looking for backup light mod ideas - i cant see anything when backing up at night

[BagiMT]

Installed the Kawell 18W LEDs. There are mounting points on the rear bumper that worked perfectly. Tapped into the trailer wiring for power when in reverse (I think it was the yellow wire). Definitely more light but view is still not great with tinted windows.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HT642WY/

Sent from my Fire Phone using Tapatalk

 

[tanth1500]

Just a dremel with a cut off wheel. Measure twice, cut once!

Thanks, I'm doing them right now. how do you wire them?

and yes, this is my grandpa's barn. Very blessed to have access to it

 

[LOSTR4]

^^Tap into the trailer wiring and you're set!

 

[Dirtlife207]

I did something very similar to what V_Man did. Since I don't have a tire under the vehicle, I opted to put 2 sets of 6" LED's under there.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Thanks, I'm doing them right now. how do you wire them?

and yes, this is my grandpa's barn. Very blessed to have access to it

Originally I ran the wires up near the housings and thru the little gasket and wired them to the existing back up lights. They barely pull any amperage so it won't hurt anything.

But when I got my Switch Pro I used the external trigger output so I could turn them on and off manually and then they also come on when I'm in reverse.

Lucky to have that barn!!!!

 

[tanth1500]

^^Tap into the trailer wiring and you're set!

Can you give details on how to do that? I want it where the lights come on when I am in reverse.

 

[tanth1500]

Originally I ran the wires up near the housings and thru the little gasket and wired them to the existing back up lights. They barely pull any amperage so it won't hurt anything.

But when I got my Switch Pro I used the external trigger output so I could turn them on and off manually and then they also come on when I'm in reverse.

Lucky to have that barn!!!!

Can you give a link to the "switch pro" and how to wire it?

 

[Bumbo]

Can you give a link to the "switch pro" and how to wire it?

Here is the SwitchPro
SP-8100 Bezel Style 8-Switch Panel Power System with Concealed Mounting Hardware - Switch-Pros

If all you need to do is control that rear light, you can do it without anything special...

Just wire it up with a regular relay and switch... and in addition to that, tap the reverse light circuit and feed that into the relays trigger. You would then be able to use the light on a switch, and have it turn on using the reverse light.

Alternately, if you used a 3 position switch, you could wire it to be (always off/on/reverse light triggered)

 

[dasx86]

I'm doing the same thing. I'm using this post as inspiration: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...oke-college-kid-build-thread.html#post1893659

I'm going to wire the light up to a relay, with two inputs to the trigger 12v - it will be triggered by shifting the car into reverse, OR it will be activated by a switch at my control!

EDIT: Bumbo beat my to it. BTW Bumbo, thanks for all your posts on the forum regarding electronics - I've kinda been stalking your post history for inspiration. Sweet dual battery setup!

 

[LOSTR4]

Can you give details on how to do that? I want it where the lights come on when I am in reverse.

Much easier than you think...look online or in your manual to determine which colored wire is your reverse wire within your trailer hitch wiring harness where you would hook up a trailer's lighting plug into your truck so the trailer brake s flash when you touch the brakes and turn signals blink when you're turning...from there, tap into the reverse wire and that will be your power cable to the LEDs and than find a grounding spot for the other wire and you're set...if you want to do it the best way, I suggest using a relay and a direct line to your battery and just use your reverse wiring tap as your switch...

See this link for reference to your likings: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/156967-how-wire-auxiliary-reverse-lights.html

 

[tanth1500]

Much easier than you think...look online or in your manual to determine which colored wire is your reverse wire within your trailer hitch wiring harness where you would hook up a trailer's lighting plug into your truck so the trailer brake s flash when you touch the brakes and turn signals blink when you're turning...from there, tap into the reverse wire and that will be your power cable to the LEDs and than find a grounding spot for the other wire and you're set...if you want to do it the best way, I suggest using a relay and a direct line to your battery and just use your reverse wiring tap as your switch...

See this link for reference to your likings: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/156967-how-wire-auxiliary-reverse-lights.html

My trailer plug only has brake lights and turn signals, so I will have to use a relay.

 

[Bumbo]

My trailer plug only has brake lights and turn signals, so I will have to use a relay.

You should be using a relay regardless... any of these tap locations are only to be used as a trigger/signal.

 

[keakar]

You should be using a relay regardless... any of these tap locations are only to be used as a trigger/signal.

yep, this ^^^^^^

there is a large round plug for sleeper trailers that has a good power tap to run the lights from. if you take power there to the lights with an inline fuse for safety, then break the wire to the lights at a convenient location and crimp on spade connectors to the wire to plug into a $5 12v generic horn relay and then run two small wires to the tail light, one to a ground and one to the reverse light wire. so when the reverse light gets power it powers the relay to turn the LED lights on.

this is the same setup you should use for anything you plan to add to the truck. if you are adding something like a bunch of lights you just use more relays since each relay can only handle up to 8 amps of something like that depending on the relay.

my lights just arrived today so i get to do this myself in a little while. i may still have to roll down the windows to see the road backing up but i dont mind as long as i can see. i mat still swap out the backup light bulbs too, more light never hurts

 

[keakar]

can anyone post the wire colors needed to tap into?

the main power wire on the large trailer plug

and

the reverse light wire at the tail lights


it would be a great help to be sure of the wire colors for certain

 

[Prommy]

Some cool mod ideas here. Was planning something similar forward with the turn signals, but I'll have to add this one to the queue as well.

 

[keakar]

my 4runner is stock "no lift" so on mine i had the oem round tube trailer hitch mount with the angled mounting plates on each end so it didnt allow me to just use those holes for mounting because of the angles.

rather then making a bracket for it, i just drilled a 5/16" hole directly under each outer end of the tube and mounted the lights right there. one sits right under the exhaust pipe tip but with still a good 1" of clearance, the exhaust pipe heat shouldnt be an issue.

tomorrow i need to get into figuring the best way to seal and route the wires to be secure and out of the way. im hoping there is enough room in the fender behind the tail light for the relay to go. its good to find a spot out of the weather for them

 

[tanth1500]

Bulbs

I bought the rigid ignites, but i am about to sell them because I got really good bulbs from auto zone.

 

[RedSled]

I bought the rigid ignites, but i am about to sell them because I got really good bulbs from auto zone.

So i am guessing you do not want to share the bulb info. Until you sell the Rigids? :moon:

 

[tanth1500]

So i am guessing you do not want to share the bulb info. Until you sell the Rigids? :moon:

Oh I will just sell them on craigslist unless one of you guys wants them despite the fact that there are good bulbs. the bulbs are nowhere near as bright as the ignites, but they work well. I am running these from auto zone, but everywhere carries them, i assume.

 

[JeratBP]

My 06 is a Ltd w/ the factory tint and has the LED lights out back... That bulb is replaceable and its pretty easy to do (if memory serves just pop the panel off, twist and remove). I replaced my reverse lights last summer with a set of inexpensive Amazon 1,000 lumen 360 degree LED bulbs (believe it was these) and they've worked well for me. Lots more light than the one that were in there.

Thanks for sharing this, looks like it fits my '05 and I've been looking at a decent bright LED for the reverse lights.