DIY License Plate Light Disable-In-Reverse Harness (DIR)

Thanks, Johnny!

I really appreciate that. Let's go with the standard for now. I might have been overthinking it?

 

That's the only way I know how to think

 

Same here.

I fully believe there is such a thing a stupid question though.

 

No such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

 

Well then, I can be stupid at times.

 

I think that's most of us here. Instead of a support group, we have an enablers group. At least we feel understood.

 

Always with the good advice also:

 

I just backed into my parking spot and saw how the plate lights glare the camera view.
Take my damn money now!

 

Figured you might like it

 

it was one of those things that you hardly notice until someone makes a mod to change it on tacomaworld and you happily pay for it instead.

 

And yet another thing I've found here that I figure I 'need'

Electronics and building cables like this are things I like to do myself, the hard part is often trying to find the right connectors (and mildly annoying to have to get some from one place and some from another since ballenger doesn't stock one of them and corsa doesn't stock a different one).

So, thanks for the parts list @daveeasa, and for one more small project to add to my list

 

I definitely still want one, I just need to live very frugally for the next few weeks so I am good not being at the top of the list right now.

 

I want one!

 

Hey y'all, dumb question here - does this have to be done on the driver side tail light? I haven't gotten back there yet, but my CB is mounted using the taillight bolts, wondering if I can route this on the passenger side or if the cut lengths/connectors are only on the driver side

Thanks!

 

As built, it is for the drivers side. The length from the relay to the license plate light intercept is specifics to that side. If you’d be comfortable de-pinning the wires from the license plate tee (it’s not hard once you see how), I could make you an extension. Or if you want to ship it back to me, I’ll swap the wires for longer ones.

 

nah - that’s fine. It’s not that I can’t get to the driver side it’s just a few extra steps, like an additional 40 seconds. Not worth modifying anything just curious.

thanks for the quick reply! It’s reasonably warm out right now - heading out in a few minutes. Working on my sleeping platform too. I’ll let you know how it goes.

 

If you measure the length needed for passenger side I can make one long enough for you.

the license plate intercept connector is on the drivers side so it’s a shorter harness that way. But it’s not a big cost to go longer.

the preferred relay mounting location is an m6 stud which is independent from the 10mm bolts used to secure the taillight. If you post a photo of your antenna I can confirm if there will be any problems. I anticipate no conflict.

Photos of the cavity in my BST thread installation instructions linked in the first post.

bed stiffeners may also provide alternate antenna mounting options.

EDIT: Ah, it’s the hassle of unbolting the antenna. Yeah, you have to suck that up I think. Or swap to custom long version for passenger side. Or get in on the bed stiffeners, Dan’s options are good quality and affordable.

 

I have one of these ish. The Cali raised one doesn’t have the second part that comes down but you get the idea as far as “interference” with this project.

https://artemisoverland.com/products/toyota-tacoma-cb-antenna-mount

HOWEVER I just took it off and didn’t worry about it. Had to re tune the antenna soon anyway so no big deal.

got it installed! Very easy install for an amazing feature on my truck now. I don’t have a backup anytime setup but I was able to catch a split second when I shift out of reverse and the lights come back on! Definitely an improvement and money well spent.

 

Awesome. Yeah, I realized the point of your question was to save dealing with the headache vs a question of compatibility. But it took me a while to realize that part. I suspect you likely agree that the shorter run from the driver's side is a little cleaner than going from the passenger side. I think for the reverse harness feeding a hitch mount you could definitely pick either side. And, for someone with both DIR and hitch reverse light, I'd go passenger for the hitch one to even out the bulk.

 

nah I am putting everything on one side. I’m taking taco lean to the next level! Gonna probably stuff my CB antenna cable down there too. That one is tbd.

yeah install was easy and driver side definitely was the way to go. Well built and a great application. Love it - that’s what I love about the Tacoma over other trucks. Everything you could conceive of someone has already tested, done, and is selling it at a good cost. Hard to beat that!