Anyone ever try a rear door light installation? - Toyota 4Runner Forum

Seefral · 11-16-2015, 08:52 AM

Stock overhead light doesn't light the hitch and electrical coupler. Would be great when hooking up the trailer in the dark.

habanero · 11-16-2015, 10:18 AM

@MStudt has an awesome one...well, two. Would need the hatch open to use it for what you want. I've got a pair of cheap lights on my roof basket. You'd prolly need something a lot closer to the rear of the roof for something like that.

MStudt · 11-16-2015, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by habanero

@MStudt has an awesome one...well, two.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seefral

Stock overhead light doesn't light the hitch and electrical coupler. Would be great when hooking up the trailer in the dark.

I did this a while ago. You don't have much room to work with on the hatch. I added a couple Eagle Eye 3w LEDs to the back hatch along with a SPST LED rocket. There are two plastic plugs that you can remove from under the panel that will give you enough room to put in the LED's. I can't remember for sure, but I think I had to drill a hole for the rocket switch. I can check this weekend when I pull it apart to do some work. Wiring is pretty simple too. You'll be able to find power in the rear hatch. You can use the power wire going to the rear window. If you can wait until this weekend I'll get you some pictures of what I've done.

Here's it lit up.

4x4runner2002 · 11-16-2015, 05:48 PM

I got a strip of LEDs off eBay and wired them into the rear dome light.

Ptpdub · 11-16-2015, 06:04 PM

This is a great idea

derpiful · 11-16-2015, 09:34 PM

I need to do this... @MStudt how do you think the light output is? I'd think less than the LED strip mentioned above would, but it's hard to tell from the pictures.

99 sr5 highlander · 11-16-2015, 09:44 PM

I have the same LEDs as @MStudt used. I used 6 in the rear door wired up to the rear dome light. Light output is awesome and comes in very handy when camping.

Blurry picture of the light output. I also used two of the same lights on the side of the rack.

concordcarlos · 11-16-2015, 10:04 PM

Strip of "waterproof" cool white leds from ebay. Ended up moving the strip down to the lowest point of the tail gate since these were hitting the weather stripping and letting in moisture.

MStudt · 11-17-2015, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derpiful

I need to do this... @MStudt how do you think the light output is? I'd think less than the LED strip mentioned above would, but it's hard to tell from the pictures.

A strip will give you more output. I just didn't want to deal with having it fall off. Two of the led's that I have are plenty bright for anything that I'd ever use them for.

Bandit Runner · 11-17-2015, 01:24 PM

I used 3 of these rock lights in my hatch.

From my build thread:

I decided to mount them to the inside of the rear hatch to provide more light when the hatch is open. I wired them to the stock rear interior light, so they would come on when the hatch was opened.

This was in my garage which was completely dark except for the hatch lights.

I cut square openings in the plastic so that the lights would sit flush in the panel. All the wires are run behind the plastic panel for a clean install.

Seefral · 11-18-2015, 08:42 AM

Terrific ideas. Thanks!

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