Will be in 4runner owner

[Net4n6]

Hey guys/gals,
I will get my sister's 4runner in 2 months. She'll move to Mexico for medical school so she can't take the 4runner with her.

I haven't been checkout this forum for awhile as guess. Great site.

There are some of the treads here talking about "blackout" taillights. I am thinking about doing this mod after I have the SUV.

Here are the link to my current Titan with "blackout taillight"

http://www.clubtitan.org/postlite760-.html

It is very useful that you have a removable blackout option. Last week, this lady hit my truck (lucky no major damage, only light scratch) from the side while she back her SUV (Acura MDX) out. I have to report the accident to my insurance because she reported it to hers. I was able to take the cover out when the insurance adjuster look at my truck. They would give me hard time if they see the taillights got blackout. Just my experience.

 

[olliebear]

I can just see the hammer come down on this one....

So you modified your truck with covers that significantly reduced the lights that were designed to illuminate your truck, providng safety to you and other drivers.....and this lady rear ended you probably because she could not see your truck because you modified it....which is probably an illegal modificaiton in most states' vehicle codes.....and you removed the covers and probably lied to your insurance company or at the very least destroyed or tampered with evidence to hide your modification...


You sound like that kid who whined about getting a ticket doing 103 mph while reaching for his cell phone and whining about not losing his license.

 

[pbm317]

olliebear, the guy said the lady backed out and hit him, so i don't think any light output loss from the blacked out taillights were to blame...

 

[olliebear]

we don't have all the facts....

would she have backed into him if she was able to see the lights? Was this in day or night? What angle did she hit? WE don't know that.

While the lights may or may not have been a factor, or what level of factor, if all the facts are known, it sounds pretty irresponsible and suspicious to cover and dim out your tailights and then remove them when the insurance adjuster came to inspect the damage...

 

[Solice]

Smoked taillight covers are legal here in PA but blackouts are not. However, during the day people will use the blackouts and as far as I know don't have a problem with the law. Then they have to remove them at night. Seems like more of an inconvenience to me but "To each their own".

 

[Net4n6]

Re: I can just see the hammer come down on this one....

So you modified your truck with covers that significantly reduced the lights that were designed to illuminate your truck, providng safety to you and other drivers.....and this lady rear ended you probably because she could not see your truck because you modified it....which is probably an illegal modificaiton in most states' vehicle codes.....and you removed the covers and probably lied to your insurance company or at the very least destroyed or tampered with evidence to hide your modification...


You sound like that kid who whined about getting a ticket doing 103 mph while reaching for his cell phone and whining about not losing his license.

It was 11:00 AM. The weather was clear and sunny. She hit me on the rear left side of me truck while I am ready to move forward. I don't have the picture here but I will post it later after I take the picture of the damage. It was on the parking lot. I totally back my car out and ready to go forward. My car and her car were at 90 degree angle. The lady admited that the sun was so bright that she couldn't see my truck on her backup camera. She should turn her head around and look before she back up instead of just looking at her backkup camera. The reason I post this tread was to provide help/information to other members who thinking about blackout their taillights.
My insurance decided her fault 100% because my truck was damage on the side. There was no damage on my bumper.

 

[sharp4runr]

Plus it says that you should NOT rely on the backup camera. It is an aid not a replacement.