My first few mods AND my take on fog lamps lamps in the grill ('14 SR

[ucfknight]

My first mods AND my take on fog lamps lamps in the grill ('14 SR5)

This is my first real post in regards to modding so take it easy on me, I finally had some time this weekend to do make some mods that I've been wanting to do since I got my '14 SR5 in September last year... Just thought I'd post it on here and share since y'all have really inspired me to do some of this work to keep up with all these awesome builds haha

N-FAB Nerf Bars
First things first, the obligatory n-fab nerf bars(T1064R -- yes its supposed to be for a '10-'12 T4R but it fits my '14 just fine), ordered them from Amazon. Ordered on Tuesday night and received it on Friday afternoon. Bought from a seller '4X Offroad' - Pretty happy about how fast they got here... and of course they're $30 cheaper now:
Amazon.com: N-Fab T1064R Nerf Step Bar Wheel To Wheel: Automotive

Dog for scale:

Installation was surprisingly easy. Only 10 bolts, no other modifications:

LED Fog Lights - Grille Install
Next up, I knew I wanted to put more fogs in the grill while keeping costs low and body modification to a minimum. Getting the inspiration from a fair amount of LED light bar installs in some these 5th gen build threads, I also knew I wanted to do LED fogs but wanted something a little different than a light bar. After shopping a bit on Amazon, I decided on these fogs from a generic brand (SHANREN) which had generally great reviews. They were $16/ea and figured I had nothing to lose if they were duds. I picked a few relays, extra wires and yellow film for the stock fogs:

Fogs:
Amazon.com: 27W Round LED Work Light Lamp Off Road High Power ATV Jeep 4x4 Tractor 30 Degree Spot Light: Automotive

Relays:
Amazon.com : Absolute USA 2 In-line ATC Fuse Holder, 2 Relay RLS125 12 VCD Automotive Relay SPDT 30/40A and 2 SRS105 12 VDC 5-Pin Relay Socket : Car Electronics

Yellow film:
Amazon.com: 12 by 48 inches Self Adhesive JDM Golden Yellow Headlights or Fog Lights Tint Vinyl Film: Automotive

Here's pics of the fogs in real life, they seem to be made pretty well:

Time to take the front end apart - had some help:

They're about 4.5" in diameter and would fit perfectly in the lower grille:

Mocked up all 3 before tightening everything. I'll have to get a better picture of where i mounted the brackets, they're 3/4" L-brackets mounted to the metal brace attached to the bottom of the lower grille. It was around this point in the install where i decided to give up documenting everything :faint:

After wiring the lights to the relay and switch (see [MENTION=103267]Saker[/MENTION] 's write-up on his LED lightbar install - super helpful - I used his wiring diagram too), then putting the front end back.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/164966-led-light-bar-install-2014-toyota-4runner.html

Armed with a hair dryer, I cut out and installed the yellow film for the stock fogs:

Final Result Lit:

Here's a night shot with stock headlights/yellow fogs:

Here's WITH the 3 lamps lit up. These things are BRIGHT (check out the telephone pole on the right). Definitely only using these for off-road use.

Anyways... Thats all I could really accomplish this weekend, I'm probalby going to install the LED bulbs for the interior sometime this week when I can find some time:

Interior LED bulb replacement kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GAC0UVQ/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Plastic Pry Bar Kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BP5NQG4/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Until next time... thank you to this community for all the inspirations! Y'all wanna make me spend a lot of money on this thing, I'm sure this wont be my last post haha

:usa2:

 

[3wbdriver]

Your fogs lights put out a pretty good light for the price. I hope they are nice and watertight.

Wifey bought me that LED kit for Christmas. They won't be a lot brighter, but they will be whiter, so there is some improvement. The map lights will be your biggest pain to remove. Make sure you're wearing safety glasses when you get ready to pull them. One shattered on me after I had made several attempts with different ways to grip it. I think I finally ended up using a very fine needle nose plier to get up under them. And the LED's are polarity sensitive, so don't seat those 2 map lights completely until you are sure they are oriented correctly by testing. Just an FYI.

 

[ucfknight]

Your fogs lights put out a pretty good light for the price. I hope they are nice and watertight.

Wifey bought me that LED kit for Christmas. They won't be a lot brighter, but they will be whiter, so there is some improvement. The map lights will be your biggest pain to remove. Make sure you're wearing safety glasses when you get ready to pull them. One shattered on me after I had made several attempts with different ways to grip it. I think I finally ended up using a very fine needle nose plier to get up under them. And the LED's are polarity sensitive, so don't seat those 2 map lights completely until you are sure they are oriented correctly by testing. Just an FYI.

Thanks for the heads up! I definitely wouldn't have checked the polarity before I installed them.

 

[Randyman...]

The map lights will be your biggest pain to remove.

Masking Tape does wonders here

 

[3wbdriver]

Masking Tape does wonders here

Highly recommended as first try. But I couldn't get that, electrical, or Scotch tape to stick well enough to pull mine. They were both really stuck in the socket. And there are Youtube videos to get a tutorial. I highly recommend you watch one of those ucfknight.

 

[ucfknight]

Will do. Thanks guys.

 

[NoDak]

or be like me, after 30 mins trying, just said screw it, got a wash cloth, covered the bulb and just smashed it with a leatherman and pulled it out.

 

[3wbdriver]

or be like me, after 30 mins trying, just said screw it, got a wash cloth, covered the bulb and just smashed it with a leatherman and pulled it out.

Lol. Good to see I wasn't the only one....... :redbrick:

 

[ucfknight]

Masking Tape does wonders here

This ended up working for me! I wrapped each bulb with masking tape (like you would if you were going to tape off your valve stems for when you plasti-dip your stock SR5 rims... see below haha) -- then wiggle a bit, mine popped right out.

Sorry for the crappy iPhone pics:

Here's a shot of the plasti-dipped stock SR5 rims -- I did about 5 coats since I do travel on the highway a bunch. I havent seen too many people do it but I think it looks great with the nfabs and trim (roof rack might be next). It's a temporary solution until I get black TRD Pro wheels and new tires this summer.

 

[jicko]

*thumbs up*

At a quick glance, almost thought that it is an Inferno TRDpro!!

 

[Marcocopuffs]

Looks good! I think I might try this in front of the grill... Do you see any drawbacks if I tried it on the outside?

 

[ucfknight]

Looks good! I think I might try this in front of the grill... Do you see any drawbacks if I tried it on the outside?

Mounting the lights might be your only issue as there aren't any solid mount points outside the grill (someone correct me if i'm wrong). I guess you could definitely fabricate a set of brackets that attach to the bumper frame and come up and out of the grill. Alternatively, I know [MENTION=50014]Desert[/MENTION]+Dawg (link below) attached his Rigid D2s underneath the middle cross but I can bet those lights are a lot lighter than these suckers.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/168993-desert-dawg-build-what-switch.html

If anything, you could mount it where I mounted it and cut out a portion of the grill using a Dremel. Have it stick out past a the grill a bit which would look pretty clean since you'd still run all the wiring same as I did.

That was my original idea, but after I mocked it up, it decided I kinda liked it behind the grill, but it may be a future mod if I get bored. Hope that helps.

 

[ucfknight]

*thumbs up*

At a quick glance, almost thought that it is an Inferno TRDpro!!

I wish haha

 

[pokits]

I bought the same film.. Look light yellow with one layer on... Gotta double wrap that for a more depth yellow.

 

[pokits]

Mocked up all 3 before tightening everything. I'll have to get a better picture of where i mounted the brackets, they're 3/4" L-brackets mounted to the metal brace attached to the bottom of the lower grille. It was around this point in the install where i decided to give up documenting everything :faint:

lol the part i needed most...


also did not even realize i commented on this picture 8 months ago...
btw how are the lamps holding up??

 

[omega48er]

The LEDs are looking good!

are those Projectors Xenon or Halogen? they look a bit yellow.