Idea for cargo light

I wonder if anybody has put some thought into this. I was noticing the other day that Tundras have a cargo light. Their high-mount rear brake light has clear lenses on each side, which I assume is for a cargo light. Well, I went to toyota-parts.com to compare the Tacoma and Tundra high mount lights. It's pretty clear it's not a drop in replacement. However, inspired by some of the electrical wizardry mods I've seen, I wonder if it would be possible to rewire the high mount light so the outer bulbs were switched separately a put a clear lens over them.

Has anyone done this? Or even just looked at it in more detail and decided it wasn't worth the effort?

PS. I've seen pb's cargo lights inside the bed pockets, but a cargo light from above would be better for me.

 

Neat idea....

Please pardon, as I'm trying to picture this in my head...(not such a good idea)....

Have you searched for other cargo light/3rd brake light combos form other vehicles?

I would think it'd just be easier to find a combined light fixture and do the wiring from that - but obviously, it'd probably involve some sheetmetal cutting to make it fit on the cab. I'm just guessing.....

My old Dodge Ram had a nice cargo light also. Only used it on a couple occasions.... but nice to say the least.

 

Sawdust, neat idea but too much work. How will you switch it?

The high mount will not work for people with tonneau covers, like me. Since your post got me thinking, how about using the 110v bed outlet to have a compact plug in light permanently installed and Velcro'd to the side of the bed and switched from your dash. This is where you really need the light, I'd guess and with a longer cord you can detach the Velcro to look for the Alliance members you may accidentally run over from time to time. What do you think?

 

I haven't done any searches on other trucks. I should pick up the yellow pages to find junk yards in my area. I'll put that on my to-do list.

I think the fundamental complexity is getting two switched circuits to that high mount light. I'm pretty certain there's only one there now. However, we have three bulbs (which is all the Tundra has). The center one is the red brake light and the two outer ones are clear cargo. So we may be able to get by with re-wiring and a different lens. Now, finding a compatible lens may be a challenge.

 

Yeah, it'll require installing an extra switch. I'd thought about having it next to the interior dome light, or maybe in the panel to the left of the steering wheel.

I just ordered my tonneau (Access Limited) so I've been considering that. I just figure that the main time I'd need the cargo light is when I'm hauling cargo, which means I'll have it rolled up. It would be convenient to have something under the tonneau though. The cheapest/easiest idea there is to get those stick-on battery powered LEDs. I'm just thinking that if I'm hauling a large piece of furniture at night or something, lights in the bed aren't going to shed light well enough to tie it down (or untie) it well, so the high mount light is best for that.

What do I think? I'm not so sure it'd be an accident, and if I've already succeeded, why go looking at them again?

 

You've got to make sure man. Its like putting the last nail on the coffin.

 

I dont think you will want to run us over, it would be worse than hitting a deer. All i know is if you run me over, i'm gonna try to cause as much damage as possible. I'll actually punch or kick your truck as you're hitting me. I dont go down without a fight

 

But a full keg will lay him flat out!

 

touche

 

Thanks for the pics. I'm starting to reconsider all this. Seems like a lot of trial and error to try to change the high mount light/lens. How do you switch yours on? I'm not sure if the effort to wire a switch in the cab is any easier one way or the other though.

This weekend I was prepping for my tonneau and pulled out those pockets in the bed to consider this mod. There's all sorts of room between the bed and the outer body. Why use the pocket for the light? You could flush mount it right to the composite bed.

I was also thinking about checking the junk yards for more of those pockets. Should be easy to cut access for a few more back there.

 

Sorry, I must have missed it. I'll go look. Yeah, I had figured they'd need to be angled.

I haven't done anything like this before, so is there some sort of tutorial or write up you worked from? Something that would give me some ideas how/where to run those wires into the cab? I'd like to do it nice and neat up by the stocks witches.