The best $10 mod you can do to your truck.

I removed the light and fed 16ga wire in there, removed the panels to route it out of sight, drilled through the back wall and fed the wire under the bed. Drilled a hole in the bed to feed through and wired it to the light. I grounded the light right where it was mounted instead of running 2 wires all that length. I pretty much did the same thing for the other side. I'll try and get some pics to better illustrate my mediocre description.

 

Where did you catch the cargo light? In the cab somewhere?

 

By panels, you mean the headliner? Around that area?

Please do! Looking forward to seeing more of what you're talking about. I get the general idea of it, but like most members here I'm a visual guy.

 

Here’s the reverse and cargo lights.

 

did you rewire the license plate wiring and using a dual filament LED? or is there an adapter that figures out what lights are on (reverse vs. license plate) and feeds the license plate bulb without the need to change the wiring?

 

Hopefully these pics will answer where/how I powered the bed lights. It was time consuming but not difficult, I think the end result is worth it.

This is an aftermarket light I got on E-bay, the wiring will be the same with the stock light.




When you remove the light (weather stripping may require careful prying) you can feed the wires through an existing opening on the left side. I did one wire at a time then connected the 2 wires to the positive side of the cargo light wire.





If you remove these (3) press fit buttons from the roof liner, you'll be able to get the wires you routed through the cargo light opening.




I tucked the wires in the roof liner to each corner and behind the seat belt cover.



After removing the seat belt cover I drilled a small hole at the top of the last ribbed panel, that means it's slightly recessed on the other side.



The left side is the other side of the above pic, and the right side is another small hole I drilled from underneath the bed.



This would be the other side of the above pic, looking up laying on the ground under the bed.



From inside the bed, I drilled a small hole so the wire under the bed can go through.




Ignore the particular lights that I installed, they're already mounted to a 90 degree channel and I just happened to have them (given to me), the install should be similar for most LED strip lights.

The plug from the third brake/cargo light is where I sourced the power, it's the red/black wire in the left pin on the plug looking at it from this point of view.




I just tinned the tip of the wire and press fit it into the plug then secured with a wire tie.




I went through the trouble of wiring it this way because there's an existing cargo light switch that enables me to turn them on when I want. The lights do come on any time you open the door so keep this in mind if for some reason you don't want the lights to come on when the door is open. I don't mind it and they shut off on their own unless you override it with the cargo light switch. Hope this helps.

 

In the spirit of the thread theme, here's a mod that was free and useful to me. The way I will use my truck, 90% of the time will not require rear seating, so removing 4 bolts will increase the cargo area behind the front seats of an Access Cab. The 4 bolts are easily accessible with the seat bottoms flipped up. Gives me quite a bit more room for my gear when I'm heading to the trail.

 

https://www.vleds.com/shop-products/lp-series/lpr-reverse-72-w.html

https://www.vleds.com/shop-bulb-numbers/921-led/921-6-ho-c.html

 

I wanted a LUX meter too! I was looking them up on Amazon and realized there is probly an app for that. I downloaded a few apps on my iPhone and Samsung. They were all free and spot on. The only thing I couldn't find in the free versions was a way to measure the CRI index for full spectrum lights but for just measuring brightness they work great!

 

nice. How long have you had yours? If I pay that much I want them to last at least 10 years ... given the reverse lights don't get used much.

 

I happened to be on Diode Dynamics web site the other day looking at blinker relays. They have a nice line of high quality LEDs made in USA. They cost more than $10, which this Thread is about, but you are supporting business in USA. Their Bulbs have nice options, as well.

 

Also, Diode Dynamics makes some nice looking Fogs Lamps for our trucks that are nicely priced. Way less than what I paid for my High Dolla Perfect Fits and they look better spec’d (on paper). Someone give them a try!

 

Sorry, missed this question yesterday. I removed 3 plastic push pins from the headliner just to be able to pull it down enough to see the wire coming through the cargo light. The panels I was referring to are the one's behind the rear seat belts, like the pic below. You have to remove the rear grab handle to get those panels off.





Let me know if you have more questions or need more pictures.

 

I’m sure the reduced weight gives it a little more pep too! I never use my back seats and always have my camera gear and tools with me. Might be a good idea.

 

It's easy enough to try and reverse if you need the seats for any reason. I forgot to mention one downside, increased road noise. Dynamat or a similar sound damping liner should help quiet things down. It's on my ever increasing to-do list.

 

$14 for a kit from Amazon to change everything to LED inside. Totally worth it.

 

For $13 and 90 minutes of your time you can replace your steering shaft seal. It was worth it.

 

For $13 I can buy a case of beer and admire what I've created

 

About 4 bucks!

I am about to redo it since I have BT now and do not need the cassette adapter...

 

Man, I miss my coin holder. Threw it away a long time ago. Used to use it all the time until I got rich and told people to keep the change.

 

I hope to be there someday!

 

I kid. I wonder if @lsaami has this coin holder part on his parts truck.

 

I can certainly check!

 

I have a Toyota coin holder from my 05 tundra.

If anyone is interested let me know.

 

Very interested!

 

Let me know.

 

I did the ground lights thing.
Super easy to wire up, makes a big difference. Hard to tell from the pictures.
Totally worth the $10 in LEDS.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-921-led-reverse-light-bulb-study.490137/ very interesting read...

 

I put those Zevos in my reverse lights. They work well. Not super bright, but brighter than the incandescent. Also, those Zevos work really well up in the Cargo Lamp where incandescents will burn a hole in the plastic assy from heat emitted. The Zevo light up there is super bright.

Still have incandescents on all turn signals and stop lamps. Cheap, bright, and avoid hyper blink. My old Sylvania LL ones lasted 16 years albeit they dimmed from age. The new ones make a difference.

 

Revive this!

What $10 gifts are you getting the Tundra for Christmas?