More light, please.

Hi fellas. Looking for another lighting option. I’ve already got a lot, but why not some more???

With my current arrangement, I have awesome short and medium range lighting. Definitely don’t need more in those areas! I’m looking to stretch out a bit further…

Current lighting:
BD Squadron Sport fog lights. These have Amber wide cornering lenses and do a great job for what they are. Very rarely get light flashed from oncoming.

BD Squadron Sport ditch lights. These have clear driving combo lenses. I have them aimed out a bit, and they are great for keeping the sides of the road very well illuminated, as well as out into the adjacent fields where the critters hang out.

A BD 30” OnX6 Hi-Power with Amber driving combo lenses is in the bumper slot. This is a beautiful light, and gets used a ton. Wide light pattern throws out so much light it’s almost comical. But, it’s not for long range.

I have a BD 40” S8 with clear spot lenses in the hood bulge. This is pretty good for some decent range, but I want further. I drive a lot of rural highway and commonly in the dark. I’ve gotten spoiled with good lights, and simply want to expand my arrangement.


So, I’d like to put a pair, or maybe three LP9 racer spots on the front. If not those, maybe a pair of XL Racer spots and a pair of XL lasers. I can find a mount that works with my OEM bumper, but the problem is it would (at least looks like it would) interfere with my OnX6 mounts in the bumper slot.

I don’t want to change bumpers. I don’t want a roof rack. I’d really like to mount above the bumper slot…

Anyone have any suggestions? And please don’t tell me that I have a problem. I’m fully aware…

 

Ok. No responses has me thinking that there may not be much available for this…. I’m not giving up though; and have an idea.

If I pull the grill and thin “inner bumper brace”, there are six screw that fasten the top of plastic bumper cover down. I need to see how substantial the structure is below these screws, because it would be pretty simple to just have a few tabs attached to those and poke them through the gap just below the grille.

Anyone familiar with the structure below those 6 screws? I haven’t been in there since I mounted the light in the bumper slot, and wasn’t paying much attention to those particular fasteners…


The six screws on the white bumper cover are the ones I’m talking about. From BD online instructions:

 

Of course more lights are always better, what about just experimenting with what you already got? Let’s say you swapped all the amber driving combo lenses out of the BD 30” OnX6 and replaced them with one clear spot, and two clear driving combos. That would definitely increase the throw of your lighting. The white lens will give you a lot more distance than the amber lens.

 

That brace is very thin material. I've pulled that multiple times. You'll get some wild vibrating from it I bet if adding lights to it. I've actually thought about throwing some on there as well until I saw the piece. But you could make a similar one from thicker stock that could work.

 

My OnX6 40" light kicks ass at long distance. As much as the Laser, hell no but I have no use to see anything further than what that light shows me

 

I have no problem seeing at night

 

That’s not a bad suggestion, but I really don’t want to compromise. The near and midfield lighting I have is outstanding, and I’d miss it if I removed any.

Switching is already easy since I have an sPOD, and the money is a short term pain. I just need to figure out a way to install without making the truck look too silly.

 

That’s pretty sharp! If I wanted a new bumper, I’d be looking at this route.

 

Guessing you’re referring the the channel shaped brace that is held down by (6) 10mm head nuts; two on each end and two in the middle? Yeah, that’s flimsy. I’m not talking about that spot.

I’m talking about the structure right under the plastic bumper cover. Here’s a snipped part of the photo I posted earlier, with only the area I’m curious about. I need to dig in and see what that straight row of screws (by arrows) is hooked to…




If there’s some meat under that, I may be in bidness since there is a nice little gap between this and the bottom of the grill. I haven’t pulled that piece off since installing my OnX6, and wasn’t paying attention to that detail.

If you were in fact referring to this, then I may need to see about beefing it up…

 

Nope I was referring to the piece above the one you're mentioning. Disregard lol. But the depth and height might be a concern with the piece on and grill on. Curious on how it would work out

 

I still think it's thin where he is referring too. I'll have to look at my stock bumper in storage tomorrow.

 

With the SP RCR12 I can dim each light "if" needed but... ppfffftt

 

Man, I’d love to see some photos that show the area under that cover. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if the material is thin, but would be neat to see if there are options to get something in there…

 

Dumbest thing I’ve ever read on the internet! Lol.

Guessing you use the green wire on the OnX6 as much as I do…

 

Damn son.

 

grille lighting- that is on your trd pro grille where would one find those I’m interested lighting up the Tundra more. Looks damn good on your setup.

 

I don't have the green wire hooked up, not needed with the SwitchPro

 

I was kinda making a joke. I didn’t hook mine up either. I can dim via my sPOD, but never have.

 

I dim my chase lights, they are very bright

 

Hey George, we’re you able to get eyes on that OEM bumper to see if there is any meat in the area I’ve been thinking about? Would love to see photos or hear your thoughts if you were able to get anything.

 

That’s probably a good idea! The only thing worse than following someone with ultra-bright chase lights is trying to head out of the harbor in the dark, following a boat with lights all over it. Total blindness.

 

Ok. The itch continues… Totally striking out on a good solid option to add a pair of LP9 or other long range options to my bumper, but this offering from SDHQ looks interesting…

Would add a 40” OnX6 racer spot and another 40” S8 to my front end. The 40” OnX6 racer should be a little more light than two LP9 racers, which sounds perfect. The extra S8 can certainly be used as well.

Questions for this are regarding the grille I will need…

I have a 2018 Platinum with the black honeycomb grille and Toyota emblem for the TSS cruise radar thing. I’ve not looked into different grilles because I’ve always liked mine. Bit, it won’t work well if the grille blocks 1/2 of the new light!

So, what grille is this:


Does it have the TSS sensor?


This photo is clipped from SDHQ’s site and shows what I’m looking at.

 

That's a 14-17 Pro grille and it does not have the TSS on that truck. That grille won't work on yours unless you had a TSS sensor relocation kit that worked, and they don't make them any more.

 

That is a PRO Grill up to 2017. The new PRO grill started in 2019 and started the sensor mounting the grill.

No the grill shown does not have the sensor, it was pre-sensor

 

Yep....when I see posts that refer to pics like that, I always look for the camera on the windshield as an indicator.

 

Plus with those lights how could the sensor see through? Lucky to have air circulate through there with all that blockage.

 

Wow...just wow. That’s a lot of BD. No doubt enough light to drive 300mph in the fog with all those amber lenses.

 

Well, shit.
Sure seems like I’m not gonna win this one easily!

Any options that you fellas can think of regarding the TSS relocation issue? Looking online, it seems like a kit may be available, but fitment may be a struggle with light bars.

https://www.ajtdesign-llc.com/online-store/TSS-Relocation-Bracket-10052B-p194252238

Airflow wise, I’ve read good reviews on temps with this kit. Seems that plenty of air still get in for cooling.

I appreciate all input! This is just a potential solution I’ve spotted.