Stock Tacoma: Interior light ideas?

[Martinjmpr]

As I'm spending more time in my new (to me) 04 Tacoma one thing that is becoming clear is that the interior lighting leaves a lot to be desired. Besides the fact that the dome light is mounted in the center of the cab roof, behind my head (which puts anything on the floor into the shadows) reaching up behind my head to turn it on is considerably inconvenient.

So what have others done to improve the lighting situation in the cab? Something cheap and simple would be preferable. I'd love to get an overhead console above the windshield but I'm not aware of anybody who makes such a thing for the Tacoma.

[DaveInDenver]

I have (like many I'd suspect) a map light on the dash. I personally used a Littlite L-5/18 mounted on my dash. This is a halogen light on an 18" gooseneck with a dimmer. I has a little red slide-in filter that makes it less hard on the eyes at night. They now make LED ones, which is the way I'd go if I had to replace it. I ended up hardwiring it, drilling a hole in the dash to the right of the radio. I don't have a picture of it, I really need to snap one one of these days.

[DaktariEd]

I use a magnetic based round 3-LED tap light.
I keep it on the drivers side just behind the door so I can find it when I open the door at night (I have no functiuoning interior light) but can pull it off and stick it anywhere.
Works pretty well...
:sombrero:

[njtaco]

I used two of these so far:

http://www.sylvania.com/AboutUs/Pres...A300/dotit.htm

$8 each at Autozone.

One is inside my truck cap, over my ammo can. (For tools, not ammo...)

The other is on the underside of the passenger side visor, as a map light. I can read by the light when my wife is driving, and no glare to the driver. Uses 3 AAA batteries, so leaving it on is not a big deal. I installed them with industial velcro, so they double as a flashlight, if the other 4 stop working.

Do you not have map lights on either side of the rear view mirror? I don't, but if I get to the salvage yard, I hope to pick up the parts and retro-fit them. IIRC, you pick up power from the interior light, and the truck will automatically shut it off if you forget to.
.
on edit: check out this thread: http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31356&highlight=map+light

[xcmountain80]

The sylvanias dot its are awesome. I have them mounted to the underside of my hannibal roof tent for illuminated cooking and what not. I didnt think about the interior of the truck man that is a great idea.

Aaron

[Super Doody]

As I'm spending more time in my new (to me) 04 Tacoma one thing that is becoming clear is that the interior lighting leaves a lot to be desired. Besides the fact that the dome light is mounted in the center of the cab roof, behind my head (which puts anything on the floor into the shadows) reaching up behind my head to turn it on is considerably inconvenient.

So what have others done to improve the lighting situation in the cab? Something cheap and simple would be preferable. I'd love to get an overhead console above the windshield but I'm not aware of anybody who makes such a thing for the Tacoma.

You don't have reading lights thats near rear view mirror? You can switch those to a brighter bulb or LED

[MountainBiker]

Mine has the two lights up by the rear view mirror, which I think was included in the SR5 package. Don't you have those?

[Nullifier]

Send a pim to outsidr. His chevy has a great interiro led set up. The led are run through the headliner and tap into the 12v system. You can get any color but he runs red as to not mess up his "night vision". I think he runs 5 in the hea dliner and then then 4 in the foot well areas. Simply awesome.

[Bergger]

Mine has the two lights up by the rear view mirror, which I think was included in the SR5 package. Don't you have those?

Yeah, if you have the SR5 I believe you should have the two map lights next to the mirror. They are bright and easy to reach.

[toyrunner95]

i actually got a couple white led rocker switches, they are like 6 bucks, and they are so bright i dont even need a interior light. i will try and take a pic of it when i get home.

[p1michaud]

As I'm spending more time in my new (to me) 04 Tacoma one thing that is becoming clear is that the interior lighting leaves a lot to be desired.

I've installed two of the Osram Copilot 'K' halogen lamps in my camper shell as seen on BajaTaco's site here (http://www.bajataco.com/Camper4.html). Very brigth, don't use much power, on off switch, adjustable, etc... I like them. Just another option.
Cheers,
P

[Martinjmpr]

Mine has the two lights up by the rear view mirror, which I think was included in the SR5 package. Don't you have those?

Nope. This is what I've got:

[MountainBiker]

Nope. This is what I've got:
That is too bad.

A quick look at the parts list shows that it would cost you over $100 to buy the map light parts. The good news is the wiring should already be there.

Page 13: http://www.customtacos.com/tech/files/01_parts_list.pdf

[lionsbreath]

Maybe up grade to the sr5 mirror kit. In my last truck I mounted 2red marker lites under the dash in the foot well area, hooked up to a rocke switch. That way if my wife or I need somethong from the floor board area at nite it wouldn't kill my night vision and the lite lit up the floor area real well. Less then $15 buck in the whole set up.

[ntsqd]

I see Cabela's now has the Dot-It's too.

Cabela's Link (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0042265522187a&navCount=8&podId=0042265&parentId=cat20183&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=email&catalogCode=UG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20183)

Some options from West Marine:

Various color LED Util lights (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product/10001/-1/10001/275817/10001/308/235/9)

LED Courtesy Light (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/251346/0/0/LED%20lighting/All_2/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0)

Spendy Surface mount LED (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/272399/0/0/LED%20lighting/All_2/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0) Must be good, it costs enough. :rolleyes:

Bulkhead mount LED (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/251344/0/0/LED%20lighting/All_2/mode%20matchallpartial/0/0)

[DaveInDenver]

Got around to snapping a picture of my interior light, FWIW.

[jnelson4x4taco]

just a heads up for those of you that need interior lighting ideas. I picked up a few lights from the local dollar store for.....you guessed it, a dollar. They look just like the sylvania dotit lights and others but only cost a buck, i bought 6 of em and figured i would find a place for all of them. Just another cheap idea if you have a close dollar store.

[Martinjmpr]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'm a little leery of cutting on the wiring, so I may stay with the battery powered solutions. Batteries + a 12v battery charger to plug into the 12v outlet (I already have one of these) should be all I need.

[shawkins]

I would add some foot well lights. I hate dropping stuff and not being able to find it at night.