Small Marker Lights Mounted In Grill?

00328

00328

Senior Member
I'm thinking of mounting a couple small orange led marker lights in the grill and have them come on with the parking lights. Something similar to what the Ford Raptors have.
Wondering if anyone has done this and what lights fit between the grill slats. A DIY how-to would be awesome.
I looked a little through the sticky pic thread but can't go through a couple hundred pages.
Thanks
 
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Krayziekid said:
I did this a little while ago. Not with the round raptor lights, but with the rectangular lights that a lot of 5th gen guys use. If you check out page 8 of my build thread at the bottom, you will find a few pictures of them. I also have some video of them on/working too :D

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/201478-not-so-krazy-build-thread-picture-heavy-8.html
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I'm looking for, definitely prefer the rectangle lights. Any info on what brand they are and where you got them. Info on how you ran your wires and where you tapped for power would also be appreciated.
Looks good!
 
Those would work too, but I think I prefer the rectangle ones.

Krayziekid - looks like you trimmed the ends of the lights to fit behind the grill and zip tie mounted them, correct?
 
00328 said:
Those would work too, but I think I prefer the rectangle ones.

Krayziekid - looks like you trimmed the ends of the lights to fit behind the grill and zip tie mounted them, correct?
Click to expand...

Sorry, forgot to recheck this thread.

Yea so the rectangular lights are from amazon. They are pretty cheap and easy to work with. Stock wiring is thin as shit though haha. If you go to Amazon and search Grand General Amber, you should be able to find the amber marker lights.

I simply used zipties to attach them so I can change things around or remove them if I didn't like them. But it has been holding up well so far. I was going to zip tie them in front of the grille, but it looked kinda crappy IMO. I used a dremel to trim the sides so I can sorta hide them and mount it behind the grille. The sides are just plastic for the mounting. You can cut right through them without compromising the integrity/waterproofing/usability of the light.

As for power, I actually wanted to be able to power them on and off whenever I wanted. For that reason, I am running them off of a switch. If I tapped my DRLs, then they would turn off with my headlights. If I tapped my parking lights, then they would come on with my parking lights/headlights, but there are times when I want them off. For all of those reasons, I decided a switch was better for my needs. You can easily extend the wires and tap in to these factory wires though.

Hope that helps! Let me know if there is anything else I can help with :D
 
00328 said:
Those are the exact lights I ordered and waiting for. Trying to collect all the other items I will need for the install before delivery.
Click to expand...



When I used this I probably used:
-2 x Amber Lights
-about 10 feet of 14 gauge wire
-An add a circuit
-A 14 gauge, 3/8" ring crimp terminal
-14 gauge butt-splice crimp connectors
-Flex loom to protect your wiring
-Zip-ties
-Heat shrink for connectors


I pretty much followed this guide:
Rock Creek Overland

It is for a 5th gen but besides the grill mounting the rest is pretty much the same.
I zip tied the lights onto the grill as well. Then ran the cables towards the driver side of the grill. Then ran it underneath the engine head guard? (Fabric attached to the underside of the hood. Then ran the cable down to the driver side arm.
I used zip ties where I could and it hasn't budged at all.

Let me know if you have any more questions and I can try and take some photos if you need. Here are a couple though:



 
Thanks Whytey lots of good info.

I'm trying to decide if I want to mount them in front of the grill like you did or behind the grill like Krayziekid did.

I think I will connect them to the parking light circuit, but not sure yet. If you used an add-a-circuit I assume they come on whenever you start the engine like the DRLs do, correct?
 
00328 said:
Thanks Whytey lots of good info.

I'm trying to decide if I want to mount them in front of the grill like you did or behind the grill like Krayziekid did.

I think I will connect them to the parking light circuit, but not sure yet. If you used an add-a-circuit I assume they come on whenever you start the engine like the DRLs do, correct?
Click to expand...


Do whatever you prefer. I had bought 3 and filed down my spare to see if i liked it behind or in front. I didn't file it down enough and didn't feel like doing more so I went with the outside. But i love it and even with the zip ties they don't look too DIY even up close.

Yes they come on as soon as I start the engine. I have a custom switch for them that I may add but they look so sweet I can't really think of when I would actually turn them off. And they surprisingly put out a little bit of light. When I leave the work site at night I keep my Low Beams off (HID) so its not blinding coworkers, and in pitch black these amber grill lights and my DRL provide enough light for me to drive slowly and see in front of me. Maybe 10-15 feet.

But thats obviously not why you put these on...
 
Think it would make a difference if I used a little thinner 18ga wire since the vehicle wires are so damn thin to begin with?
Everyone seems to be using 14ga.
 
00328 said:
Think it would make a difference if I used a little thinner 18ga wire since the vehicle wires are so damn thin to begin with?
Everyone seems to be using 14ga.
Click to expand...

Nah probably not as long as the run isn't super long. They don't pull a lot of power at all to being with. I am pretty sure I can mine with either 16 or 18ga wiring. No problems yet. I'm sure a lot of people run 14ga simply because they have it on hand and it is a more robust wire than 16/18 for offroading/mud/longevity purposes.
 
Xp billet grill w/amber marker

Does anyone know if the marker lights will fit between the gaps of the XP billet grill before I order them ? I was gonna order the ones from rockcreekoverland.
 
20161007_074044.jpg
I moved my sidemarkers. Bought two small LED's from the rv/trailer shop
 

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