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Replacing 3rd brake light/Cargo light 2007-2021 Tundra

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Mobeyk, Feb 10, 2022.

  1. Feb 10, 2022 at 5:04 PM
    #1
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    Oshawa Ontario Canada
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    2012 Tundra TRD pro, 2018 SR5
    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    So I finally got around to change my OEM cargo/brake light to a completely new LED unit.
    Here the steps in case anyone else wants to do the mod.

    Locate the Curtain airbag cover on your C column. Pull the oval cover and remove 10 mm nut. Pull seatbelt cover to 45 degree angle away from C column.
    IMG_0626.jpg
    Push your hand under the headliner and push gently down to release the 4 clips.
    IMG_0625.jpg
    Remove the coiathanger clips by prying the cover off then pushing the metal clips together. The whole piece with clip can be removed.
    IMG_0624.jpg

    Pull the headliner down gently to release from door rather stripping on both doors.
    You can bend the headliner a bit to get access to the 2x 10mm nuts that hold the Cargo/Brake light. You need a long 10 mm socket to remove the nut. Careful not to loose the nut.
    4BB7146D-211A-4EF8-832C-DDA7F60A65F6.jpg
    Remove the 4 Philips screw of the Brake/Cargo light unit. Remove the lens. Pry gently around the whole Light housing. It is hold in place with a sealing sponge and adhesive. Take your time. It took me several times pulling left and right of the housing while pulling the bottom lip of the housing up. There is a small lip on the silver lens that you might need to push up once the housing breaks loose. Remove the wire by pushing the tab on the connector.
    Remove The light completely and clean off any sponge and adhesive on the truck. The new LED light comes with sponge seal.
    Connect the wiring. Seat the new complete LED light into the opening lining up the two bolts into the holes. Reinstall the two nuts inside the truck and tighten. Test the cargo and brake lights. This LED unit came with a small switch that turns between steady brake light and 5 time pulsating to solid light ( like formula 1 race car brake lights ). I opted for solid brake lights without pulsating as Im no racer kiddo, lol
    Push the headliner back behind the weather stripping and push the headliner up at the 4 clip locations. Reinstall the coat hangers by pushing the metal clip with coat hanger base back into place, then installing the coat hanger cover into place. Push the Seatbelt covers at the C column back in place and install the #10 nut. Clip the oval cover back on.
    Here the pic of the new LED Cargo/Brake light unit compared to the OEM one. I like the smoked lens.

    IMG_0619.jpg
    Here the active cargo and stop light. The output is much better.

    IMG_0620.jpg
    I like the larger and brighter cargo light and the fact that the brake light is much brighter and bigger than on the OEM. This will give me enough light for the cargo area as I can't install any Bed lights due to the amount of construction tools and wheel well toolboxes in my truck bed.

    Here the link to where I bought this on Amazon:
    ref=sr_1_1
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2022
    CETundra, Xcumminsguy, chugs and 10 others like this.
  2. Feb 10, 2022 at 7:00 PM
    #2
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

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    Looks cool. It’s nice you can make it flash or stay solid.

    keep us posted about the longevity and any (hopefully none) leak issues.
     
    Xcumminsguy and ATV25 like this.
  3. Feb 11, 2022 at 3:10 PM
    #3
    Degausser

    Degausser New Member

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    See sig for mods
    Been looking for a decent looking smoked 3rd brake light to hopefully somewhat match my HiRev tails. Just ordered this one. Excited to get it installed.
     
    Mobeyk[OP] likes this.
  4. Feb 14, 2022 at 3:27 PM
    #4
    Okierunner

    Okierunner New Member

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    Icon UCA Bilstein 6112/5100 Method 17s Ridge Grappler 35x12.50 Trd Dual exhaust
    I put LED bulbs in my stock housing on my ‘20 with the keyless push button start and it goofed up my whole keyless system. So if anybody has keyless remote or remote start issues after this it could be your problem.
     
  5. Feb 14, 2022 at 3:32 PM
    #5
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    2012 Tundra TRD pro, 2018 SR5
    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    you gotta be careful too what LEDs you use. Quality plays a big role.
     
    hANNAbONE likes this.
  6. Feb 14, 2022 at 3:34 PM
    #6
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    See build link
    Probably needed resistors
     
  7. Feb 14, 2022 at 4:05 PM
    #7
    Rustedfenders

    Rustedfenders If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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    Aries 4" Bull Bar, 3-2 Level Lift Havoc Stainless hoop steps.
    I wish some people would take a BREAK and keep your foot off the BRAKE. :mudding:
     
    TravisJr, WFD473 and hANNAbONE like this.
  8. Feb 14, 2022 at 6:06 PM
    #8
    Okierunner

    Okierunner New Member

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    Icon UCA Bilstein 6112/5100 Method 17s Ridge Grappler 35x12.50 Trd Dual exhaust
    Used VLEDs.
     
    ATV25 likes this.
  9. Feb 14, 2022 at 6:47 PM
    #9
    Danman34

    Danman34 New Member

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    All that work for something that will either start leaking or have leds go out in 6 months.
     
    TundraDar, hANNAbONE and texasrho83 like this.
  10. Feb 14, 2022 at 6:50 PM
    #10
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

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    Alot of them
    They must not have been the non-RF set?
     
    hANNAbONE likes this.
  11. Feb 14, 2022 at 6:50 PM
    #11
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Went through that 3 or 4 different times until I said F it and installed the Evil Manufacturing setup
     
    TravisJr and hANNAbONE like this.
  12. Feb 23, 2022 at 2:57 AM
    #12
    hANNAbONE

    hANNAbONE T U N D R A M A

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    still lookin' for my first one

    you can break dance - but not brake light....
     
  13. Feb 23, 2022 at 2:59 AM
    #13
    hANNAbONE

    hANNAbONE T U N D R A M A

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    still lookin' for my first one
    why not simply darken [paint] the OEM housing...put some quality LEDs in there and call it a day.

    Seems to me the OP only wanted a "smoked housing"

    All this for that..? No thanks.
     
  14. Feb 23, 2022 at 4:17 AM
    #14
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    Oshawa Ontario Canada
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    2012 Tundra TRD pro, 2018 SR5
    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    No, I wanted more light in the cargo area without installing LED strips in the bed.As explained, I have it full with construction tools, shovels, pryers etc, those LED bed lights won't do it. I tried LEDs in the original housing and it wasn't enough light output.. Floodlights on the bed were no option either. The smoked lens was a welcome optic change but not my priority. I have no leaks. Have been raining quite heavy a few times and all is dry.
     
  15. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:49 AM
    #15
    Canebrake

    Canebrake New Member

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    Looks really sharp!
     
  16. Feb 23, 2022 at 6:17 AM
    #16
    hANNAbONE

    hANNAbONE T U N D R A M A

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    still lookin' for my first one
    I'd love to see how much light that 3rd brake light really puts out.

    Any chance of some dark night photos for both the brake light & the bed lighting??
     
  17. Feb 23, 2022 at 2:45 PM
    #17
    Degausser

    Degausser New Member

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    See sig for mods
    This looks significantly better than simply smoking out the factory housing
     
  18. Feb 23, 2022 at 2:47 PM
    #18
    Degausser

    Degausser New Member

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    Received mine today, went to install it, and realized I don't have a deep enough 10mm socket to remove the nuts holding in the factory housing. Will have to pick one up tomorrow and try again.
     
    Jim LE 1301 likes this.
  19. Feb 23, 2022 at 3:09 PM
    #19
    Jim LE 1301

    Jim LE 1301 Camaro Lover, SSEM # 11,TTC#179

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    Can't wait to see it installed. :thumbsup:
     
    Degausser[QUOTED] likes this.
  20. Feb 23, 2022 at 3:14 PM
    #20
    Do58

    Do58 New Member

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    I just had the oem done and upgraded the lights with HR leds. Same with my tails but here is the oem 3rd

    F3867A69-D751-45FD-88B6-A0B54CE6983F.jpg
     
    Shanet421 likes this.
  21. Feb 23, 2022 at 4:46 PM
    #21
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    2012 Tundra TRD pro, 2018 SR5
    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    So here the pic of the 3rd break cargo light. Have no comparison pic of old ones but they sucked compared to these. If they die down the road its not hard to change it for a new one. Its worth the 87$ CDN I paid.
    IMG_0696.jpg
    IMG_0697.jpg
    IMG_0700.jpg
     
    Mr. Yoda and mav7021234 like this.
  22. Feb 23, 2022 at 4:52 PM
    #22
    TravisJr

    TravisJr New Member

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    Lots o’ mods
    What are your thoughts on the Evil Manufacturing unit? I’ve come close to ordering it several times. Was it a plug-and-play install, or did it require any extra modding?
     
  23. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:00 PM
    #23
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    I love it. Best 3rd brake light ever made for a Tundra. The cargo lights aren't all that (neither are stock) but the Bajas light up the night and when you hook them up to a flasher switch they're great for telling tailgaters to back up.

    Definitely not PnP. You'll need to drill 4 holes and use nutserts to secure it but it'll never leak!
     
    TravisJr[QUOTED] likes this.
  24. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:01 PM
    #24
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    I though thoroughly about the pros and cons of this ahead of time. There is worse to break on the truck than those lights and for the small investment its great for my specific need. Heck people spend more than this 55$ for badges or trinkets in the truck to personalize their trucks. How many Tundras you see with these 3rd brake light / Cargo lights? Me seeing where I put stuff in my crammed bed is worth it for me.
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2022
  25. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:04 PM
    #25
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    They better be great, they cost 6 times more. They look great too. Here in friggin Canada its not easy to have access to accessories like you guys down south. Im searching for a friggin affordable skid plate here and my choices are either dealer or some rip off accessory place that sell overpriced crap.
     
  26. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:06 PM
    #26
    texasrho83

    texasrho83 DGAF#1

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    Can you hit up a fab shop and have them make you one?
     
  27. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:10 PM
    #27
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    I could. The price would be close to what dealer wants. I can wait. Hopefully the whole situation around availability of stuff improves over time. I thought about looking at salvage places but in a way I'm superstitious to put something from a totalled truck on mine. lol
    Im waiting for free shipping deal or good discount stateside from RCI as I like their black powder coated aluminum skid plate.
     
    TundraDar and texasrho83[QUOTED] like this.
  28. Feb 23, 2022 at 5:35 PM
    #28
    fisherman951

    fisherman951 MT dreams

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    I hope you put a bunch of silicone around that. Those things are prone to leak. Good luck
     
    texasrho83 likes this.
  29. Feb 24, 2022 at 12:10 PM
    #29
    Degausser

    Degausser New Member

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    See sig for mods
    @Mobeyk did you use some type of weather stripping when you installed yours? Just got mine put on, and it looks like it's definitely going to need it.
     
  30. Feb 24, 2022 at 5:17 PM
    #30
    Mobeyk

    Mobeyk [OP] New Member

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    2012 Tundra TRD pro, 2018 SR5
    Vland headlights, LED fogs, Rough country lower bumper LED bar, third light switch to LED, ICL ceramic coating, hood fender
    There was a spongy weather stripping on there. I torqued the nuts well and haven't had water issues.
     

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