Baja Designs S8 20" Lightbar and Cali-Raised Switch

Took a little bit for the S8 to arrive but the installation was very smooth. An added benefit is the lightbar is always ON with a "marker light" look to it when the DRL/parking lights are on. The photos show the button panel back light and then with the light bar turned on (note the blue solid bar above the Cali-Raised button)....the exterior photos show the light bar off (but with the marker light look) and then on. Love the look and the functionality.

 

Looks good, I like how you moved the switches around. Would also like to see from the driver seat a picture of the beam pattern without headlights on, please.

 

Sure, I will need to post a picture of that later tonight or tomorrow.

Regarding the switches, I noticed that you can really only see the first 2-3 switch/buttons on the left of the panel when seated in the drivers seat. So I considered what were my most used switches and adjusted appropriately. What is interesting is that the OEM switches are actually pre-notched to the panel. So even though I moved the "Auto On/Off" to the lower right side of the panel, it wouldn't fit initially because the notch pattern was different....a quick dremel of the notch on the OEM switch itself and it fit no problem. Just something to consider in the future if you are moving the OEM switches/buttons around on the OEM panel.

 

Interesting in I have the S8 but put the drl amber on own switch and light on another switch. But my center section only lights up low amber when on.

Did you hook both up to truck hi and then low for amber running? That must have made the difference.

 

I installed the wiring as recommended and the BD switch provided initially didn't have the amber "low", but when I installed the Cali-Raised switch I combined the 2 negative ON wires into the BD relay (?) wire. I need to double check the wiring sequence I used. Personally I love that the S8 is on LOW during DRL driving and then fires up full when the switch is depressed.

 

Many thanks..i like the DRL on low as well. Just curious in yours looks like the amber is on across entire backlight. Mine is center 6” it appears.

 

I think mine is very similar to yours, believe that it is 3 of the backlights on either side, directly above the license plate holder. See picture.

 

Yeah..think you are right in angle looked at changes how the amber looks.

 

Beautiful truck! And as a vet myself, I think I know what your plates are saying.... LOL

 

Tks an Roger that!

 

So far, no body but ARMY has posted to this thread...
Another thing I have noticed, those of us military in this forum choose either Midnight Black or Magnetic Gray for our trucks.

 

LOL....

 

LOL…I just call it good taste! (Kinda funny sold a 19’ tacoma Magnetic grey)

 

I traded 20 Tacoma MGM for this 22 Tundra MGM.

 

Did you remove the switch panel to install another switch? If so, how did you remove it? If not, how did you hook it up. Nice look.

 

Interesting! I’m retired AF and have midnight black.

 

Which I just traded for this 23 Tundra MBM, upgraded to a Plat.

Good to see you here ChiefG.

 

Awesome. Link to DOT cert?

 

The trim around the OEM switches just pops out with a trim tool. There are 2 clips on the top and bottom edges of the panel. You can also remove the dash access panel to the left of the dash to aid in compressing the panel clips if you are hesitant or concerned with breaking panel tabs. Search YT there are a few 2022 Tundra dash panel removal videos

 

Did you wire your lightbar to turn on with your highbeams?

 

No

 

Here's pics of pulling that panel off:

 

I went with the rave off road switch. It’s a tad brighter but works

 

Looks great. Really like that TRD Lightbar switch.

 

Where are you guys tapping/wiring into for the amber back light on the Baja S8?

 

I did a 6 switch auxbeam and have both the amber and main light switchable. May just use an add a fuse and have on whenever truck is on.

 

Ive been trying an add a fuse but all fuses in fuse boxes under the hood are constant 12v, even with truck turned off.

 

Will have to search but guys have found a couple that are not constant on.

 

@Buellride saw on another post that you’d had some issues with the lightbar turning on unexpectedly. Have you gotten all of that figured out and if so, what did you have to change?

 

PPTRD, to clarify, the DRL function of the BD light bar would unexpectedly come on when the truck is parked. To answer your question, no I still haven't figured it out. Both Caliraised and BD told me everything was connected correctly. In the end, I believe the light bar is sensing or the wiring is tied into a sensor that SOMETIMES turns on the DRL function of the lightbar. Do you have the same issue?