model Chinook to make it stand out at your next rally :)
This got me interested in doing the LED swap for the rear tail lights. According to your research, the '97-02 Expedition units would be for my '01 Concourse. However, looking on eBay for what's available, and some youtube installation videos, they all seem to have a top tab with two holes for screws to attach the assembly to the body. Access to perform this procedure is "after lifting the tail gate"...? What am I missing...?

Could it be the "'99-'05 Excursion"? Looks to be the right fit with four screws, etc., and when listed, most mention it fits the Econolines as well.
"Wanda" – '01 Chinook Concourse XL V10
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