Total blackout

I have a 21 SR that I would like to get a switch to disable all light sources internally and externally for night hunting under NODs. I want to be able to drive around the ranch while wearing NODs so the dash lights ect inside need to be off completely.


Anybody ever done this for hunts? Any clue on where to begin for this?

 

Brake lights would be an issue, since the power to illuminate them is also a signal to other systems. Dash Combo meter has its own fuse. Not touching the light stalk at the steering gets over most of the external an internal illumination. Head Unit might also be an issue.

 

I also need to know how to do this so I am bumping the thread.

I found this but thats all https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/blackout-switch.633823/#post-21776580

 

bumping this again....


I've been just pulling fuses but that's been a pain in the a$$ every hunt.

 

How many fuses and which ones?

 

Given the complexity of your vehicle and how interconnected things are (shared power, light activation used by ECM to signal various things...) I would do it the old fashioned way. Make some cardboard/posterboard shields that you can put over the internal lights, and get blackout drapery lining and make covers for the external ones. I little bit of a PIA, but way less hassle in the long run, IMO.

 

Yes, it's way easier to mask things off than to try and killswitch anything unless you have a dedicated ranch truck for such purposes.

Bingo. You can use the scroll wheel to make the dash lights go to zero. I also use a thick piece of cardstock with some painters tape along the edge to cover the nav screen. Exterior running lights on my 2015 can be switched off, but on the newer ones, may need to be blacked out manually using a combo of painters and gorilla tape.

The method a few SOCOM buddies relayed to me was to cover the taillights in a layer of painters tape, then cover that layer in gorilla tape in all but a tiny little section so Vic2 can see the brakes and avoid smashing you from behind. The painters tape should keep it dim enough that your vis signature is pretty minimal. Tapeover only takes a few mins, and I just keep that cardstock for the interior in the seatpocket with some spare tape strips fixed to the sheet itself.

Obligatory NODs tomfoolery: