LED Tailgate Bar

I did neglect to mention in the prior post.

The delay is very short, quite literally 1 flash cycle. The blinker on the bar joins the second "on" of the turn. There are a lot of videos on YouTube that demonstrate it in operation.

If I use my fob to lock the truck the light bar does nothing. However, if I use the unlock function the entire bar flashes amber.

Fort hose worried about covering the spare acesss hole. It also comes with both screw on clips, 4 as I recall, and the pre-installed 3-M tape. I did not use the clips because I did not want to use screws to mount the bar. Thus, I mounted with a hook-lock (velcro) material to allow simple removal and re-installation if and when needed.

 

Good call. I'll either use Velcro strips or those strips they give you for toll readers. I know 3M makes them (dual lock tape).

 

So, if you need to access the spare, you have to pull the lightbar off (I'm assuming it's sturdy enough to be pulled off without breaking). Do you unplug it or let it hang while you change the spare? If you unplug it, do you have to trace that connector and unplug it?

 

There is plenty of wire on it, about 3 foot or more as I recall. You could leave a loop or use a cord tie that can be re-secured to allow more room.

Edit: Forgot to mention it is VERY sturdy. it is an aluminum channel with the LED inside it and then filled with silicone. I am sure it could be bent but it is quite sturdy.

With mine I can pull it off the truck and lay it on the bumper or let it hang by the cord, I have it zip tied so I left myself little slack, while I do what I need with the spare. I can then just line it up as I want it and push it back on. If I needed more room or wanted it completely off and out of the way I could cut the zip ties holding the cord and unplug it then re-secure it all later when I am not on the side of the road and/or in the weather.

The stuff I used is a lot like the command strip "Velcro". I think it was 3/4 in wide, it has been on the truck since March 17. It is plastic, both sides are the same. As a mater of fact it was all on a single roll. It is made to lock together. I just cut 1 47" strip and 2 about 15" for each side of the spare hole.

 

On the 3M tape, did you cover the entire back or just a few sections? How hard was it to remove the tape that came with it?

 

I made 4 sections about 3 inches each. I didn't remove the original tape.

 

Thanks. It doesn't droop down or bounce? Trying to find some of this stuff that isn't crazy expensive.

 

I used the highest rating 3m dual lock so it didn't droop. Those old velcro type will not hold up well.

 

This is the type of stuff I used on mine. Dual -lock tape It is a lot like the command strip plastic locking strips, it just comes in a roll rather than 3 inch-ish tabs. I put it all the way across the lightbar and put 2 strips on the truck from the hole out about 25 inches each way to allow for adjusting to center if needed.

The stuff we had at work did not have any adhesive on it. I just used the red 3M trim adhesive tape for the truck side and the bar came with the same red tape pre-installed on it. Since none of it is fabric, all plastic, I think it should last years with no sag. So far 1.5 years there has been 0 problems with it.

 

That's the stuff I'm going with. Just trying to find a roll that's not ridiculously priced.

 

Did you guys tap off the reverse wire in the tail light? If so, red is the hot line right?

 

I used the Curt harness posted earlier. The last slot is for reverse. No need to tap to the light.

 

Is there any splicing involved?

 

Curt harness on the left. LED bar plug on the right. I just crimped the bullet plug to the white reverse wire and plug in the last slot. Put on some dielectric grease to prevent corrosion.

 

Thank you for the picture! My OPT-7 bar came in this week. I plan on installing it soon, I just need to get the Curt harness first...

 

This is the second mod that I did. I bought RAMPAGE PRODUCTS APC LED TAIL-LIGHT W BACK UP from Amazon $41.11.

Check out the install here on post #20...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/i’m-using-the-taco-fulfill-mod-addiction-while-searching-for-the-perfect-beer.511529/

 

Thanks. I got the harness but I thought it was just an adapter to the 4 way. Gotta stop by HD this weekend for those bullet connectors and track down that 3m tape and I should be good to go.

 

FYI.. you can get both at "any" auto parts store.

It is also possible, since they now have a small auto parts section, that both can be had at HD.

 

I've got the harness already. Just need those bullet connectors. HD says they have them in stock for like $4. Are you just plugging in the harness and tucking the wires behind the bumper?

 

I folded it up leaving about 2 foot slack. Zip tied the folded portion up.

Then I zipped up the "slack" and zipped it separately and closer to the bumper, just enough to be easy to see which was which, so that I could snip 1 zip tie if or when I needed to pull the bar off the truck and move it out of the way.

I always carry a few zip ties in the truck and the only time I am not carrying a knife is when I am in an airport, court house, or some other "secured" area that such an item is frowned upon by security (typically armed).