Puddle lights and under hood lights options.

I want to add rock lights or something under my step sides to use as puddle lights that will light up when I open my doors. Looking for light options. Also want to add a under the hood light. Ideas needed. Thanks

 

Dunno on the puddle lights, but for the under hood light search @mattgecko on here

 

MattGecko LED Bed & Hood light kits | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

 

Install the Vleds universal puddle lights in the bottom of your mirrors.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/installing-puddle-lights-on-factory-sr5-mirrors.44755/

 

KC hightlights cyclones work well. Got them for the old man as a bday gift. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DQV2K6...p=&crid=2NK38PTIQZ6L3&sprefix=kc+lights+under

 

^ This..
I tapped into the little driver's footwell LED.



I also added LED strips to the AMP step circuit.



I've found no reason for an underhood light....YMMV

 

Can you show if you have pictures of where you tapped into the driver's footwell LED?
I dreaded wiring it to the dome light as it was said to be done....

 

I stuck em in the old OEM style tow mirrors

 

You might not need to tap anything.

Use the base bulb adapter and a Y splitter to connect to the puddle lights

BASE ADAPTER 2 PIN FEMALE 74 (vleds.com)

2 PIN WATERPROOF HARDWIRE Y ADAPTER (vleds.com)

Literally plug and play (minus the drilling)

That base adapter is used with the footwell lights

 

For puddle lights, I’d look for something that uses the OEM hole and mounting option and doesn’t use glue or some other adhesive to attach. I’ve had the drive brights for 3 years now and am very happy with them. Can’t find the link to them anymore , but it looks like morimoto offers something similar. Anyway, just my $.02

https://www.morimotohid.com/Toyota-Tundra-07-20-XB-LED-Mirror-Lights_2?quantity=1

 

I did all this at the same time.





Cut the bulb off and ran the puddle and footwell lights from that wire/circuit..
All connections were soldered and heat-shrink wrapped.
I don't really have a specific pic of that connection.
I'd imagine it looks pretty much like this one from another project.
This was when I tapped into the dash light dimmer circuit to install my blue console LEDs.
Even being on the dimmer switch I had to put resitors inline to dim the LEDs down.
I just wanted a very dim light on the console.

 

My question, though, is where does it plug into if we are tapping into the footwell LED source?

 

Lucky your Platinum had the hole and wiring.
My SR5 I had to cut the hole and run all the wiring..


I've had the stick on VLEDs for years without a problem.

 

You can use the adpater @Taco-Spike posted or just cut it off.
You might as well run/install some better footwell lights while you're doing your puddle lights..
That little footwell light is worthless.

It isn't very hard..
Just buy decent quality LED strips that will stay stuck.

 

I have these. They're very bright and they're plug and play under the mirrors if you have them currently.

 

I run my puddle lights and footwell lights off of the adapter. Just splice the 2 together.

 

If you're going to have to splice the wires anyway, what is the point of the adapter?
Why not just cut the bulb off?
Even if you change the lights, you still have to cut and reconnect.

Although I guess doing your wiring my be easier not being stuck under the dash..

 

My option was not to tap / splice anything, just use that adapter as your source. Would be the easier option.

 

x2

 

I’ll have to look at the adapter and Y they have linked a little harder.

I created that VLED thread for SR5 because there was nothing for SR5 at the time that showed how to drill out the housing and get power into the mirror. I piggy backed on the other thread (which had an aim of installing puddle lights on tow mirrors) quite a bit, including finding power, but be warned that the factory wiring looms differ year to year. For a 2018, you’d pull up the rocker plate at the driver door, pry the loom cover open, and look for a small pink wire. There are a couple that look identical. I used a posi tap, and tried a wire or two before landing on the correct one. Here are the pics from that thread:

 

Thanks for all the ideas. I see there are a few good options to think about. I looked under my mirrors and I see the circle where I guess they use to put light before. I’ll probably just drill it out like others have done. Thinking about getting the mattgecko lights for the bed. Those are nice looking. The KC work lights might be a good option for under hood. Thanks again for the ideas.

 

I've been in analysis paralysis on puddle lights in mirrors vs rock lights on frame. I'm pretty much sold on https://luxlightingsystems.com/collections/led-lighting-for-trucks.

I like that they are ip68, magnet mounting, and made in America. They are $$$ though.

The vleds kits are very tempting due to the plug and play aspect.

 

FYI the cutout dimensions needed for the Vleds universal light is 1.5 inch.