6 Waterproof Clearance Lights That Seasoned RVers Swear By

You’re doing a final walk-around at a dusty campground before hitting the road, and you spot it—one of your amber clearance lights is full of water, looking like a sad little aquarium. It’s a small detail, but one that can lead to a roadside stop or, worse, a misjudgment by another driver in the rain. Upgrading your rig’s clearance lights isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a critical investment in safety and reliability.

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Why Quality Clearance Lights Matter for Your Rig

Those little amber and red lights dotting the top corners of your RV are more than just decoration. They are your rig’s footprint on the road, legally required markers that communicate your vehicle’s full height and width to everyone else. In fog, driving rain, or on a moonless night, they are the first and sometimes only thing another driver sees. A flickering or dead light compromises that safety bubble.

The number one enemy of any exterior electrical component is water. Cheap clearance lights often use a simple foam gasket that compresses, hardens, and fails over time. Once water gets in, it’s a quick trip to a corroded circuit board and a dead light. A truly waterproof, sealed unit prevents this from ever happening.

But the problem goes beyond a single failed light. The hole drilled for the light’s wiring is a direct path into your RV’s wall structure. A poor seal doesn’t just kill the light; it can channel water into the wall cavity, leading to delamination and rot. Choosing a quality, well-sealed light is as much about protecting your rig’s structure as it is about illumination.

Partsam Teardrop: The Classic, Reliable Choice

If you have a rig that’s more than a few years old, the teardrop shape of the Partsam lights will likely look familiar. This is one of the most common designs on the market, which makes it a fantastic and easy replacement for failed OEM lights. You often don’t have to drill new holes, which is a huge win in the world of RV repair.

While considered a budget-friendly option, Partsam’s LED models offer a significant upgrade over old incandescent bulbs. They are brighter, use a fraction of the power, and last exponentially longer. The two-wire design is as simple as it gets: one ground, one power. It’s a straightforward DIY job for almost any RVer.

The key to success with these is in the installation. While the lens and housing offer a decent seal, they aren’t fully potted like premium options. Take the extra five minutes to add a dab of non-leveling sealant around the wire pass-through and on the screw threads before you tighten it down. This simple step elevates a good, affordable light into a long-lasting, reliable one.

Optronics GloLight: Superior Visibility & Style

The Optronics GloLight series is what you choose when you want a serious upgrade in both performance and appearance. Instead of seeing a few distinct points of light from the LEDs, the GloLights feature a diffused outer ring that provides a solid, continuous band of light. This makes your rig significantly more visible from a wider range of angles, especially from the side.

What truly sets these apart for seasoned RVers is their construction. Most models are sonically sealed and potted. This means the housing and lens are welded into a single piece, and the internal circuit board is completely encased in epoxy. There is simply no way for water to get in. This is the kind of build quality that withstands years of road vibration, temperature swings, and torrential downpours.

Of course, this level of engineering comes at a higher price point. But the tradeoff is clear: you are paying for a light that you will likely never have to replace again. For full-timers or those who travel frequently in harsh weather, the investment in the GloLight’s superior visibility and bombproof sealing provides invaluable peace of mind.

Nilight LED Marker Lights: Top Budget Performer

Let’s be practical: sometimes you just need to get your rig safe and legal without breaking the bank. This is where Nilight shines. They are widely available in multi-packs that can often outfit your entire RV for the price of just one or two premium lights. For a project rig, a utility trailer, or an older camper, the value is impossible to ignore.

The common worry with budget brands is quality, and that’s a fair concern. However, many of Nilight’s offerings have stepped up their game, featuring basic potting and decent seals that hold up surprisingly well. The trick is to read the specs carefully for the exact model you’re buying. Look for terms like "IP67 waterproof" or "sealed housing."

The tradeoff here is in long-term consistency. While many users have great success, quality control can be less rigorous than with premium brands. The smart approach is to buy a 10-pack even if you only need eight. You get the job done at a fantastic price and have a couple of easy-to-swap spares on hand, just in case.

TecNiq S34 Series: Unmatched Durability & Seal

When you see a clearance light on a commercial semi-truck that’s seen a million miles, there’s a good chance it’s a TecNiq. This is the brand you choose when failure is not an option. Their S34 series is engineered for the harshest conditions imaginable, making them more than tough enough for any RV.

TecNiq’s commitment to waterproofing is second to none. They use military-grade urethane potting, which is more flexible and durable than the rigid epoxy used by many competitors. This allows it to absorb vibration and withstand extreme temperature changes without cracking. The lens is also sonically welded to the housing, creating a truly hermetic seal. Many of their lights come with a lifetime warranty, and they mean it.

This level of durability comes at a premium price. A single TecNiq light can cost as much as a multi-pack of budget lights. But this is a classic "buy once, cry once" scenario. If you’re building a custom overland rig or simply never want to worry about a clearance light again, TecNiq is the undisputed champion of rugged reliability.

Maxxima M20340YCL: Bright, Low-Profile Design

One of the unsung annoyances of RVing is snagging a clearance light on a low-hanging branch at a tight campground. The Maxxima M20340YCL and similar models tackle this problem with a sleek, low-profile design that sits much closer to the RV body. This minimizes the chance of it getting clipped, scraped, or knocked off.

Despite its slim form factor, this light packs a serious punch. Maxxima uses high-intensity LEDs that are exceptionally bright and meet all DOT requirements for visibility. Like other top-tier options, it’s a fully sealed and potted unit, making it impervious to water intrusion. It’s the perfect blend of modern, unobtrusive aesthetics and robust, workhorse performance.

The only consideration with a low-profile light is installation. Because it sits so flush, you have less room to work with the wiring behind it. It’s not difficult, but it requires a bit more care to ensure your connections are tidy and well-protected before you mount the light. The result is a clean look that’s less likely to cause you headaches on the trail.

Bargman #59 Series: A Trusted Industry Standard

If you’ve ever worked on an RV made in the last 40 years, you’ve encountered the Bargman brand. They are a long-standing OEM supplier for many of the biggest names in the industry, and their #59 series is an icon. It’s the rectangular, screw-on light that has been a fixture on motorhomes and trailers for decades.

The best part about this legacy is the ease of upgrading. Bargman offers the #59 series in a modern LED version that is a direct, drop-in replacement for the old, failure-prone incandescent models. The screw holes line up perfectly, and the wiring is identical. You can upgrade an entire side of your rig in under an hour with just a screwdriver and some sealant.

Bargman represents a known quantity. It may not have the cutting-edge tech of TecNiq or the slick style of Optronics, but it’s a product built on a reputation for dependable, no-nonsense function. For RVers who value originality or want the absolute simplest path to a reliable LED upgrade, the Bargman #59 is a can’t-miss choice.

Key Factors for Your Clearance Light Purchase

Choosing the right light comes down to more than just a brand name. As you shop, keep these critical factors in mind to ensure you get a product that lasts and fits your rig perfectly. It’s about matching the right tech to your needs and budget.

When you’re comparing options, focus on these four elements:

• Seal Type: This is the most important factor for longevity. A basic gasket is good, a sonically welded lens is better, and a fully potted (epoxy or urethane filled) circuit board is best. Potted electronics are virtually immune to water and vibration.
• Mounting Footprint: Before you buy anything, measure the distance between the screw holes on your existing lights. Finding a replacement with the same footprint will save you from drilling new holes in your rig’s skin and having to patch the old ones.
• DOT/SAE Compliance: This is a non-negotiable legal requirement. The light must be stamped with "DOT" or "SAE" on the lens to certify that it meets federal standards for brightness and visibility.
• Lens Material: Look for high-impact polycarbonate. Cheaper plastics can become brittle and crack, while a quality polycarbonate lens will resist rock chips and sun-induced yellowing for years.

Finally, remember that even the best light is only as good as its installation. When you mount your new lights, always apply a small, continuous bead of a quality RV sealant (like Dicor non-leveling lap sealant) around the wire hole and on the screw threads. This secondary seal is your ultimate defense against water intrusion into your RV’s walls, turning a simple light replacement into a long-term structural protection measure.

Ultimately, your clearance lights are a small but mighty component of your rig’s overall health and safety. By investing in a quality, truly waterproof set, you’re not just buying a light; you’re buying reliability, visibility, and protection against costly water damage. It’s a simple upgrade that pays dividends every time you hit the road, especially when the weather turns sour.