Does anyone know of there is an existing electrical connection to install a single rear fog light? I was thinking of just drilling into the trailer hitch mounting and installing a red lens fog light + a switch in the dash cutout (left of steering wheel). Would i have to run wires all the way to the front?
Rear fog light
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brillo_76
Elite Member
Not exactly.. You could go into the parking light circuit on the hitch.. so when the parking lights are on it lights then.. However, there isnt any spare circuits in the vehicles for rear fog light unless you run a wire and make a new circuit.
Thanks this is helpful. Do you know which prong on the hitch connector I could tap into?
Or alternatively, could I just take power from the hitch wire for parking lights, but create a circuit so it only lights the fog when I flip the switch?
How would that work?
brillo_76
Elite Member
Tan brown
Four Pin Trailer Wiring Install - Wiring Diagram & Info - Mechanic Base
I don't believe there isn't any constant hot in the 4 pin trailer harness. You would have to go to the rear tailgate harness for one. I would not advise tagging into any other circuits but the trailer hitch..
If you want that run a wire back on the driver side following the wiring harness to the rear of the vehicle.
phattyduck
Elite Member
I would suggest avoiding drilling the hitch unless you know what you are doing. A round trailer light or similar could be put into the chrome bumper fairly easily. If you want a switch controlled at the front, you'll need to run a wire from the switch to the back. If the light doesn't draw much current, you could just tap of the parking light power circuit.
-Charlie
-Charlie
Devbot
New member
^^^If anything I'd recommend a small+basic LED bar and tap it into your reverse brakes, if not to a standalone switch. The majority of wiring/electricals is typically dead simple once you get the basics.
I've been thinking of something similar, since where I park at my house blocks the street light and even brand new bulbs don't illuminate as well as I'd hoped. I rubbed white-walls into my tires constantly with my last truck cause of the curb, and would be nice to avoid it this time around.
I've been thinking of something similar, since where I park at my house blocks the street light and even brand new bulbs don't illuminate as well as I'd hoped. I rubbed white-walls into my tires constantly with my last truck cause of the curb, and would be nice to avoid it this time around.
19963.4lsr5
New member
I put some really bright LEDs in my reverse lights and am happy with them.
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I didn't know a rear fog light was a thing until recently. I just thought owners were installing their bulbs in wrong.
IMO it really helps your car being seen in a fog situation vs regular dim red lens as I'm coming up on vehicles.
I was thinking of doing the slide in red lens into the trailer hole with a independent switch up front.
Curious to see how other members tackle this.
IMO it really helps your car being seen in a fog situation vs regular dim red lens as I'm coming up on vehicles.
I was thinking of doing the slide in red lens into the trailer hole with a independent switch up front.
Curious to see how other members tackle this.
brillo_76
Elite Member
My Tetanus 1 has LED reverse lights and little led fog light tied into the reverse curcuit.
I am thinking of adding the turn signals/ stoplight bars to my bumper for safety.
I am sure you could use the 2 reverse fog lights I added on th circuit by themselves for fog. As they were ebay fog lights I repurposed to reverse lights
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I am thinking of adding the turn signals/ stoplight bars to my bumper for safety.
I am sure you could use the 2 reverse fog lights I added on th circuit by themselves for fog. As they were ebay fog lights I repurposed to reverse lights
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4Skinner98
New member
We're talking about a brighter or extra red lens tail light here right? Not a brighter reverse light am I correct?
brillo_76
Elite Member
I was using the reverse light as an example. As my reverse lights were labeled fog lights by the mfg. I never heard of red fog lights have you? As far as I know fog lights are white or blue or yellow.
Brighter stop lights wouldn't be a bad idea as they make some decent stop light led bars now
The OP was looking for a circuit to put switch on for rear fog lights. The parking circuit in his hitch is as close as he can get without running a separate circuit. As it's a circuit that is fused and on switch.
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patkelly4370
New member
Where I lived for 50 years, the Central Valley in CA, it gets extremely foggy in winter.
I looked into rear fog lights several decades ago and Hella had a product.
They were lights with a red lens. They were about as bright as brake lights (of the time) that had an on/off switch.
So vehicles closing from the rear would hopefully see you sooner. They could still see you breaking as your brake lights function normally.
I would wire them to a second relay to the front fog lights so they all came on at once, under the same foggy conditions. Unless you're cool and drive around with your (front) fog lights on when it's not foggy. Then you'd want a second switch for the rear.
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I looked into rear fog lights several decades ago and Hella had a product.
They were lights with a red lens. They were about as bright as brake lights (of the time) that had an on/off switch.
So vehicles closing from the rear would hopefully see you sooner. They could still see you breaking as your brake lights function normally.
I would wire them to a second relay to the front fog lights so they all came on at once, under the same foggy conditions. Unless you're cool and drive around with your (front) fog lights on when it's not foggy. Then you'd want a second switch for the rear.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Last edited:
jgue467
Senior Member
There is constant power at the rear right cigarette type outlet - better than other sources since it isn't being used regularly.
If you want to switch it on/off you'd have to run 1 pair of wires forward to location of switch making the loop. No bid deal....
phattyduck
Elite Member
Rear fog lights are REQUIRED to be red. Same brightness as a rear brake light. Sometimes one light, sometimes a part. If it is a single, it needs to be located between the center and the driver's side of the vehicle.
Some examples:
-Charlie
brillo_76
Elite Member
Hmm. Learn something new every day.Rear fog lights are REQUIRED to be red. Same brightness as a rear brake light. Sometimes one light, sometimes a part. If it is a single, it needs to be located between the center and the driver's side of the vehicle.
Some examples:
-Charlie
those would just be parking lights in my state not fog lights. Explains the confusion. I believe the parking lights in this state have to not as bright as brake lights. Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
brillo_76
Elite Member
Not all 3rd gen 4runners have that cigarette power plug in the back of the cargo area.
So if you that be a great option. I even have 1 3rd gen with a 5 plug trailer hitch someone did in that location.Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
brillo_76
Elite Member
Now I don't feel as bad. I didn't know they existed until today and charlie pointed out the examples. Knowing this state the laws probably never were updated for the newer rear red fog lights.
Honestly, I am on the road a lot and really haven't seen a pile of lights like that yet around this area..
phattyduck
Elite Member
Rear fogs are very rare on US vehicles. It is a Euro thing, mostly. Not sure on law specifics, but I can tell you that I have driven at least one (2003 Audi) that did have them factory installed and working.
-Charlie
-Charlie
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