Tailgate Bump Switch

I am exploring the feasibility of installing the tailgate bump switch in my SR Tundra. The tailgate bump switch is a feature available on the Limited and up trim, and involves an external button on the drivers side tail light. Hitting the button drop the tailgate. This seems useful when heading to your truck with our hands full.

What I would like to know:
1. Had anyone had the tailight off to know if these trucks are pre-wired for such a feature. Given that all trims have the remote tailgate drop, and an electronic release, I am confident there is no additional motors needed.
2. Has anyone found the part number for the switch? My taillight has a dummy switch in the location now, so it does not appear that the taillight housing is different.

 

The switch is built in the taillight,, so you would have to buy the whole taillight.

 

How confident are you of this statement?

 

I have the platinum and the button is on the side of the light where your has the sold piece. So I'm almost positive it is all one piece.

 

The black trim piece where your button is mounted is removable, additionally the switch itself appears to be a seperate piece as well. Might just go pull my light and see what is going on for myself .

 

Update: Pulled the light and confirmed the piece is modular and replaceable. Did not see a pre-wire for the switch though, so I will assume that will be required as well, hopefully without splicing required.

 

Found this.

 

Where the harness runs and what the connector looks like.

 

When you look this up, do you have to put the trim in? Trying to determine if this is applicable for all trims.

 

Didn’t choose any trim. No option I can see to narrow by trim.

 

Great news, I will crawl under the truck and see if they have that plug tucked away somewhere. I pulled the tail light, but could not easily see/feel the unused plug.

 

Even if the plug isn't there, the tailgate is electronically controlled. Since every truck as the push button tailgate release on the key fob, it probably wouldn't be much to find the wiring harness that controls that and splice in the button with a replacement OEM pigtail.

The taillight button is a nice to have, but what I really want is an in-cab button. Kinda surprised they don't have an in-cab button from the factory. It's on my growing list of eventual mods.

 

OOOOOO now you got me thinking...maybe I just splice it in to a button in the cab and not the tail light housing. Just hope you don't hit the wrong one driving down the highway..... probably the reason it doesn't exist.

 

Looks like it's part of the taillight harness

 

Anyone ever figure this out? I can’t believe they make this so hard, just like the bed lights. In the Tacoma they prewired the bed lights so you buy just the bed light kit and put them in yourself in 10 min.

 

If you did it you'd have to find a way to tie into the wiring from the tailgate.
I can tell you that the tailgate release wires are in the center most connector. The one that is unplugged here.

 

I'd be interested to know if you can fab up a way to mount the button for the passenger taillight and tap in. It would be nice to have the button on either side of the truck, and not just the driver.

 

Just curious is anyone has found a solution to wire a switch in the cab?

 

I'm resurrecting this question here to see if any solution was found?

My issue is actually different from the OP in that I have a limited, and I have a button - but it never worked. I figured I would just bring it up at the 5k service, which I have now done. The dealer just called me to ask if the truck has had any kind of repairs made to it previously. I bought the truck new in another state in Oct 2023 (Washington), took it in for service locally in Oregon. I noticed the button didn't work after I drove home, honestly didn't even realize the trim I purchased had it until I was combing over things after purchase. Obviously, any repairs made weren't done in my ownership and the truck had single digit miles on it when I purchased it. The service advisor was going to look more into it and call me back, said the tech had the light assembly out and was curious before they dug into it deeper or chased the wiring down - said the plug on the switch was in perfect condition, it just had nothing to plug into.

2023 Limited Trim

Weird.

 

It can be installed post purchase...

 

Would be nice if we could have the tailgate switches on both sides.

 

Who says you can't?!?

 

Is that a thing? Buy another switch and there's already a plug there? Or would I need to run wires and do all that BS.

 

There is a thread/post with a video somewhere on here that shows how to do it for adding one to a vehicle without one. You need an adapter harness. You’d have to add wiring to run one on both sides.
I ordered the OEM switch parts and an adapter harness from Ali express.
Haven’t taken the time to install it yet.

$14.59 | Car Taillight Luggage Switch Accessories For Toyota Tundra 2022+ Tailgate Switch Inline Harness
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mrGEDhy

 

Mine has the switch but I'd love to add another on the other side.

 

You would need to splice into the wires to the original switch and run them over to the other tail light and add the switch.
Not sure about the connector required, could just order the adapter harness and cut off the wires to the switch to use.

 

Think the tail light button would fit the otherside?

 

No idea if they are built the same. I’m still working on getting the first one in…

 

Found it. Was a post not a thread.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/wha...gen-tundra-today.104778/page-213#post-3553728

So, if you want to know if the switch parts will fit the passenger side, watch the video to know what you need to do, take your tail lights out, and see if they will transfer over.

 

When I bought the items to add the switch to my SR5 drivers side I also looked into adding it to the passenger side. This is what I found out...

- Trim piece that holds the switch is not symmetrical from driver side to passenger side, they are slightly different shapes on the top and bottom (pic below is switch mounted to the drivers side trim but lined up on passenger side tail light), plus there are some alignment protrusions (circled in yellow) that won't line up on the back side of the taillight. However the existing, trim piece looks like it could be cut easy enough to allow the switch to fit.

- There are mounting screws that looks like it will mount the switch on the passenger side, however there is a tab (circled in red) that will need to be trimed on the backside of the taillight to allow clearance for the electrical connection since the switch needs to be flipped 180 degrees.

- A connector to the switch will need to be sourced and spliced into the the drivers side switch wiring.

All in all think it is pretty do-able.