New 2018 Tacoma - Need fog light recommendations

Hi everyone, just bought my first ever brand new vehicle, first ever Toyota, and I couldn’t be happier. Got a Cement 2018 Tacoma TRD Off-Road premium package with an automatic transmission (I really wanted a manual but wanted crawl control more). I absolutely love this truck, I have zero buyers remorse. I live in NY so I had it Ziebart undercoated it and do their full rust prevention treatment on it. I’m prepared to keep this truck forever! Sorry for the long winded intro, just a proud new owner here.

The only thing I don’t like about this truck is the dated look of the incandescent/halogen lighting for a brand new $40k vehicle (especially with LED DRL’s!) and the low beams leave a lot to be desired. The first think I did was change out all the interior lights and reverse lights with LED’s. I then replaced the low beams and fog lights with Hikari H11 6000k LED bulbs from Amazon. I immediately removed and returned the Hikari bulbs, they were junk, looked too blue, and didn’t improve lighting at all. I ordered a Diode Dynamics H11 HID kit with their heavy duty relay harness. It should be here tomorrow and I’m hopeful it will give me the improvement I’m looking for in the low beam output. I ordered 5000k because I want a factory look that will match the LED DRL’s as closely as possible. Now finally to my question: I would like to have yellow fog lights to help cut through the fog when needed. I heard an anecdotal story about someone melting their fog light housing using HID’s. Does anyone have any recommendations for either halogen or LED H11 replacements that will give me a good yellowish color? Thanks for the help!

 

Welcome! Do not put drop in HIDs or LEDs I to halogen reflectors, it will cause significant glare.

Check out this thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

LED options for amber fogs:
-KC Amber SAE G4s
-Soon to be released Rigid amber SAE pods
-Soon to be released amber Morimoto SAE fogs

There are also a variety of yellow/amber halogen options, such as Nokya Hyper yellow H11s.

$23 Nokya Hyper Yellow H11 Car Headlight Bulb (S1) NOK7618.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064FXRWI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_f5cVBbV8KBD3G

 

I vote for Rigid SAE pods with amber covers but thats $$$. If you just want yellow on the cheap, you can either buy yellow bulbs or get some yellow lamin-x film.

 

I'm just going to say welcome, because mine are original 2007 white halogen, and despite some fog on the lens, just fine. Unless you drive through soup on a daily basis, and can't see, I really doubt you need to. But if you do, here's a start:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/...omaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-tacomas-2016.186/

 

Go with the KC foglights. I have the white ones and they work ridiculously well. I think the amber kit # is 501. Literally took me 10 minutes to swap them out.

 

https://www.bajadesigns.com/products/Toyota-Tacoma-Tundra-4Runner-Squadron-Sport-WC.asp



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH6AOhHLYsY
@Rob Daman video of it. Also explains with pocket covers how it works.

 

Only do that if you don't want to run them on the street. As documented those lights are off road only due to lack of cut off, causing massive glare to oncoming drivers. As well documented:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

Thanks for the recommendation!

 

Another vote for the Rigid fogs with or without the amber lenses


Hit up Sidetracked in this thread for some savings
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/killer-deals-on-rigid-lights.396993/page-44#post-18869572

 

Another vote for KC's G4s. Stellar output.

 

rigid here

 

Thanks for all the recommendations guys!

 

I just ordered the KC G4 fogs from Amazon. How did you access the factory fogs? Is it through the front fender liner? I’ve been searching for a step by step guide but all I’ve seen are the ones on how to replace fog bulbs (not the whole fog pod).

Thanks!

 

I vote rigid as well

 

Open hood. Went down through the top. Somewhat of a long reach but completely doable. Done it twice now.

 

Hmmmm maybe I'll have to make a video documenting this installation process. It is super simple though. You can go from the top as mentioned, but you can also go in from underneath - it sometimes helps to get the plastic fender apron out of the way. Pretty much just unplug to factory lights, find the best way to get your arm in and remove the stock fasteners, pull the light out, pop the G4s in, and refasten and plug it back in. If you need help during this process, feel free to call us!

 

I vote Rigid as well. Hell, around town I don't even use my low beams.

 

Rigid FTW

 

Pop open the hood and look down below the headlights. You can see where the fog lights are and the harness connected to them. Get a medium sized #2 Phillips and take the screw out of the ear on the side of the fog light. Don't drop the screw. I only had one screw on each light holding them in place. Once the screw is out, slide the light towards the side of the vehicle and it comes right out. Unplug the harness and pull the light out. Pay attention to the location and length of the tabs and find the replacement light that has tabs in the same positions. Make sure the wee little KC logo is facing the right way. Fit the longer tabs on the replacement light into the pockets and make sure that the light is centered in the opening. Use the screw (You didn't lose it did you?) to fasten the light to the front bumper. Plug in the jumper harness and with a little bit of luck, the lights will illuminate. If it does not but the OEM on the opposite side does, then you need to swap the pins in the Deutsch connector on the jumper harness. Thats another whole 2 minutes, maybe ten if you need to find a little screwdriver buried in the bottom of some random pocket of your tool bag. Pull the green plastic piece straight out, gently jam that little screwdriver down in there and wiggle the wires on the back side of the plug. One will come loose and then the other. Turn the plug over and gently jam them in till they click. Reinstall the green plastic piece until it locks, push the silicon seal in until it sits below the cap. Pick up all of the tools that you dumped out of your tool bag.

 

I'm loving your light bar under the grille. Mind sharing where you got it and how you installed it? Thanks!