Auxiliary Backup Lights

I know a lot of folks have done this to their Tundras. Just thought I'd show the end result on my dad's 1st gen. These activate when you shift into reverse by tapping into the backup light circuit with a relay. He has them angled out a little on each side for better coverage.

 

Looks awesome. I used to have those, but I bottomed out in a mud pit and bent the brackets. So, I went with these:

 

Really nice and clean look!

 

Nice.

I added these a while back. They go right in the OEM fixture and made a HUGE difference. I highly recommend.

4pcs 912 921 LED Bulbs Backup Reverse Lights, 15 SMD Extremely Bright 2835 Chipsets Non-polarity W16W T15 T10 LED Bulb for Backup Reverse Lights, 6500k White

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BMQKSPL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I did the same thing but with another brand. No regrets. But, then again, I don't spend a lot of time in the R shifter position or hooking up trailered equipment.

 

Nilight (Amazon) specials. They work great!

 

Yeah, I have been adding lights to my trucks for years. Comes in handy camping and now living in the country where there are no street lights just backing up the driveway.

 

Can you explain your components and process please?

 

Can we get a picture from any of y'all with these lit up at night?

 

Just finished mine today

 

Holy shit, I have to have these now.
And I thought my LED bulb replacements were an upgrade... this is next level stuff.

 

No drilling, used existing bumper bolts to attach the lights, wired them directly into the reverse light wire in the tow plug harness so they only come on when the truck is in reverse. Super happy with them.

 

Have you seen the VLEDS license plate reverse light? I bought one used, and it makes a HUGE difference. It's It's low profile

Mounts right over the top of the license ate.

 

Here's some in cab shots so you can see what you'd see from inside.

 

Talk about light up the night!!! Were these hard to install at all? My wiring knowledge is 0... I still gotta wire up my camper shell 3rd brake light somehow.

Pros and cons between the bumper light vs license plate mounted LED?

 

Wasn't hard at all. Just replaces the hardware for your plate, and two water proof t-taps into the reverse wires for the tail light

 

Flush mounts here, the downside is having to cut that hole IMO. That setup @Tundra2 has is pretty nice. My wife’s sequoia is running gtr lighting in the reverse light bulbs and those things are ridiculous bright. They’re pricey though. She didn’t want to cut holes in her bumper lol

https://www.gtrlighting.com/gtr-lighting-ultra-led-bulbs-921?quantity=1

 

Just read that part about pros and cons of the license plate thing.

License plate​

Pro:

1. Pretty much direct "bolt on."
2. No cutting.
3. Fits any license plate.
4. Clean, and low profile. Isn't seen until in reverse.

Con:

1. T-tap for power.
2. Cost. (I bought mine used, cheap)

Bumper lights​

Pro:

1. Flush mount.
2. More lights per kit.
3. Potentially wider throw of light?

Con:

1. Some DIY skill required.
2. Holes cut in your bumper.
3. Some wiring needed if using relay.
4. Keeping install even/level.
5. Stands out (not low profile)

 

Was reading in another thread where guys used hir bulbs in place of factory bulbs in the rev factory houseings pics look amazeing and was cheep

 

I went the hidden route with Rigids, back when Rigids didn't cost a fortune. They throw good light about 30 feet back. Would be more if I bumper mounted them but I like not seeing them. Plus if I'm dumb enough to drive with them on I don't blind anybody, they just think I'm a fast n furios fan.

 

Decided I liked flush mount bumper lights better than the cubes hanging from the bumper. Was going to try a slim single row light in place of the cubes but decided to try the flush mounts for $22.




$22 Nilight - NI23C-18W 2PCS 18W Flood LED Work Light Driving Lights Led Light Bar Off Road Led Lights Flush Mount for Jeep Truck Tacoma Bumper ATV UTV,2 Years Warranty
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J5AAX5S?ie=UTF8










View from the bed.



View from the drivers side mirror.

 

View standing in the bed with my rigids


And then same view knelt down beside the rear bumper

and that fence row is roughly 75 ft away. They’re probably overkill for reverse lights but man they make a huge difference when the camper top is on

(before paint, post light install)

 

I was thinking in adding some reverse light but I wanted to see if there was a way that I can also wire it to a switch to turn on when not in reverse. Maybe with a relay and diode? Anyone have a schematic for something like this.

 

connect it to your cargo lamp

 

Cargo light doesn't work above 5mph with the button. Still works with the door I think...

 

push cargo lamp on when going into rev not many ppl go more than 5 mph in rev 2 amps draw on cargo cirkit not much to blow it

 

But I want it to come on with reverse and good idea of using the cargo switch. So do you know how to run the wires?

 

Mine are only on a switch. The kit I bought (now overpriced imo) had the relay and a switch. I tossed the switch and ran one that fits the blanks in my dash. That took some patience to wire to because the switch had no details. I blew a few fuses on my lights before I got it right.

I didn't want them to be automatic but if you want both maybe a 3 way switch would work. Auto/off/on

 

i have know idea but the cargo switch is right there for an eaze push when needed to add extra light i think the roof cover inside needs pulling to gain access to the cargo lamps and you run a wire from there. posters from a few years back did it here i read.

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Mr2Zgv1Ck

I wonder if you could run a 5 pin? Hook everything up like normal for a switched setup but also run that center pin of the relay for a constant hot from the trailer plug so that they deploy in reverse