WIRING UP REVERSE LIGHTS UNDER BED

hey guys bout two small walmart 55 watt halogen driving lights to wire up under the bed somewhere to illuminate all the ish behind me at night so i can see it in my back up camera bc my tails are tinted so dark my reverse lights are a lil dim. ive got the led tails... need ideas on mounting locations and wiring instructions perhaps. id prefer keep the lights out of view from looking at the rear of the truck.

 

You wouldn't want them in the bed? It'll be easier that way

 

There's a perfect spot, tucked up under the rear bumper, they're more rectangular shape..idk what shape of lights you got though..I'll try to snap a pic real quick

 

if they're out of view how do they shine out.. I'll let you figure that out..

I use the trailer hitch harness to power aux signal lights out back in every case. That's why its there. May need to bump up fuse 5 amp.. Amps = Watts/Volts 55/12 an extra 4.58 amp draw.. unless you use two.. then check the awg of the wire. I've done it, and the reverse lights aren't on for long usually. Don't think I've ever even increased the fuse rating.

 

Are you planning on pulling power from the stock tails to come on with the reverse lights? The white/black wire is the ground. I think the positive is yellow, but I'm just going off memory. I don't know if you would have any problems wiring those lights into the stock wiring. I wired my LED tailgate bar w/reverse lights into the stock wiring, but LED uses a lot less power.

 

all lighting shouls have its on power and must use a relay......
you can pull a power wire off of your reverse lights to power the relay....but use a rectifer diode......
g/l
do it right the first time

 

As an alternative, if your goal is just brighter lights, you might find this useful:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/75918-brighter-reverse-light-mod.html

I put brighter bulbs in mine by trimming the leads about a year ago, and they are still working great and are much brighter.

 

wheres the pic at bro! and im thinkin bout returning the driving lights and using an Led bundle instead. would i still have to use a relay for the led's bc they draw less power? its only reverse lights its not like they will stay on ore than a few seconds at a time.

 

you do not HAVE to but it is always recomended

 

If you choose to tap into the stock wiring to power the lights, do not upsize the fuse! You are asking for a fire if you do that, the engineers likely did not leave you enough extra capacity in the wiring to change the fuse. They used to smallest, lightest, cheapest wire that they could get away with with the stock fuse rating. Try it if you want, but if the fuse blows just accept it, and wire up a relay.

I have my aux reverse lights wired through a dedicated 15 amp fuse under the hood, used a relay and activated the relay through a 3 position switch on the dash. Position one activates the relay coil using the stock reverse light circuit wire in the driver's kick panel, position two uses the stock parking light circuit that I tapped using one of those add-a-fuse things(manual on), center position is off. I used 12 gauge wire all the way to the back of the truck to the lights, then grounded them to the frame. Done this on three trucks now, works awesome.

 

Well, if they have mounts and stuff...well actually, anyway they mount...angle them down? Idk if I'm missing something but it's easy..

 

good advise, The trailer wiring should be at least 12 gauge, but even at 14 you should be able to pull a very conservative 15 amps out of it all the way back there. The amps are going to go along some wire why not the one it was intended. There's already a relay in that line for the reverse lights right? Toyota isn't running a straight spst to it are they? Assuming not, the trailer wire can be checked for gauge and used In my opinion, accepting that a properly paid electrician would do it otherwise in all likelihood.


Now, taking power from your tail lights is a different story, that may well be 16 gauge or even potentially 20/22 gauge if they updated the wire harness to handle LEDs. That would absolutely demand a relay and new power lead run in 10 gauge (if all the way from the front). Its also a good way to screw up other systems. I've lost my traction control due to using LED tail lights before. Think it was my traction control.

 

I mean, angling them down will point down.. I guess you're just trying to make up for your dot exempt tail lights, not actually project light more than factory. I was making up for the stupid privacy glass and living in a rain forrest (no moon or street lights)
In which case.. you might try the same type LED as the tail lights in lieu of the big oll cowboy lights. the digital camera probably.. well does, depending on the filter, have a capability of seeing IR.. are the tail lights projecting that? Its strange they came out with the camera and led tails at the same time.. just sayin. I'm quite surprised at how well my camera is illuminated vs the actual ground in visible light.
Save power (wiring concerns go out the window) and you don't have walmart bolted to your truck, which can make you feel better maybe?

 

I was actually thinking about picking up a couple extra LED oznium lights and tapping in to the oem reverse light wiring. This way, they only come on when the reverse lights illuminate. Does anyone see an issue w/ this?

 

It seems like anything LED should be low amp draw. I think you will be fine, just don't upsize any fuses if they do blow.

Hey OP, did you get your project done yet?

 

I'm doing the same thing, and I'm planning on running them through my trailer wires. Both my cousins and friend have done it on their fords and chevys. But which wire on the tacoma trailer harness is the reverse light? Chevys have a tag with a diagram of each wire but my truck doesnt.

 

The reverse lights on my LED tailgate bar are tied in directly with the reverse lights without a relay. I haven't had any problems.

 

Mounted mine to the trailer hitch.

 

I guess I'll just try the oem reverse lights as is, and if it pops something I'll just switch to using the trailer.
Fletch, which wires correspond on the trailer wiring?

 

I'm not sure. My trailer wiring only had brakes, running lights and turn signals. I went straight to the driver side tail light for the reverse signal.