My Auxiliary Backup Lights

So, I've had a couple ppl ask me bout my backup lights so I figured I would make a little write-up.

I decided to use the Hella FF50 Fog Lights (55watt). I wanted a short, wide beam so I opted for the fog lights. I also used the FF50 because they are stylish and the lights are exposed because they are mounted to the OEM trailer hitch. The lights came with black wire, but no colored wire. So, I went to Napa and bought a bunch of different colored wire. I always have relays on hand so I used one of my 30/40amp relays and wired it all up.

Before mounting the lights, I had removed the trailer hitch and sanded, prepped, and undercoated the entire thing. I mounted the lights to the trailer hitch using the supplied brackets and using self-tapping screws. (Don't mind the horrible upstate ny rusted frame. it's being taken care off.)








I ran the right-side wires through the trailer hitch main tube and then connected them to the wires on the left-side. All wires were ran in wire loom. The wires were then ran up the frame. The ground wire was grounded to the frame and the power wire was ran up into the truck through one of the rubber grommets, along the driver-side kick panel, through the firewall, and into the engine bay.

Here's a rough idea for the wiring.


I wanted to use an OEM fog light switch to keep the install clean and wanted the lights to come on in reverse and independently when I pushed the switch to the ON position. The diode is inline to prevent the ignition source power from turning the OEM reverse lights on when I want to independently turn the Auxiliary backup lights on.

Here's a pic of the OEM fog light switch and it's placement.


Here's a pic of the auxiliary fuse panel that I wired the relay to.


While I was at it, I modified the OEM backup lights and replaced the bulb with a 55watt 886 bulb. I have had no issues with this bulb getting to hot and it has helped greatly, especially because of my tinted tails.



Comparison between stock and 886 bulb (886 on right).


Cut just above the brown plastic, with a dremel. DO NOT touch the bulb (it's a halogen bulb).




When placing the bulb into the socket, I wore rubber gloves and used several tissues to hold the bulb and press it into the socket. I have had absolutely no problem with these bulbs for months now.

Here's a pic of the tinted tail with the 886 bulb.


Here's pics of the 886 bulb, the 55watt auxiliary backup lights and their pattern.






Here's a pic of just the auxiliary lights.


A few more shots.





I know that night shots and lighting shots are hard to depict in pictures, but adding both sets off lights has helped me out greatly. The lights also help with the image for my back up camera. I've used the auxiliary lights for hooking up to a trailer at night, when in park. I like to turn the auxiliary lights on when someone is driving on my ass at night. I know, I know, it's wrong to do, but you should see how quickly they back off and stay back.

I plan on adding another set of these lights in the neat future. Similar to Pb's backup lights that are mounted underneath the front doors. These lights will be wired to turn on with reverse gear, independently from ignition power, and wired to the dome light so when the key fob is pressed (or the doors are open), the lights will come on with the dome light and illuminate below the doors at night.

 

Very cool. Looks great.

GA

 

dude sweet i just did something just like that... i will post pics soon

 

sweet!

 

That looks great.

 

very nice! I will be copying this in the Spring

 

Very nice man. I think I'm going to need to do something similar. I can't see out of the back of mine at all with the camper shell (dark tint) and tinted tail lights.

 

awesome mod, man!!! i gotta do rock lights and backup lights before too long.

 

Superb! +1 Reps sent.

In your fuseblock photo, I see a label for a power inverter. That's an aftermarket inverter right? I ask this b'cause I was considering relanding my factory inverter ( I have on '09) onto a aux fuse block / aux battery.

What kind of fuse block did you use?

Also when you use your digital camera for very close up photos, activate the "macro" feature on the camera, its the icon that looks like a flower.

 

yes, it's an aftermarket 800 watt power inverter. i would recommend buying an aftermarket inverter if you want to run something that requires more juice than the stock inverter (which isn't a lot). If you're not looking to run much, but want AC power in the cab, follow these two threads.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/25944-110v-factory-inverter-always-400w.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/25900-cab-110-ac-outlets-option-2-a.html

The auxiliary fuse panel is blue sea systems fuse panel with negative buses. They offer the panel in a 6 slot or 12 slot configuration with or without negative buses. I recommend buying the panel with negative buses, but each to his own.

 

thanks for all the comments guys!

 

I did the same thing you did minus the diode and used my Hella 500ff from behind my grill.

Also bought the rectangular Hella550FF and mounted them to the side of the frame underneath the passenger and driver side for side viewing while wheeling in the dark.

I offroad a lot and the hellas didnt help behind my grill at all so they went to the back.

Also i dont know if you guys can get OSRAM Nightbreakers in the states but they are by far the best bulb i have used. I run them in my Hellas and also my headlamps.

I will post pics soon

Good stuff man I love lights.

 

Thats for the awesome post and pics. I'll be doing this when the weather gets better.

positive Reputation added

 

Nice write up with lots of pics! pics are always nice

But just be careful with those new lights. I have busted 2 diferent sets of aux backup lights that i had mounted under my bumper in that same area. Thats why I built a bed bar with lights on it..

 

i don't off-road or anything so i'm sure i'll be alright. i've had them i think for almost a year now. no problems

 

they should A okay then!

 

those are sweet. nice job. they look hella useful

 

Great job and very cool.

Can you point them up a bit so that when some smarta$$ decides to ride your bumper you can aim them right into their face? Just kidding...

 

do you know of any aux. backup lights that have a blue tint when turned on?

 

What size diode did you use for this? Having a hard time figuring out how diodes are rated.