Aux. Backup Lights??

[ttora4runner]

Need some opinions here.

Recently, I've kind of found myself in a few sitituations where I been needing some extra light while backing. The back lights on the 4runner just don't cut it and I'm trying to figure out some sort of aux. light/s setup that I could use but I'm kind of stumped on it. I have some idea's but I'm not quite sure:

1. Modify the stock rear bumper to accept lights

2. Just attach them to factory roof rack (cheapest)

3. Some how cut holes into the rear spoiler (ya, that crappy metal piece on the back of the 4runners)and mount lights to it

4. Aftermarket rear bumper with light inserts (more expensive but makes me :drool: )

So I'm wondering does anyone have some sort of of aux. backup lights on there vehicle? I won't be doing anything for a bit I'm just trying to get some ideas right now.

[Mr. Leary]

Soon I will be blowing holes in my rear bumper for two generic, low draw 7 LED back up lights made for flatbed truck beds. These lights cost $13 per light. There are brackets pre made for these lights, and they probably could be mounted in your stock bumper and wired into your back up lights. I will also be using these lights all around my new roof rack for camping lights.

[soonenough]

I hung some rectangular KC lights from the rear bumper on an older truck I had. I had them wired so that they would come on with the reverse lights, but could also be turned on anytime using a switch. I don't remember the exact model of the lights (they were pretty cheap), and I can't remember the beam pattern (probably flood or fog). Whatever they were, they worked very well for this purpose; the difference after installing them was dramatic. Pretty much anything will work better than the factory reverse lights.

Keep in mind how small of an area you're trying to light up given the speeds you'll be moving at while you're using them. If you're not wanting to spend a ton of money, just buy some cheap lights with a wide beam pattern and wire them up however you like. If you want them to be switchable, but don't want the factory lights to come on with the switch, you'll need to add a diode to the wire going from the factory lights to the aux lights.

I plan on eventually doing this to my factory bumper. I don't really want them hanging down to get ripped off on something, and there's nowhere to mount them up high, so I'll probably just cut two holes in the bumper. That'll give me a good excuse to paint it black I guess...

[matt s]

I have some small dick cepek lights mounted in my bumper. The were (poorly) wired to my back up lights but I just redid the wiring and now they function by a switch on the dash. They are handy as can be. Really it's like having headlights back there. Amazing difference. The other nice thing about this is I can flip them on to check on a trailer or light up camp etc.

I did put them on a RED light up switch to be sure I would know if I somehow left them on while driving. Highly illegal.

[soonenough]

I did put them on a RED light up switch to be sure I would know if I somehow left them on while driving. Highly illegal.
Yep, I can attest to that one...had that conversation with the Sheriff :o

[OldSven]

This is what I did, kind of a quick easy fix. Would like to flush mount some in the bumper but these are super bright, just make sure to remove your stock bulbs so these get full power.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f294/OldSven/4Runner/IMG_1957.jpg

[soonenough]

...just make sure to remove your stock bulbs so these get full power.
Interesting, I never thought about doing that. What kind of lights are those?

[AlexJet]

My black one has them bellow tail lights. I'm planning on doing the same for my wife's truck as well.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l183/Aviator_1/Vehicles%20-%20General/CBIBumpers4.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l183/Aviator_1/Vehicles%20-%20General/CBIBumpers6.jpg

[ntsqd]

I hung an old fog light sourced from a 5.0 Mustang in the JY under Patch. I put it far enough forward that it is within the scope of the tires. Not likely to ever get hit. Powered it with a relay off the rear power wire that I added to the truck for GP, and drive the relay with a tap into the OE reverse light wire.

[Gone2Baja]

I mounted lights under the bumper of my last truck and promptly tore them off so I tried mounting them behind the rear tire but I found it was too low and got dirty too easily so I used a hole saw to drill holes in the bumper itself and mounted them flush I tapped power from the factory backup lights to power a relay thus powering the two 35 watt aux back up lights all problems solved and plenty of light.

Of course buying a nice after market bumper would solve the problem and be a very nice addition to your rig!

[OldSven]

They are just 12v tractor lights from Harbor Frieght. Aimed them a little higher and they will light up pretty far behind you.

[Rev]

I don't know if this helps but this is what I did with my Xterra on a custom rack. Might give some ideas, plus I like to show it off.

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo209/revx/IMG_2175.jpg

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo209/revx/IMG_2255.jpg

I also mounted one underneath but it doesn't do much. I used relays for all of them.

http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo209/revx/reverse%20light/IMG_4928.jpg

[Dizzlenator]

I put mine on the basket because of the height advantage. I feel like the lighting output is better from higher, and it gives me ease in backing into parking spots, etc, because the light shines off the car/object that is behind me so that I see it easily...It's no 4runner, I know, but just a quick shot so you can see what I have.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/texasz71dan/Car%20Stuff/100_5004.jpg

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Here is how I installed mine. It is a Grote 63611 LED (http://grote.com/product.php?product_number=63611) light

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/beaukrista/4x4/Lighting/DSCF0094.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/beaukrista/4x4/Lighting/DSCF0091.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/beaukrista/4x4/Lighting/DSCF0096.jpg

The LED is nice for the power consumption, but one just does not through the amount of light I would like. I am looking at getting a second or replacing it with a something else.

[AlexJet]

Here is how I installed mine. It is a Grote 63611 LED (http://grote.com/product.php?product_number=63611) light

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/beaukrista/4x4/Lighting/DSCF0094.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/beaukrista/4x4/Lighting/DSCF0091.jpg

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa211/beaukrista/4x4/Lighting/DSCF0096.jpg

The LED is nice for the power consumption, but one just does not through the amount of light I would like. I am looking at getting a second or replacing it with a something else.

Where did you get that light? How much was it? Is it 2W or 3W LED?

[craig333]

This setup works great for me.

http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk132/craig195/bumpstepSmall.jpg

Just don't use the bulbs the tractor lights come with.

[ttora4runner]

That's one way to do it :victory:FLYFISHEXPERT . I think though I would rather try and find a thin LED strip that I could set into the spoiler.

Less likely to bash it into a tree like I've been doing lately :yikes:.

[Goin]

Cheap pilot lights under the bumper from autozone. The hitch does a decent job of protecting them. I have bent them pretty good but have not broke them.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff62/flystevefish/DSC00907.jpg

I want to put some on the rack too.

[corax]

Cheap pilot lights under the bumper from autozone.

I got the same ones, cost like $15 or so :D. I used a relay for the lights so that the reverse switch on the transmission doesn't burn out trying to pass too much current. The first pic explains the wiring, which was easy. For power, I tapped off a 12 gauge wire that I had run for my trailer socket adapter.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/591/1000038lz3.jpg

Mounting for these lights is pretty standard, so I just welded a 1.5"x5"x1/8" tab onto my bumper. I recessed them into the tube work fairly well, so I don't expect they'll ever break.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2535/1000039wk7.jpg

It's like having a set of headlights behind me when I throw it into reverse + with the lower mounting I don't get blinded by them if I leave 'em on to set up camp (personally don't like any lights at or above eye level)

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

Where did you get that light? How much was it? Is it 2W or 3W LED?

I ended up getting it for free, but you can pick them up here:Summit Racing (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GTE-63621/)

I am not positive on the wattage, but I believe it is 3. It consists of 6 1/2 watt LEDs...I believe.

Edit...According to the manufacturer, the unit draws .8amps, so at 12VDC we are looking at 9.6 total watts.

[java]

here is mine, tractor light up high. just enough light to help so much. especially with a trailer.

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9317/imag0116.jpg (http://img54.imageshack.us/i/imag0116.jpg/)

[davegonz]

I picked up a pair of Maxxima PLB-630 3 LED (1 Watt each) lamps. They are bright as heck, small, and consume very little power.

Here is where I got them from ($25.99 each): http://www.jbr17llc.com/plb630--3-led-projector-light--1-watt-white-power-leds-500.html

Pics from another site: http://www.ledtrailerlights.com/other/led-drive-lites.htm
http://www.ledtrailerlights.com/images/accessories/plb-630/IMG_2531.jpg http://www.ledtrailerlights.com/images/accessories/plb-630/IMG_2528.jpg

Specs: http://www.maxxima.com/products/product_detail/290/PLB-630%20-%203%20LED%20Projector%20Light/view/.html

[Goin]

dave - Nice, do you have any night pics of the light these put out?

[davegonz]

No, I am going to mount them on my rear bumper, but have not finished fabricating the swing arms. I'll post some once I do have something to show.

[Expedition Key]

I'm just about to pull the trigger on 2 sets of these KC Fogs (two on the rack pointing to the rear, and one on each side of the rack pointing to the sides: http://www.amazon.com/KC-HiLiTES-517-55-Watt-Halogen/dp/B0002GXOBY/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1267173339&sr=1-1

And this kit to light the underbody when night crawling: http://www.visionxstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=208

and here's a video of the in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6oqGKHCa7E

Kye

[AlexJet]

I hope sometime LED light will become cheaper as now I had to pay $160 for 2 lights + shipping... I like LEDs for their low power consumption, so I don't have to run heavy gauge wiring for them and their light output which is increasing every year with newer technology.

[matt s]

Well whatever type of light you get, just go for it. I did some serious plowing last night and having the aux lights in the rear made it easy despite working at night and still heavy snow fall.

A very useful cheap easy mod. The best kind.

[Outbacktacoma]

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/ryland30/DSC00895.jpg


I found a place on the frame for mounting and bought some cheap lights at the auto parts store and tapped the lights into the reverse lights. I also dont think I negatively effected my departure angle too much, which is something to consider when mounting under the vehicle.

Cheers from California.....my first post.....cherry popped!!! Great website.

[07 Elephant]

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/ryland30/DSC00895.jpg

[4x4v8]

I am in need of these too. Has anyone tried mounting them to the spoilers on the 4runners?

[corax]

I am in need of these too. Has anyone tried mounting them to the spoilers on the 4runners?

look at post #14 (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=571424&postcount=14)

[AlexJet]

look at post #14 (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=571424&postcount=14)

He has 4th Gen with plastic wing-spoiler.

[FLYFISHEXPERT]

I am in need of these too. Has anyone tried mounting them to the spoilers on the 4runners?

With the help of a dremil tool, I actually believe you could create a sweet setup by inserting them into the spoiler. I am not sure how much room there is, but a set of LED's would be cool. There might be enough room on either side of the third break light.