Patent Publication Number: US-2023158939-A1

Title: Method of improving road safety when a secondary vehicle is loaded onto a primary vehicle, a kit therefor, and a primary vehicle comprising enhanced rear lighting

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     There is provided a method of improving road safety, a kit therefor and a primary vehicle. In particular, there is provided a method of improving road safety when a secondary vehicle is loaded onto a primary vehicle, a kit therefor, and a primary vehicle comprising enhanced rear lighting. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     States and provinces may have different laws on how far a load can overhang the cargo bay of pickup trucks and how such loads must be marked. At night may regulations require a light for such marking. 
     Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles, such as quads and side-by-sides, may come close to or contravene such laws without having a marker. Such vehicles loaded onto the pickup truck may furthermore block the truck&#39;s third brake light, impairing the purpose of the third brake light thereby. Moreover, snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles may not be covered by a vehicle accident policy. 
     Furthermore, trailers upon which snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and the like are towed, may be increase the effective overall length of the vehicle which is towing the trailer, may render maneuvering more challenging, may impede the speed with which the vehicle is driven and may be costly to purchase and cumbersome to store, for example. 
     There may accordingly be a need for a solution to the above longstanding problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     There is provided, and it is an object to provide, a method of improving road safety when a first vehicle is loaded onto a second vehicle. The method includes providing the first vehicle with a first electrical interface coupled to the at least one rear light of the first vehicle. The method includes providing the second vehicle with a second electrical interface coupled to at least one rear light of the second vehicle. The method includes coupling together the electrical interfaces via a wiring harness such that the rear lights of the vehicles work in concert, with the at least on rear light of the first vehicle being controlled by and receiving power from the second vehicle. The method may include retrofitting the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle to this end, or manufacturing the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle to include said electrical interfaces in the first instance. 
     There is also provided a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of a first vehicle to be one or more additional rear lights of a second vehicle upon which the first vehicle is loaded. The kit includes a first electrical interface retrofitted to the first vehicle. The first electrical interface couples to the one or more rears light of the first vehicle. The kit includes a second electrical interface retrofitted to the second vehicle. The second electrical interface couples to at least one electrically-powered rear light of the second vehicle. The kit includes a wiring harness. The wiring harness couples the electrical interfaces together, with the one or more rear lights of the first vehicle coupling to the at least one electrically-powered rear light of the second vehicle so as to be powered therefrom and to function in concert therewith. 
     There is further provided a primary vehicle with enhanced rear lighting. The primary vehicle has a front, a rear and a pair of spaced-apart sides extend between the front thereof and the rear thereof. The primary vehicle includes first and second rear lights coupled to and aligned with the rear and respective said sides thereof. The primary vehicle includes a third rear light positioned between and elevated relative to the first light and the second light, with the third rear light being repurposed from a secondary vehicle loaded onto the primary vehicle. The primary vehicle includes a wiring harness. The wiring harness couples the third rear light to at least one of the first rear light and the second rear light, such that the third rear light is controlled by and receives power from the primary vehicle. 
     There is yet also provided a first vehicle shaped to be received on a cargo bed of a second vehicle. The first vehicle includes at least one rear light. The first vehicle includes a wiring harness coupled to the rear light of the first vehicle. The wiring harness is connectable to at least one electrically-powered rear light of the second vehicle so as to be powered therefrom and to function in concert therewith. 
     There is yet further provided, in combination, the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The first vehicle includes a first electrical interface coupled to the at least one rear light thereof and the second vehicle includes a second electrical interface coupled to the rear light thereof in one example. The second electrical interface is positioned adjacent to the rear light of the second vehicle in one example. The wiring harness is positioned with the cargo bed and enclosed between side walls of the second vehicle in one example. The wiring harness has a length equal to or less than one half of the width of the cargo bed, and equal to or less than one half or one third of the length of the first vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be more readily understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a left side perspective view of a snowmobile loaded onto the cargo bed of a truck, with the front of the truck being not shown, with the snowmobile and the truck being according to a first aspect and further including a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the snowmobile to couple to and work in concern with one or more rear lights of the truck; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view thereof; 
         FIG.  3    is a top, inner perspective view of a side wall of the truck of  FIG.  1   , together an electrical interface of the truck being provided, the electrical interface of the truck extending outwards from the side wall and coupled to rear lights and power supply of the truck, the electrical interface of the truck comprising a housing with a plurality of male plug connectors and a cap shaped to selectively couple to the housing and inhibit access to the male plug connectors, the cap being shown in an open position and the truck being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  4    is a top, inner perspective view thereof, with the cap shown in a closed position in which the cap couples to the housing of the electrical interface of the truck, and with the truck being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  5    is a rear perspective view of one of the rear lights of the truck of  FIG.  1   , with the rear light being shown in fragment and the rest of the truck not being shown; 
         FIG.  6    is a top, rear, right side perspective view of the snowmobile of  FIG.  1   , with an electrical interface of the snowmobile being provided, the electrical interface of the snowmobile coupling to the rear lights of the snowmobile, the electrical interface of the snowmobile mounting to a rear portion of the seat of the snowmobile via an elongate mounting plate, the electrical interface of the snowmobile including a housing, socket (not shown) positioned within the housing and a cap shown in a close position in which the cap couples to the housing and selectively inhibits access to the electrical socket, and with the snowmobile shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  7    is a top perspective view thereof, with the snowmobile shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  8    is a top perspective view thereof, with the cap shown in an open position spaced-apart from the housing so as to expose the electrical socket of the electrical interface of the snowmobile; 
         FIG.  9    is a top, inner perspective view of the snowmobile loaded onto the truck, together with a wiring harness including a first end portion shown coupled to the electrical interface of the truck, with the rest of the wiring harness, the truck and the snowmobile being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  10    is a top perspective view of the snowmobile loaded onto the truck, together with the wiring harness of  FIG.  9    including a second end portion shown coupled to the electrical interface of the snowmobile, with the rest of the wiring harness, the truck and the snowmobile being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  11    is a rear, left side perspective view of the snowmobile of  FIG.  1    loaded onto the truck of  FIG.  1   , with the wiring harness of  FIG.  10    shown extending between and coupling to the electrical interfaces of the truck and the snowmobile, with the second end portion of the wiring harness aligning with and/or being forward of the rear of truck and the wiring harness being positioned between the side walls of the truck, with the truck and snowmobile being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  12    is a front perspective view of the wiring harness thereof; 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic view of a plurality of wires of the snowmobile together with an electrical interface coupled thereto, and a wiring harness in the process of coupling to the electrical interface, the wiring harness being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  14    is a right side, rear perspective view of the snowmobile of  FIG.  1    loaded onto the truck of  FIG.  1   , with the truck and snowmobile so provided with electrical interfaces and coupled together via the wiring harness functioning to cause the rear lights of the truck to work in concert with the rear lights of the snowmobile; 
         FIG.  15    is a rear, right side perspective view thereof; 
         FIG.  16    is a left/rear perspective view thereof; 
         FIG.  17    is a left side, rear perspective view thereof; 
         FIG.  18    is a left side perspective view thereof, with the front of the truck not being shown; 
         FIG.  19    is a schematic view of a plurality of wires of a snowmobile together with an electrical interface coupled thereto according to a second aspect, the electrical interface being part of a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the snowmobile to couple to and work in concern with one or more rear lights of a second vehicle or truck upon which the snowmobile is loaded, the kit including a wiring harness in the process of coupling to the electrical interface, the wiring harness being shown in fragment; 
         FIG.  20    is a schematic view of a pair of headlamp switches thereof; 
         FIG.  21    is a left side, rear perspective view of a utility task vehicle (UTV) loaded onto the cargo bed of a truck, with the front of the truck being not shown, with the utility task vehicle and the truck being according to a third aspect and further including a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the utility task vehicle to couple to and work in concern with one or more rear lights of the truck; 
         FIG.  22    is a left side, rear perspective view of a all-terrain vehicle (ATV) loaded onto the cargo bed of a truck, with the front of the truck being not shown, with the all-terrain vehicle and the truck being according to a fourth aspect, and further including a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the all-terrain vehicle to couple to and work in concern with one or more rear lights of the truck; 
         FIG.  23    is a rear, left side perspective view of an electrical interface for a first vehicle or truck according to a fifth aspect, with the electrical interface being part of a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of a second vehicle loaded on the truck, to couple to and work in concern with one or more rear lights of the truck; 
         FIG.  24    is a schematic view thereof; 
         FIG.  25    is a schematic view of the electrical interface of the truck of  FIG.  23   , together an electrical interface of the second vehicle according to the fifth aspect, and a wiring harness coupling together the electrical interfaces; and 
         FIG.  26    is a schematic view of an electrical interface of a first vehicle according to a sixth aspect, together an electrical interface of a second vehicle thereof upon which the first vehicle is loaded, the second vehicle being according to the sixth aspect, together with a wiring harness coupling together the electrical interfaces, the electrical interfaces and wiring harness comprising a kit for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the first vehicle to couple to and work in concern with one or more rear lights of the second vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings and first to  FIG.  1   , there is provided a first or primary vehicle, in this example a truck  40 . Referring to  FIG.  15   , the truck has a front  42 , a rear  44 , and a pair of spaced-apart sides  46  and  48  extending from the front thereof to the rear thereof. As seen in  FIG.  2   , the truck  40  has a width W T  extending between the sides thereof. The truck has a bottom  50  and a top  52  spaced-apart from the bottom thereof. The top and bottom of the truck  40  extend between the sides  46  and  48  of the truck. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  2   , the truck  40  includes a cargo bed  54 . The cargo bed extends from the rear  44  towards the front  42  of the truck and extends between the sides  46  and  48  of the truck. The truck  40  includes a pair of spaced-apart side walls  56  and  58  that couple to and extend upwards from the cargo bed  54 . The side walls of the truck extend along and adjacent to the sides  46  and  48  of the truck. As seen in  FIG.  2   , the truck includes bed rail caps  57  and  59  covering the upper peripheral portions  61  and  63  of the side walls in this example. The truck  40  includes a tailgate  60  that hingedly couples to and extends upwards from the cargo bed  54  adjacent the rear  44  of the truck. The tailgate extends between the side walls  56  and  58  of the truck. The tailgate  60  has a closed position (not shown) in which the tailgate extends vertically and upwards from the cargo bed  54 . The tailgate  60  is moveable from the closed position to an open position seen in  FIG.  1    in which the tailgate extends horizontally and parallel to the cargo bed  54 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  2   , the truck  40  has an intermediate wall  62  extending between the side walls  56  and  58  thereof. The intermediate wall of the truck is positioned between the front  42  and rear  44  of the truck and is spaced-apart forward from the tailgate  60 . The truck includes a cabin  64  and the intermediate wall  62  aligns with and may be to be part of the rear  66  of the cabin of the truck. The intermediate wall extends from the cargo bed  54  towards the top  52  of the truck. The cargo bed, side walls  56  and  58 , tailgate  60  and intermediate wall  62  of the truck define an interior space  68 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  17   , the truck  40  includes front lights  70  positioned adjacent to the front  42  thereof. As seen in  FIG.  2   , the truck includes at least and in this example a plurality of rear lights positioned adjacent to the rear thereof, including rear running lights  72  and  74 , left and right turn signal lights  76  and  78  and backup or reverse drive lights  84  and  86 . The front lights  70  and rear running lights are coupled to a power supply, in this example a battery  88  of the truck seen in  FIG.  17   . The truck&#39;s lights are powered by the battery when the vehicle is turned off and are powered by the truck&#39;s alternator  89  and related electrical system when the vehicle is running. Batteries and alternators, including their various parts and functionings thereof, are well known to those skilled in the art and the battery and alternator of the truck  40  will accordingly not be discussed in further detail. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  2   , the rear lights of the truck  40  includes a left side or first brake light  80  and a right side or second brake light  82  aligned respective sides  46  and  48  thereof. The lights  76 ,  72 ,  80  and  84  may individually and collectively be referred to first side rear lights, and lights  78 ,  74 ,  82  and  86  may individually and collectively be referred to as second rear side lights, with the first side and second side rear lights being referred to as a first pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights of the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  17   , the rear lights of the truck include a center or third brake light  83  coupled to the rear  66  of cabin  64 . The third brake light is centrally positioned between, elevated relative to and positioned forward of the lights  76 ,  72 ,  80  and  84 , and lights  78 ,  74 ,  82  and  86  in this example. The third brake light is positioned between the front  42  and the rear  44  of the truck  40 , and is positioned between the sides  46  and  48  of the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  3   , the truck  40  includes a plurality of conductors or wires extending from the rear thereof towards the front thereof, in this example including a ground wire  90 , a brake light wire  92 , a power conductor or running lights wire  94  and a reverse lights wire  95 . Referring to  FIG.  5   , the ground wire  90  is connected to ground. The brake lights wire  92  seen in  FIG.  3    couples the brake lights  80 ,  82  and  83  of the truck  40  to battery  88  and alternator  89  of the truck seen in  FIG.  17   . The running lights wire  94  seen in  FIG.  3    couples the rear running lights  72  of the truck seen in  FIG.  2    to battery of the truck seen in  FIG.  17   . The reverse lights wire  95  seen in  FIG.  3    couples the reverse lights  84  and  86  of the truck  40  seen in  FIG.  2    to battery  88  and alternator  89  of the truck seen in  FIG.  17   . 
     Referring back to  FIG.  3   , the wires  90 ,  92 ,  94  and  95  are enclosed within side wall  56  of the truck in this example. The truck  40  has been retrofitted to remove an inner portion  96  of the side wall  56 , creating an aperture  98  thereby via which the wires are selectively accessible in this example; however this is not strictly required and the truck may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. The aperture is circular in this example; however, this is not strictly required. The aperture  98  is positioned adjacent bed rail cap  57  in this example. As seen in  FIG.  9   , the aperture is positioned adjacent to rear lights  72 ,  76 ,  80  and  84  in this example. 
     As seen in  FIG.  17   , the truck  40  includes a running light control module  100  that enables the operator of the truck to selectively connect the running light wire  94  of  FIG.  3    to battery  88  and alternator  89  thereof for selectively turning on the rear running lights  72  and  74  seen in  FIG.  2   . As seen in  FIG.  17   , actuating a light switch  91  of the truck  40  causes power to be supplied to the rear running lights of the truck, with the lights being turned on thereby. 
     As seen in  FIG.  17   , the truck includes a turn signal system  102  with an indicator stalk (not shown) which when moved to the left or right, activates the left turn or rear turn lights  76  and  78  of the truck seen in  FIG.  2   . Referring back to  FIG.  17   , the truck  40  includes a brake system  104  which when actuated connects the respective brake light wires  92  thereof seen in  FIG.  3    to the battery  88  and alternator  89  thereof, causing the brake lights  80  and  82  seen in  FIG.  2    and brake light  83  seen in  FIG.  17    to turn on. As seen in  FIG.  17   , the truck includes a reverse drive system  106  which, when actuated for backing up the truck, connects the reverse lights wire  95  seen in  FIG.  3    to battery  88  and alternator  89  of the truck seen in  FIG.  17   , causing the reverse drive lights  84  and  86  seen in  FIG.  2    to turn on. Turn signal systems, brake systems and reverse drive systems of trucks, including their various parts and functions, are known per se and will not be described in further detail. 
     As seen in  FIG.  3   , the truck  40  is retrofitted with an electrical interface  108  in this example; however here too this is not strictly required and the truck may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. The electrical interface mounts in this example to side wall  56  of the truck. As seen in  FIG.  9   , the electrical interface  108  is mounted adjacent to the rear  44  of the truck and one of the rear lights of the truck in this example, in this case adjacent lights  72 ,  76 ,  80  and  84 . 
     Referring back to  FIG.  3   , the electrical interface includes a housing  110  that is made of non-conducting material, in this example plastic; however, this is not strictly required. The housing has a first or closed proximal end  112  and a second or open distal end  114 . The electrical interface includes a protective member, in this example cap  116  coupled to the housing  110  via a connecting mechanism, in this example a resilient elongate connector strip  118 . The cap has a closed position seen in  FIG.  4    in which the cap couples to, extends across and covers the distal end  114  of the housing  110 . The cap  116  is moveable from the closed position thereof to an open position seen in  FIG.  3   , in which the cap is spaced at least in part from the distal end of the housing. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  3   , the electrical interface  108  includes an electrical socket  120  about which the housing  110  extends in part. The cap  116  encloses the electrical socket when in the closed position thereof seen in  FIG.  4    and enables the electrical socket to be accessed when the cap is in the open position seen in  FIG.  3   . The electrical socket  120  includes a plurality of female connectors including a first or ground wire female connector  122 , a second or running lights wire female connector  124 , and a third or brake lights wire female connector  126 . The electrical interface  108  includes a cable  128  comprising a plurality of connector wires, in this example a ground connector wire  130 , a running lights connector wire  132 , and a brake lights connector wire  134 . 
     The truck  40  is further retrofitted by extending the cable through aperture  98  of side wall  56  and thereafter: coupling the ground connector wire  130  to the ground wire  90  of the truck; coupling the running lights connector wire  132  to the running lights wire  92  of the truck; and coupling the brake lights connector wire  134  to the brake lights wire  94  of the truck. Here too in the alternative the truck may be manufactured in the first instance in this manner, rather than being retrofitted to this end. The connector wires couple to corresponding wires of the truck  40  via soldering in this example; however, this is not strictly required and the wires may couple together via other manners in other examples. The electrical interface  108  thus couples to one or more light wires of the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  1   , there is shown a second or secondary vehicle, in this example an off-road vehicle, in this case a snowmobile  136 . As seen in  FIG.  2   , the snowmobile is shaped to be loaded or received on the cargo bed  54  of the truck  40 . Referring back to  FIG.  1   , the snowmobile  136  has a front  138 , a rear  140 , a longitudinal axis  142  and a length Ls extending between the front thereof and the rear thereof. As seen in  FIG.  2   , the snowmobile has a pair of spaced-apart sides  144  and  146  extending from the front thereof to the rear thereof. The snowmobile has a bottom  148  and a top  150  spaced-apart from the bottom thereof. The top and bottom of the snowmobile  136  extend between the sides  144  and  146  of the snowmobile. 
     As seen in  FIG.  14   , the snowmobile  136  includes a loop-shaped snowmobile track  147  positioned towards a rear portion  149  thereof. An aperture  151  extends through the track and rear portion of the snowmobile perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  142  of the snowmobile. 
     As seen in  FIG.  1   , the snowmobile  136  includes one or more seats, in this example seat  152  positioned between the front  138  and rear  140  thereof, and extending from near the top  150  towards the bottom  148  thereof. The snowmobile includes a centrally-positioned enclosure or upper body  154 . The upper body of the snowmobile  136  is adjacent to and rearward of the seat and may be considered a rear portion of the seat. The upper body  154  of the snowmobile is positioned between the front  138  and rear  140  of the snowmobile. As seen in  FIG.  7   , the upper body  154  of the snowmobile has a rear  156  with a recessed rear portion  158  within which is mounted a license plate  160 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  1   , the snowmobile includes one or more front lights or headlamps  162  positioned adjacent to the front thereof. As seen in  FIG.  2   , the snowmobile  136  includes at least one rear light and in this example two lights: a rear running light  164  and a rear brake light  165 . The lights are positioned adjacent to the rear  140  of the snowmobile. The rear lights  164  and  165  of the snowmobile are elevated relative to the rear lights  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  of the truck  40  when the snowmobile is loaded onto the cargo bed  54  of the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  13   , the snowmobile  136  includes a plurality of conductors or wires extending parallel to the longitudinal axis  142  thereof in this example including a ground wire  166 , a brake light wire  168 , and a running lights wire  170 . As seen in  FIG.  8   , the wires are enclosed in part by an elongate wiring cover  172  that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis  142  of the snowmobile  136  in this example. Still referring to  FIG.  8   , the snowmobile  136  has been retrofitted to remove a portion  174  of the wiring cover, creating an aperture  176  thereby via which the wires  166 ,  168 , and  170  are selectively accessible. However, this is not strictly required and in other embodiments instead of being retrofitted, the snowmobile may be manufactured to include a wiring cover with the aperture so formed therein. Ground wire  166  is connected to ground. Brake light wire  168  couples rear brake light  165  of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  1    to a power supply, in this example electrical power generated from the magneto  175  that draws power from the engine  177  of the snowmobile in this example. However, this is not strictly required and alternatively or in addition, the snowmobile may include a battery  178  that powers the lights when the snowmobile is not running, for example. Referring back to  FIG.  8   , running lights wire  170  couples the headlamps  162  and rear running light  164  of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  1    to battery  178  of the snowmobile. 
     The snowmobile includes a light control module  180  that enables the operator of the snowmobile to selectively connect the running light wire  170  of  FIG.  8    to the battery  178  thereof seen in  FIG.  1    for selectively turning on the headlamps  162  thereof and rear light  164  thereof. The rear light of the snowmobile is always on when the snowmobile or truck  40  is running as with the headlamps of the snowmobile when a conventional two-way high-beam/low-beam headlamp switch module  250  seen in  FIG.  20    is actuated. Referring back to  FIG.  1   , the snowmobile  136  includes a brake system  182  which when actuated connects the brake light wire  168  seen in  FIG.  8    to the battery  178  seen in  FIG.  1   , causing the rear brake light  165  of the snowmobile to turn on. Light control modules  180  and brake systems of snowmobiles, including their various parts and functionings, are known per se and will not be described in further detail. 
     As seen in  FIG.  7   , the snowmobile  136  is retrofitted with an electrical interface  184  in this example; however this is not strictly required and the snowmobile may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. As seen in  FIG.  11   , the electrical interface is positioned between the front  138  and rear  140  of the snowmobile  136  in this example. The electrical interface  184  is positioned rearward of seat  152  of the snowmobile in this example. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  7   , the electrical interface includes a housing  186  that is made of non-conducting material, in this example plastic; however, this is not strictly required. The housing has a first or closed proximal end  188  and a second or open distal end  190 . The electrical interface includes a cap  192  coupled to the housing  186  via a connecting mechanism, in this example a resilient elongate connector strip  194 . The cap has a closed position seen in  FIG.  7    in which the cap couples to, extends across and covers the distal end  190  of the housing  186 . The cap is moveable from the closed position thereof to an open position seen in  FIG.  8   , in which the cap is spaced at least in part from the distal end of the housing. 
     As seen in  FIG.  7   , the snowmobile  136  has been retrofitted to include an elongate member, in this example an elongate mounting plate  196  coupled thereto in this example; however this is not strictly required and the snowmobile may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. The elongate mounting plate is rigid and rectangular in shape in this example; however, the latter is not strictly required. The elongate mounting plate extends between the sides  144  and  146  of the snowmobile  136  and extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  142  of the snowmobile in this example; however, this is not strictly required. The mounting plate  196  couples to the snowmobile adjacent to elongate wire covering  172 . In this example the mounting plate couples to the rear  156  of the upper body  154  of snowmobile  136  via a pair of spaced-apart fasteners, in this example bolts  198  and  200 . The mounting plate  196  extends across the recessed rear portion  158  of the upper body of the snowmobile and is positioned below license plate  160  in this example; however, this is not strictly required. The housing  186  of the electrical interface  184  mounts to the elongate mounting plate. The housing couples to the snowmobile thereby in this example via a pair of fasteners, in this example bolts  202  and  204  extending through the proximal end  188  thereof. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  8   , the electrical interface  184  includes an electrical socket  206  about which the housing  186  extends in part. The cap  192  encloses the electrical socket when in the closed position thereof seen in  FIG.  7    and enables the electrical socket to be accessed when the cap is in the open position seen in  FIG.  8   . The electrical socket  206  includes a plurality of female connectors including a first or ground wire female connector  208 , a second or running lights wire female connector  210 , and a third or brake lights wire female connector  212 . The electrical interface  184  includes a cable  214  comprising a plurality of connector wires, in this example a ground connector wire  216 , a running lights connector wire  218 , and a brake lights connector wire  220 . The ground connector wire, running lights connector wire, and brake lights connector wire electrically couple to the ground wire female connector  208 , running lights wire female connector  210  and brake lights wire female connector, respectively. 
     The snowmobile  136  is further retrofitted by extending the cable through aperture  176  and, as seen in  FIG.  13   , thereafter: coupling the ground connector wire  216  to the ground wire  166  of the snowmobile; coupling the brake lights connector wire  220  to the brake light wire  168  of the snowmobile; and coupling the running lights connector wire  218  to the running lights wire  170  of the snowmobile. Here too this is not strictly required and the snowmobile may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. The connector wires couple to corresponding wires of the snowmobile via soldering in this example; however, this is not strictly required and the wires may couple together via other manners in other examples. The electrical interface  184  thus couples to one or more light wires of the snowmobile. 
     As seen in  FIGS.  12   , there is provided a wiring harness  222 . The wiring harness includes a first end portion  223  and a second end portion  225  spaced-apart from the first end portion thereof. The wiring harness has a length L W  extending from the first end portion thereof to the second end portion thereof. The length of the wiring harness  222  is equal to or less than one half of the length Ls of the snowmobile seen in  FIG.  1   : in this example the length of the wiring harness is equal to or less than one third of the length of the snowmobile. In this example the length L W  of the wiring harness  222  seen in  FIG.  12    is equal to or less than one half of the width W T  of the truck  40  seen in  FIG.  12    in this example. 
     Still referring to  FIG.  12   , the wiring harness includes a first electrical interface  224  adjacent the first end portion  223  thereof. The first electrical interface of the wiring harness  222  comprises in this example an electrical connector plug  226  shaped to selectively couple with the electrical socket  120  of electrical interface  108  of truck  40  seen in  FIGS.  3  and  9   . As seen in  FIG.  9   , the first end portion  223  of the wiring harness  222  is positioned forward of the rear lights  72 ,  76 ,  80  and  84  of the truck  40  and forward of the rear lights  164  and  165  of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring back to  FIG.  12   , the wiring harness  222  includes a second electrical interface  228  adjacent the second end portion  225  thereof. The second electrical interface of the wiring harness comprises in this example an electrical connector plug  230  shaped to selectively couple with the electrical socket  206  of electrical interface  184  of snowmobile  136  seen in  FIGS.  8  and  10   . As seen in  FIG.  1   , in this example the second end portion  225  of the wiring harness  222  couples to the snowmobile  136  forward of the rear lights  164  and  165  of the snowmobile. The wiring harness is positioned between the headlamps  162  and rear lights  164  and  165  of the snowmobile in this example. 
     As seen in  FIG.  2   , the wiring harness is positioned between the sides  46  and  48  and side walls  56  and  58  of the truck  40 . In this example and as seen in  FIG.  2   , the wiring harness  222  is enclosed at least in part by the side walls of the truck. The wiring harness extends from the first side  46  of the truck  40  towards the second side  48  of the truck. As seen in  FIG.  1   , the wiring harness  222  is positioned between the intermediate wall  62  and the tailgate  60  of the truck in this example. As seen in  FIG.  9   , the wiring harness remains at least in part within the cargo bed  54  and interior space  68  of the truck  40  in use in this case. The wiring harness  222  is thus enclosed by at least in part by the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  9   , the first end portion  223  of the wiring harness is positioned adjacent to the rear lights  72 ,  76 ,  80  and  84  and tailgate  60  of the truck  40  in this example. This may function to reduce the effective overall length of the wiring harness. As seen in  FIG.  1   , the wiring harness  222  extends from the rear  44  of the truck towards the front of the truck. The second end portion  225  of the wiring harness aligns with the rear  44  of the truck  40  in this example; however, this is not strictly required. As seen with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  9   , the wiring harness  222  extends overtop of and along the tailgate  60  in this example at least in part. 
     As seen in  FIG.  12   , the wiring harness  222  includes a cable  232  extending between the plugs  226  and  230  thereof. The cable comprises a plurality of conductors or wires as seen in  FIG.  13   , in this example a ground wire  234 , a running lights wire  236  and brake light wire  238 . The plug  230  and socket  206  couple together ground wire  234  and ground connector wire  216 , with ground wire  234  thus coupling to ground wire  166  of the snowmobile  136 . The plug and socket couple together running lights wire  236  and running lights connector wire  218 , with running light wire  236  thus coupling to running lights wire  166  of the snowmobile  136 . The plug  230  and socket  206  couple together brake lights wire  238  and brake lights connector wire  220 , with brake lights wire  236  thus coupling to brake lights wire  168  of the snowmobile  136 . Similarly and referring to  FIGS.  3  and  13   , plug  226  and socket  120  couple together: ground wires  234 ,  130  and  90 ; running lights wires  236 ,  132  and  92 ; and brake lights wires  238 ,  134  and  94 . 
     The running lights wire  92  of truck  40  seen in  FIG.  3    thus couples to the running lights wire  166  of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  13    and rear lights  164 ,  165 ,  72  and  74  of the snowmobile and truck seen in  FIG.  17    to battery  88  and alternator  89  of the truck. The brake lights wire  94  of the truck seen in  FIG.  3    thus couples to the brake lights wire  168  of the snowmobile seen in  FIG.  13    and lights  164 ,  165 ,  80  and  82  of the snowmobile and truck seen in  FIG.  17    to the brake system  182  and battery of the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  2   , the wiring harness  222  thus couples the rear lights  164  and  165  of the snowmobile  136  to the electrically-powered rear lights  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  of the truck so as to be powered therefrom and to function in concert therewith. The running rear light and brake rear light (if applicable) of the snowmobile are thus configured to work and turn on using the electrical power of the truck. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  13   , the snowmobile  136  is retrofitted to include a mechanism to inhibit power from the truck  40  to operate of the headlamps  162 , in this example in the form of a diode  240  seen in  FIG.  13    in this example. However this is not strictly required and the snowmobile may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured The diode couples to and is positioned in series with the running lights wire  166 . The diode  240  is positioned to enable current from the battery  180  of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  1    to flow in a first direction  242 . The diode enables current from the truck to flow in a first direction  244  to selectively turn on the rear running light  164  of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  1   . Referring back to  FIG.  12   , the diode  240  is configured to inhibit current from the truck  40  to flow in a second direction  246 , thereby inhibiting headlamps  162  of the snowmobile to turn on as a result of power suppled by the truck. The diode is thus a one-way diode positioned to prevent the headlamps from turning on when the rear running lights of the snowmobile are turned on and are provided with power via the power supply of the truck. Thus, the snowmobile  136  in this embodiment uses a stock two-pole headlamp high-beam/low-beam switch (not shown) in conjunction with diode  240  so as to not backfeed to headlamps when powered by the truck. 
     In operation and referring to  FIG.  14   , actuating light switch  91  of the truck  40  causes the rear running lights  72  and  74  of the truck and rear running light  164  of the snowmobile  136  to turn on. Activating the brake system  104  of the truck seen in  FIG.  17    causes brake lights  80 ,  82  and  83  of the truck to turn on, as well as brake light  165  of the snowmobile. 
     Referring to  FIG.  16   , there is thus effectively provided a truck  40  with a left side rear light  72 ,  80 , a right side rear light  74 ,  82 , a third rear light  165  positioned between and being elevated and rearward relative to the first and second rear lights, with the third rear light being repurposed from the snowmobile  136  loaded onto the truck. As seen in  FIGS.  14 ,  16  and  17   , rear lights  72 ,  80  and rear lights  74 ,  82  are visible through the snowmobile from the rear/side of the truck, in this case visible through the aperture  151  extending through the rear portion  149  of the snowmobile. As seen in  FIG.  17   , the truck so retrofitted or configured includes lights  72 ,  80  and  74 ,  82  which are all visible at positions axially rearward and offset relative to the rear  44  and longitudinal axis  45  of the truck. 
     In such instances brake light  83  of the truck  40  may also be visible. Thus and referring to  FIG.  16   , the truck  40  so retrofitted or configured effectively includes a first pair of laterally-spaced-apart rear lights  72 ,  80  and  74 ,  84  and a second pair of longitudinally spaced-apart rear lights  83  and  164 ,  165  which are centrally-positioned and elevated relative to the first pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights. As seen in  FIG.  18   , the rear lights  164 ,  165  of the snowmobile  136  are positioned at a height H S  equal to or below height H T  of rear brake light  83 . 
     The electrical interfaces  108  and  184  and wiring harness  222  seen in  FIGS.  9  and  10    may be referred to as a kit  248  for repurposing existing one or more rear lights  164  and  165  of a first vehicle or snowmobile  136  seen in.  FIG.  2   , to be one or more additional rear lights of a second vehicle or truck  40  upon which the snowmobile is loaded. 
     There is accordingly provided a method of improving road safety when a first vehicle, in this example snowmobile  136 , is loaded onto a second vehicle, in this example, truck  40 . There is further provided a method of safely transporting the snowmobile with the truck, and a method of retrofitting the snowmobile and the truck to facilitate transportation of the snowmobile on the cargo bed  54  of the truck. The method includes loading the snowmobile onto to the cargo bed of the truck such that the rear lights  164 ,  165  of the snowmobile are spaced-apart above the rear lights  72 ,  74 ,  80  and  82  of the truck  40  as seen in  FIG.  16   . 
     As seen in  FIG.  13   , the method includes retrofitting the snowmobile  136  with electrical interface  184 . The method includes coupling the electrical interface to one or more rear lights  164  and  165  of the snowmobile seen in  FIG.  1   , in this example via light wires  166 ,  168  and  170  of the snowmobile seen in  FIG.  13   . Referring back to  FIG.  1   , the method further including mounting the electrical interface  184  between the front  138  and rear  140  of the snowmobile  136 . The method includes mounting the electrical interface rearward of the one or more seats  152  of the snowmobile in this example. As seen in  FIG.  7   , the method includes coupling the elongate mounting plate  196  to the snowmobile  136  and mounting the electrical interface  184  to the elongate mounting plate. 
     As seen in  FIG.  3   , the method includes providing the truck  40  with an electrical interface  108 . The method includes coupling the electrical interface to one or more light wires  72 ,  80 ,  74  and  84  of the truck seen in  FIG.  2   . The method includes mounting the electrical interface  108  of the truck  40  adjacent to said rear lights of the truck. The method includes mounting the electrical interface of the truck to one of the side walls  56  of the truck. 
     The method includes coupling at least one rear light of the truck  40  to at least one rear light  164 ,  165  of the snowmobile via wiring harness  222  as seen in  FIGS.  9  and  10   , such that the truck powers the at least one rear light of the snowmobile and the rear lights of the vehicles work in concert. As seen in  FIG.  13   , the method includes providing a mechanism in the form of diode  240  to disable operation of one or more headlamps  162  of the snowmobile  136  seen in.  FIG.  1    when the wiring harness  222  electrically couples together the snowmobile and truck  40 . 
     The method includes shaping the wiring harness to selectively extend between and couple together the electrical interfaces  108  and  184 . The method includes sizing the wiring harness  222  to be equal to or less than one half or one third of the length. Ls of the snowmobile  136  seen in  FIG.  1   . As seen in  FIG.  2   , the method includes sizing the wiring harness to be equal to or less than one half of the width W T  of the truck  40 . The method includes enclosing the wiring harness  222  at least in part between the side walls  56  and  58  of the truck. 
     As seen in  FIG.  8   , electrical interface  208  may also be used as an external power supply when the snowmobile  136  is running or turned on, for example. 
       FIGS.  19  to  20    show a kit  248 . 1  according to a second aspect, for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of a first vehicle such as a snowmobile  136 , to be one or more additional rear lights of a second vehicle or truck (not shown) upon which the snowmobile is loaded. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the kit  248 , the truck and the snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the addition of decimal extension “.1”. Kit  248 . 1 , the truck and the snowmobile  136 . 1  are substantially the same as the kit  248 , truck  40  and snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the following exceptions. 
     As seen in  FIG.  19   , the snowmobile is retrofitted to include a mechanism to inhibit power from the truck to operate of the headlamps thereof, in this example in the form of replacing the conventional two-way high-beam/low-beam headlamp switch module  250  of the snowmobile with a three way high-beam/low-beam/off headlamp switch module  252 . The high-beam/low-beam switch module of the snowmobile is removed and replaced with the three-way switch module. However this is not strictly required and the snowmobile may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. 
     The three-way switch module  252  includes a first terminal  254  coupled to high-beam headlamps (not shown) of the snowmobile  136 . 1 , a second terminal  256  coupled to a low-beam headlamp (not shown) of the snowmobile, and a third terminal  258 . The switch module includes a switch  253  that may be selectively moved in a first direction, as shown by arrow  262 , to couple together terminals  254  and  260  to turn on or power the high-beam headlamp. The switch may be referred to as a three-pole off-switch. The switch  253  may be selectively moved in a second direction, as shown by arrow  264  and which is opposite the first direction, to couple together terminals  258  and  260  to turn on or power the low-beam headlamps. 
     The switch is selectively movable to a third position between and spaced-apart from terminals  256  and  258 , where no power is provided to said terminals and the low-beam and high-beam headlamps remain off. The switch module  252  thus enables the operator of the snowmobile to switch between a high beam headlamp configuration in which the high beam headlamp(s) of the snowmobile are turned on, to a low beam headlamp configuration in which the low beam headlamp(s) of the snowmobile are turned on, to a no headlamps configuration in which no power is provided to the headlamps and the headlamps remain off during operation of the snowmobile or otherwise. Thus, the snowmobile  136 . 1  so retrofitted includes the three way high-beam/low-beam/off headlamp switch module  252  so that the headlamps of the snowmobile are not powered when the snowmobile is electrically coupled to the truck. However this is not strictly required and the snowmobile may, in the alternative, be manufactured in the first instance to be so configured. 
       FIG.  21    shows a first vehicle, in this example an utility terrain vehicle (UTV)  136 . 2  according to a second aspect, loaded onto a second vehicle, in this example, truck  40 . 2 , including kit  248 . 2  for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the utility terrain vehicle to be one or more additional rear lights of the truck upon which the utility terrain vehicle is loaded. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the kit  248 , truck  40  and snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the addition of decimal extension “.2”. Kit  248 . 2 , truck  40 . 2  and utility terrain vehicle  136 . 2  are substantially the same as the kit  248 , truck  40  and snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the following exceptions. 
     The utility terrain vehicle in this case a side-by-side; however, this is not strictly required and the utility terrain vehicle may be of a different type in other embodiments. The utility terrain vehicle  136 . 2  includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart rear running lights  164 . 2  and  266 , rear brake lights  165 . 2  and  268 , left and right turn signal lights  270  and  272 , and backup or reverse drive lights  274  and  276 . However, the latter two sets of lights are not strictly required as some utility terrain vehicles may not include signal and reverse drive lights, for example. The front lights  162 . 2  and rear running lights are coupled to a power supply, in this example battery  178 . 2  of the utility terrain vehicle  136 . 2  for operating the lights when the vehicle is turned off. The utility terrain vehicle&#39;s lights are powered by magneto  177 . 2  and related electrical system when the vehicle is running. Batteries and magnetos, including their various parts and functionings thereof, are well known to those skilled in the art and the battery and magneto of the utility terrain vehicle  136 . 2  will accordingly not be discussed in further detail. 
     In operation, actuating light switch  91 . 2  of the truck  40 . 2  causes power to be supplied to the rear running lights  72 . 2  and  74 . 2  of the truck and rear running lights  164 . 2  and  266  of the utility terrain vehicle, turning on of these lights thereby. Activating the brake system  182 . 2  of the truck causes brake lights  80 . 2  and  82 . 2  of the truck to turn on, as well as brake lights  165 . 2  and  268  of the utility terrain vehicle. 
     Thus, truck  40 . 2  so retrofitted or configured effectively includes a first set or pair of laterally-spaced-apart rear lights  72 . 2 ,  80 . 2  and  74 . 2 ,  84 . 2 , a second set or pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights  164 . 2 ,  165 . 2  and  266 ,  268  which are inwardly spaced from the first pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights, and a third set or pair of longitudinally spaced-apart rear lights  83 . 2  and  270 ,  272 ,  274  and  276  which are centrally-positioned and elevated relative to the first pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights. The rear lights of the utility terrain vehicle  136 . 2  are positioned at a height Flu equal to or above height H T.2  of rear brake light  83 . 2 . 
       FIG.  21    shows a first vehicle, in this example an all-terrain vehicle (ATV)  136 . 3  according to a third aspect, loaded onto a second vehicle, in this example, truck  40 . 3 , including kit  248 . 3  for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of the all-terrain vehicle to be one or more additional rear lights of the truck upon which the all-terrain vehicle is loaded. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the kit  248 , truck  40  and snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the addition of decimal extension “.3”. Kit  248 . 3 , truck  40 . 3  and all-terrain vehicle  136 . 3  are substantially the same as the kit  248 , truck  40  and snowmobile  1 . 36  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the following exceptions. 
     The all-terrain vehicle in this case a quad or four-wheeler; however, this is not strictly required and the all-terrain vehicle may be of a different type in other embodiments. The all-terrain vehicle  136 . 3  includes a pair of laterally spaced-apart rear running lights  164 . 3  and  266 . 3 , rear brake lights  165 . 3  and  268 . 3 , left and right turn signal lights  270 . 3  and  272 . 3 , and backup or reverse drive lights  274 . 3  and  276 . 3 . However, the latter two sets of lights are not strictly required as some all-terrain vehicles may not include signal and reverse drive lights, for example. The front lights  162 . 3  and rear running lights are coupled to a power supply, in this example battery  178 . 3  of the all-terrain vehicle  136 . 3  for operating the lights when the vehicle is turned off. The all-terrain vehicle&#39;s lights are powered by magneto  177 . 3  and related electrical systems when the vehicle is running Batteries and magnetos, including their various parts and functionings thereof, are well known to those skilled in the art and the battery and magneto of the all-terrain vehicle  136 . 3  will accordingly not be discussed in further detail. 
     In operation, actuating light switch  91 . 3  of the truck  40 . 3  causes power to be supplied to the rear running lights  72 . 3  and  74 . 3  of the truck and rear running lights  164 . 3  and  266 . 3  of the all-terrain vehicle, turning on of these lights thereby. Activating the brake system  182 . 3  of the truck causes brake lights  80 . 3  and  82 . 3  of the truck to turn on, as well as brake lights  165 . 3  and  268 . 3  of the all-terrain vehicle. 
     Thus, truck  40 . 3  so retrofitted or configured effectively includes a first set or pair of laterally-spaced-apart rear lights  72 . 3 ,  80 . 3  and  74 . 3 ,  84 . 3 , a second set or pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights  164 . 3 ,  165 . 3  and  266 . 3 ,  268 . 3  which are inwardly spaced from the first pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights, and a third set or pair of longitudinally spaced-apart rear lights  83 . 3  and  270 . 3 ,  272 . 3 ,  274 . 3  and  276 . 3  which are centrally-positioned and elevated relative to the first pair of laterally spaced-apart rear lights. The rear lights of the all-terrain vehicle  136 . 3  are positioned at a height HA equal to or below height H T.3  of rear brake light  83 . 3 . 
       FIGS.  23  to  25    show a kit  248 . 4  according to a fifth aspect, for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of a secondary vehicle  136 . 4 , to be one or more additional rear lights of a primary vehicle or truck  40 . 4  upon which the secondary vehicle is loaded. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the kit  248 , the truck and the snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the addition of decimal extension “.4”. Kit  248 . 4 , truck  40 . 4  and secondary vehicle  136 . 4  are substantially the same as the kit  248 , truck  40  and snowmobile  136  shown in  FIGS.  1  to  19    with the following exceptions. 
     As seen in  FIG.  23   , the truck includes electrical interface  108 . 4  comprising a seven-pin trailer connector  278 . The trailer connector may be located adjacent to the trailer hitch (not shown) and rear of the truck  40 . 4 . The seven-pin trailer connector includes a housing  110 . 4  with a protective member in the form of a planar cover  116 . 4 . The planar cover hingedly couples to the housing. The planar cover  116 . 4  is spring biased to enclose electrical socket  120 . 4 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  24   , the electrical interface  108 . 4  includes a plurality of pins or terminals  280 ,  282 ,  284 ,  286 ,  288 ,  290  and  292 . Ground wire  90 . 4  of the truck  40 . 4  couples to terminal  280 . Brake light wire  92 . 4  of the truck couples to terminal  282 . A right turn signal wire  294  of the truck  40 . 4  couples to terminal  284 . A left turn signal wire  296  of the truck couples to terminal  290 . A power conductor or running lights wire  94 . 4  couples to terminal  286 . A taillights wire  298  couples to terminal  288 . An auxiliary component wire  300  couples to terminal  292 . 
     As seen in  FIG.  25   , electrical socket  226 . 4  of electrical interface  224 . 4  of wiring harness  222 . 4  is configured to selectively couple to seven-pin connector  278  in this example. The wiring harness may be otherwise substantially the same as described above. Thus, one runs the brake light line of the secondary vehicle to the trailer brake terminal and make a harness up that may. 
     The wiring harness  222 . 4  may be configured to couple the reverse drive or tail wires/lights of the truck  40 . 4  and the secondary vehicle  136 . 4 , to a reverse drive system of the truck. The latter causes the reverse drive wire/lights of the secondary vehicle to turn on upon receiving one or more activation signals therefrom. The wiring harness  222  may further be configured to couple the turn signal lights/wires of the truck  40 . 4  and secondary vehicle, causing the turn signal lights of the secondary vehicle  136 . 4  to turn on upon receiving one or more activation signals therefrom. The loaded or secondary vehicle, if so equipped with signal and reverse drive lights, would thus have the signals and reverse drive lights thereof working with the truck  40 . 4  in harmony. 
       FIG.  26    shows a kit  248 . 5  according to a sixth aspect, for repurposing existing one or more rear lights of a secondary vehicle  136 . 5 , to be one or more additional rear lights of a primary vehicle or truck  40 . 5  upon which the secondary vehicle is loaded. Like parts have like numbers and functions as the kit  248 . 4 , truck  40 . 4  and secondary vehicle  136 . 4  shown in  FIGS.  23  to  25    with decimal extension “.5” replacing decimal extension “.4”. Kit  248 . 5 , truck  40 . 5  and secondary vehicle  136 . 5  are substantially the same as the kit  248 . 4 , truck  40 . 4  and secondary vehicle  136 . 4  shown in  FIGS.  23  to  25    with the following exceptions. 
     Wiring harness  222 . 5  uses a seven-way or four-way trailer connector  278 . 5  by means of a taillight converter  302 . The wiring harness may thus couple a combination of the turn signals and brake lights/wires of the truck to the brake wire/lights of the secondary vehicle. The combination turn signal and brake wire couples to signal and brake light wires of the truck. The latter causes the rear light or a brake light of the secondary vehicle to turn on upon receiving one or more activation signals therefrom. 
     Many advantages result from the structure of the present invention. For example, the assembly as herein described may function to improve road safety by effectively illuminating the truck and secondary vehicle thereon in a cost effective and compact manner. The assembly as herein described may further comprise a convenient and cost-effective solution to the requirement in many jurisdictions of adding a red rag, additional lighting or the like to goods loaded on a truck and which extend rearwards from the truck. The assembly as herein described may thus render the load in the form of the secondary vehicle much easier to see visually, warning drivers rearward of the load ahead and functioning to reduce rear end collisions. This may be particular advantageous as often all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles are not covered by a primary vehicle&#39;s accident insurance policy. 
     The assembly as herein described may remove the need for recreational vehicle trailers, which may be costly, cumbersome, and impede safe driving. The assembly as herein described may thus comprise fewer parts, be more cost effective and promote safe driving. 
     The wiring harness as herein described remains within the truck bed and extends from adjacent one of the rear lights of the truck to the snowmobile. The wiring harness as herein described thus requires less length and may be less likely to get entangled and break. 
     The assembly as herein described takes advantage of existing wiring within the snowmobile which is more enclosed and protected. 
     The rear lights of the secondary vehicle so mounted to the truck bed as a result of the assembly as herein described are elevated and may thus be easier to see from a distance. The rear lights of the secondary vehicle may further effectively function as a replacement third brake light for the truck which takes the place of or supplements the existing third brake light of the truck which may be otherwise blocked. 
     The assembly as herein described may additionally require less space and may facilitate a greater variety and size of vehicles to be loaded on to the truck, for example. 
     It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the invention described herein. For example, the secondary vehicle as herein described has been referenced as a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle in the form of a buggy or side-by-side, or utility task vehicle in the form of a quad. However, this is not strictly required and the secondary vehicle may alternatively comprise a snow bike, golf cart, dune buggy, go kart, water craft, tractor, farm equipment, motorcycle, dirt bike, scooter, electric mobility devices (scooters), or any other such vehicle with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brake lights. 
     Also some of the description herein has involved retrofitting the snowmobile/UTV/ATV and/or truck to couple electrical interfaces thereto. However, as mentioned this is not strictly required, as the electrical interface of the snowmobile/UTV/ATV may be place directly thereon at the factory in the assembly line, with a wiring harness being sold for coupling to a truck&#39;s trailer socket for example. 
     The assembly as herein described is described to a secondary vehicle loaded onto the cargo area of the box of a truck. Alternatively, the assembly may be loaded onto the sled deck, on a trailer, or anything that will connect to the running vehicle wire harness or in conjunction with a trailer harness hooked to the vehicle. 
     Additional Description 
     Examples of a method of improving road safety when a secondary vehicle is loaded onto a primary vehicle, as well a kit therefor, and a primary vehicle comprising enhanced rear lighting, have been described. The following clauses are offered as further description.
         (1) A first vehicle shaped to be received on a cargo bed of a second vehicle, the first vehicle comprising: at least one rear light; and a wiring harness coupled to the rear light of the first vehicle and connectable to at least one electrically-powered rear light of the second vehicle so as to be powered therefrom and to function in concert therewith.   (2) A first vehicle loadable onto a second vehicle, the first vehicle comprising: at least one rear light; an electrical interface coupled to the at least one rear light; and a wiring harness including a first end portion connectable to the electrical interface and a second end portion connectable to a trailer socket of the second vehicle such that the rear lights of vehicles work in concert, with the at least one rear light of the first vehicle being controlled by and receiving power from the second vehicle.   (3) The first vehicle of any one clauses 1 to 2, wherein the wiring harness couples to the first vehicle adjacent to or forward of the at least one rear light of the first vehicle.   (4) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the first vehicle has a front, a rear and a length extending between the front and the rear thereof, and wherein the wiring harness has a length which is equal to or less than one half of the length of the first vehicle.   (5) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 3, wherein the first vehicle has a front, a rear and a length extending between the front and the rear thereof, and wherein the wiring harness has a length which is equal to or less than one third of the length of the first vehicle.   (6) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 5 wherein the first vehicle is a snowmobile.   (7) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 5 wherein the first vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle.   (8) The first vehicle of clause 7 wherein the all-terrain vehicle is a quad or four-wheeler.   (9) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 5 wherein the first vehicle is a utility task vehicle.   (10) The first vehicle of clause 9 wherein the utility task vehicle is a side-by-side.   (11) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 10, further including a first electrical interface which couples to the at least one rear light of the first vehicle, and wherein the wiring harness couples to said first electrical interface.   (12) The first vehicle of clause 11 wherein the first electrical interface is positioned between the front and the rear of the first vehicle.   (13) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 11 to 12, wherein the first vehicle includes one or more seats and wherein the first electrical interface is positioned rearward of said one or more seats.   (14) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 11 to 13, further including an elongate mounting plate coupled thereto and to which the first electrical interface mounts.   (15) The first vehicle of clause 14 wherein the elongate mounting plate is rigid.   (16) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 14 to 15, wherein the elongate mounting plate is rectangular in shape.   (17) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1.4 to 16 wherein the elongate mounting plate extends between the sides of the first vehicle.   (18) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 14 to 17 wherein the first vehicle has a longitudinal axis extend from the front to the rear thereof and wherein the elongate mounting plate extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.   (19) The first vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 18, further including a mechanism to inhibit power from the second vehicle to operate of the one or more front lights of the first vehicle.   (20) The first vehicle of clause 19, wherein the mechanism is a diode that enables current from the second vehicle to flow in a first direction to selectively turn on the rear light of the first vehicle and inhibits current from the second vehicle to flow in a second direction to selectively turn on the one or more front lights of the first vehicle.   (21) The first vehicle of clause 19, wherein the mechanism is a switch which disables operation of the one or more front lights of the first vehicle.   (22) In combination, the first vehicle and the second vehicle of any one of clauses 1 to 21.   (23) The combination of clause 20, wherein the wiring harness remains within the cargo bed.   (24) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 23, wherein the first vehicle includes at least one front light and wherein the wiring harness is positioned between the front light and the rear light of the first vehicle.   (25) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 24, wherein the wiring harness is positioned forward of the rear lights of the vehicles.   (26) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 25, wherein the wiring harness couples to the second vehicle adjacent to the at least one rear light of the second vehicle.   (27) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 26, wherein the wiring harness is enclosed by at least in part by the second vehicle.   (28) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 27, wherein the wiring harness is enclosed by side walls of the second vehicle.   (29) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 28, wherein the second vehicle has a pair of spaced-apart sides, and wherein the wiring harness extends from a first said side of the second vehicle towards a second said side of the second vehicle.   (30) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 27, wherein the second vehicle includes a pair of side walls, a tailgate extending between the side walls thereof, and a forward wall extending between the side walls thereof and being spaced-apart from the tailgate, and wherein the wiring harness is positioned between the side walls of the second vehicle and is positioned between the forward wall and the tailgate of the second vehicle.   (31) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 30 wherein the second vehicle includes a pair of side walls, a tailgate extending between the side walls thereof, and a forward wall extending between the side walls thereof and being spaced-apart from the tailgate, wherein the cargo bed, the side walls, the tailgate and the forward wall of the second vehicle define an interior space, and wherein the wiring harness is positioned within said interior space.   (32) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 31 wherein the second vehicle has a front, a rear, and a pair of spaced-apart sides extending from the front thereof to the rear thereof, and wherein the wiring harness is positioned between the sides of the second vehicle, and between the front and the rear of the second vehicle.   (33) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 31 wherein the second vehicle includes a tailgate and wherein the wiring harness is positioned adjacent to the tailgate.   (34) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 31 wherein the second vehicle includes a tailgate and wherein the wiring harness extends substantially parallel to and forward of the tailgate.   (35) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 34 wherein the second vehicle has a width extending between the sides thereof, and wherein the wiring harness has a length which is equal to or less than one half of the width of the second vehicle.   (36) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 35 wherein the at least one rear light of the first vehicle is elevated relative to the at least one rear light of the second vehicle.   (37) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 36 wherein the wiring harness includes: a running lights wire which couples the rear lights to a power supply of the second vehicle; a brake lights wire which couples the rear lights or brakes lights of the second vehicle and the first vehicle, to a brake system of the second vehicle; and a reverse drive lights wire which couples the rear lights or reverse drive lights of the second vehicle and the first vehicle, to a reverse drive system of the second vehicle.   (38) The combination of clause 37 wherein the wiring harness includes a combination turn signal and brake wire which couples to signal and brake light wires of the second vehicle and causes the rear light or a brake light of the first vehicle to turn on upon receiving one or more activation signals therefrom.   (39) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 38 wherein the second vehicle is a truck.   (40) The combination of any one of clauses 22 to 39 wherein the second vehicle includes a second electrical interface which couples to the at least one rear light of the second vehicle, and wherein the wiring harness couples to said second electrical interface.   (41) The combination of clause 40 wherein the second electrical interface is positioned adjacent to the at least one rear light of the second vehicle.   (42) The combination of any one of clauses 40 to 41, wherein the second electrical interface mounts to one of the side walls of the second vehicle.   (43) A method of safely transporting a first vehicle with a second vehicle, the method comprising: loading the first vehicle onto to a cargo bed of the second vehicle; and coupling at least one rear light of the second vehicle to at least one rear light of the first vehicle via a wiring harness, such that the second vehicle powers the at least one rear light of the first vehicle and the rear lights of the vehicles work in concert.   (44) The method of clause 43, further including: providing the first vehicle with a first electrical interface and coupling the first electrical interface coupling to one or more light wires of the first vehicle; and providing the second vehicle with a second electrical interface and coupling the second electrical interface to one or more light wires of the second vehicle.   (45) The method of clause 44 further including shaping the wiring harness to selectively extend between and couple together the electrical interfaces.   (46) The method of any one of clauses 44 to 45, further including mounting the second electrical interface adjacent to the at least one rear light of the second vehicle.   (47) The method of any one of clauses 44 to 46, wherein the first vehicle has a front and a rear, and the method further including mounting the first electrical interface between the front and the rear of the first vehicle.   (48) The method of any one of clauses 44 to 47, wherein the first vehicle includes one or more seats and wherein the method further includes mounting the first electrical interface rearward of the one or more seats of the first vehicle.   (49) The method of any one of clauses 44 to 48, further including coupling an elongate mounting plate to the first vehicle and mounting the first electrical interface to said elongate mounting plate.   (50) The method of clause 49 wherein the elongate mounting plate is rigid and extends between the sides of the first vehicle.   (51) The method of any one of clauses 44 to 50, wherein the second vehicle includes a pair of spaced-apart side walls which couple to and extend upwards from the cargo bed and wherein the method further includes mounting the second electrical interface to one said side wall of the second vehicle.   (52) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 50, wherein the second vehicle includes a pair of spaced-apart side walls which couple to and extend upwards from the cargo bed and wherein the method further includes enclosing the wiring harness between side walls of the second vehicle.   (53) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 52 further including: providing a mechanism to disable operation of one or more front lights of the first vehicle when the wiring harness electrically couples together the vehicles.   (54) The method of clause 53 wherein the mechanism is a diode that enables current from the second vehicle to flow in a first direction to selectively turn on the rear light of the first vehicle and inhibits current from the second vehicle to flow in a second direction to selectively turn on the one or more front lights of the first vehicle.   (55) The method of clause 53 wherein the mechanism is a switch which disables operation of the one or more front lights of the first vehicle.   (56) A method of retrofitting a first vehicle and a second vehicle to facilitate transportation of the first vehicle on a cargo bed of the second vehicle, the method comprising: providing the first vehicle with a first electrical interface; coupling rear light wires of the first vehicle to the first electrical interface; providing the second vehicle with a second electrical interface; coupling rear light wires of the second vehicle to the second electrical interface; and selectively coupling together the first electrical interface with the second electrical interface such that rear lights of the vehicles work in concert, with the second vehicle powering at least one said rear light of the first vehicle.   (57) The method of clause 56 further including providing a wiring harness via which the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface couple.   (58) The method of any one of clauses 56 to 57, further including: mounting the first electrical interface to the first vehicle.   (59) The method of any one of clauses 56 to 57, further including: coupling an elongate mounting plate to the first vehicle and mounting the first electrical interface to the first vehicle via said elongate mounting plate.   (60) The method of any one of clauses 56 to 59, further including: mounting the second electrical interface to the second vehicle.   (61) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 60 further including: loading the first vehicle onto the second vehicle such that said rear light of the first vehicle is spaced-apart above said rear light of the second vehicle.   (62) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 61 wherein the first vehicle has a length extending between the front and the rear thereof, and wherein the method includes sizing the wiring harness to be equal to or less than one half of the length of the first vehicle.   (63) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 61 wherein the first vehicle has a length extending between the front and the rear thereof, and wherein the method includes sizing the wiring harness to be equal to or less than one third of the length of the first vehicle.   (64) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 61 wherein the second vehicle has a width extending between the sides thereof, and wherein the method includes sizing the wiring harness to be equal to or less than one half of the width of the second vehicle.   (65) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 64, wherein the first vehicle is snowmobile.   (66) The method of any one of clauses 43 to 64, wherein the first vehicle is an all-terrain vehicle.   (67) The method of clause 66, wherein the all-terrain vehicle is a quad or four-wheeler.   (68) The method of any one of clauses 53 to 64, wherein the first vehicle is a utility task vehicle.   (69) The method of clause 68, wherein the utility task vehicle is a side-by-side.       

     It will be understood by someone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above are by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is to be determined with reference to at least the following claims.