Opinion: 3rd Gen Tail Lights

I switched to the TRD Pro and have been really happy with the look.

 

Convince someone with a Pro to buy those Raptor tail lights, then buy their OEM tails and do a MESO Stage 1 mod.

 

This is the best tail light IMHO

 

I don't see how that would work. The 3rd generation tail lights have 3 "cells." (The bottom cell has the backup light, so that doesn't count.) The top two cells each do double duty, having double filament bulbs -- the very top is the tail and turn signal, and the middle cell is the tail and brake signal. If you make the top cell amber (single filament), you lose half the tail brightness.

It can be done, but the whole housing would have to be reworked. Note that the whole housing is a unit, and is not meant to be disassembled.

 

I think a white/amber switchback is used in the reverse housing. Solid white for reverse, and flashing amber for turn signal.

 

This is correct.

 

U G L Y!

 

I see. Something I wouldn't have thought of.

The (old) Ford Ranger had a similar 3-cell arrangement. Over the years, the functions of the 3 cells changed, with some of the early years having amber turn signals. By the time I got mine, a 2000, the amber was gone. Instead, the top cell (now red) was a dummy, with no bulb at all! I went to a lot of trouble to cut out a precise hole and install a bulb in that cell (both sides).

 

That’s what I did. Zero complaints

 

Admittedly, after looking at it after a little while, I'm starting to gravitate away from them. It seems like the light output is pretty poor--especially during the daytime.

 

I would also stay away from them, not saying they are ugly, I’m not gonna say I like them either but we sometimes think too hard about what we can mod and get carried away with unnecessary things or even things we don’t actually like just so we can change/personalize the truck a bit. I’m sure there’s something better you can spend you’re money on.

 

These are the 2018 Sports. Red over-lens on red optics, black accents underneath.




It amazes me that there are so many different iterations of the taillight from the factory.

Edit, I just so happened to find a pic of my 2016 Sport for comparison.

Red lens, red optics, chrome accents. Not as good looking.

 

I took a set of 2020 chrome lights, cut them open, painted everything that wasn't a reflector bowl, black, then lightly smoked the red reflectors. I'm running a meso stage 1 conversion harness and bulbs so the divider that seperates the upper bowlsmfrom eachother was removed. This removes the weird line seen between the two bowls from the outside.

The drivers side had an issue when going back together and some sealant made its way into the main housing so when I get some time, I'll get a new light and do the same modifications.

 

Is that what they did?

 

Looks good!

 

You're right. I think we all need to slow down and think about what we're doing. Sometimes, we just do mods to look different--but sometimes we don't even fully like it.

 

Ranked from personal favorite to less appealing:
Meso's BroPro LED Taillights
Meso's Ultimate LED Taillights
2020 TRD Pro Taillights
2017-2019 TRD Pro Taillights
2018-2019 Taillights
2016-2017 Taillights
2020 Taillights
Spyder/Winjet/TacomaBeast/Alpharex etc.

Meso made the best looking Taillights.

 

I agree!

 

#meso4eversexy

 

Lucky you and your tail lights!