Relocating the BSM to Tail Lights

I had them on the outside first and that worked for 30 mi. When I left work I moved them to the inside and they were working as expected for 15 miles on the highway, and then, for no apparent reason, I got the error. Once there is an error it has to be cleared in techstream I believe. If they will not work tucked in the bumper then I will have to look at moxing them to the taillights if I want to keep them, they will not last mounted to the outside while I am on the trail.

 

Looks like a good try! I agree, if you can have them sitting a little further out I think they will work. When I've had an error in the past it self-resolved after a driving with them on for a while.

 

Most, actually all of my errors have cleared automatically with time or start cycles. Tech Stream has not been necessary, I have not had any BSM errors yet, I will in the future. As a test could you move them even further out from the first test that lasted 30 minutes or miles. Perhaps attached to a rigid piece of plastic. Yes I know they would not last on the trail. It is my understanding that the BSM Sensors have to see the ground too, not just side to side. But that is just my understanding from reading input on this forum.

 

I welded the plates in for the backup sensors and they worked as normal.

I am hitting the trails this weekend and then the bumper goes out for powder coat. When I get it back and reinstall I will extend the BSM harness and temporarily mount the BSM on the inside of the tube bumper as pictured above again. I will try to just run it and see if the code resolves itself. If I have no luck then I will use techstream to reset the code and calibration. I do not know exactly the dimension and locating of the radar emitter on the face of the sensor, or the angel of the radar cone.

 

Mind you I haven't used it yet, but I got my reflector from here:Radar Aiming Reflector Target ADAS Calibration Tool For Honda Toyota Kia Ford | eBay
Didn't take as long to arrive as they say, don't remember specifics of delivery.

 

Which scan tool are you using to reset the error?

 

Amazing stuff here. I hope you get it done and out to market!

 

Awesome work. I bought a Victory Strike rear bumper without even thinking about the BSM. Now there is a solution !!

 

how can I get my hands on one of these 3D printed peace’s

 

I little late to the thread but where yall able to find a solution to the sensors relocation location? I have a C4 Rear High Clearance Overland Bumper with swing out?

 

Are the STL (3d printer) files available? I wanted to take a crack at this.

Thanks

 

Me too

 

Any updates on this?

 

Hey y’all, long time no update! Life’s been busy, but I’m finally getting back into this project and wanted to loop everyone in. Thanks to those who have followed along—I appreciate the enthusiasm and follow-ups in here and by DMs!

I’m at a stage where I need to finalize the design, validate pricing, and eventually get a few beta testers involved. I’d love to get your thoughts on a few things:



1. Pricing & Expectations

• 3D printing a pair of these brackets currently costs $80-$100 just for materials, printing, and shipping through vendors like Shapeways or JLC3DP.
• What price point would feel reasonable for just the brackets?
• If this were sold as a full kit (including wiring, connector extensions to stock BSM wiring harness, sealant, etc.), what would you expect to pay?

2. Installation Considerations

• Stock vs. Aftermarket Fitment: I originally designed these for aftermarket tail lights but need to redesign them for stock lights—this could also affect pricing.
• Cutting & Sealing: Would you feel comfortable modifying your stock tail lights and resealing them with RTV? If not, what would make installation easier for you?
• Reverse Light Relocation: Since these take the place of your stock reverse lights, you’d need another solution to stay street legal.
  • Do you already have rear-facing white lights on your steel bumper? If so, this might not be an issue for you.
  • For those without bumper-mounted lights, what would be the best workaround?
• Timeline for Testing: Since I need to redesign these for stock lights, I’m not ready for beta testing just yet, but I want to gauge interest and gather insights now.

3. Beta Testing Opportunity

• I haven’t fully tested these myself yet—my truck’s BSM harness is shot from mud damage, and I still need to fix that before I can do my own testing.
• That said, the current design is at the proof-of-concept stage, and I will be looking for 2-3 beta testers who are comfortable testing and providing feedback once the redesign is done.
• Would anyone be interested in testing once the new version is ready?
• If so, would you be open to covering part of the printing/shipping costs (~$100 per kit)?
  • Just to set expectations—this would be experimental at this stage.
  • You’d need to cut your stock tail lights, relocate reverse lights, and do some DIY work to install these properly.

Let me know your thoughts! Even if you’re not up for beta testing, your input on pricing and installation challenges would be super helpful. Thanks again for following along!

 

Perhaps you would like to Show-n-Tell us exactly what you have finally come up with - this thread has taken many, many turns over the years. Started in 2022.

Do you think Beta testers will need BSM Calibration capabilities?

 

I would be interested in testing. I can pick up a spare set of OEM tail lights and do the DIY portion. $100 for the 3D printed bracketry to epoxy into OEM tails seem reasonable.
I can add some reverse lights to my bumper and re-route the harness. I would like to see some photos and instructions and possibly a template to show what portion of the OEM taillight would need to be cut.

Do you think the 3D print would be compatible with aftermarket OEM style tail lights like these?

https://a.co/d/fDQ2tqD

$75 Nilight Taillight Assembly Compatible with 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Toyota Tacoma Rear Lamp Replacement OE Style Driver Side and Passenger Side

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQJDVB7Q

 

Yup! I think that's definitely the next step here, tweak the design so it fits the stock tail lights, which is what I'm working on now. Just waiting for some new tail lights to get here in the mail so I can chop 'em and start measuring.

Cool thanks for being willing to test and for the feedback! I'll post some pics of the design idea once I get a little further down the line with it, some instructions would definitely be included. I'm actually going to be using some of these aftermarket OEM tail lights for designing since they're cheap, I've found that they're the same dimensionally as OEM, just not quite as high QC when it comes to the lenses (they usually show up with a small scratch or crack). So for our purposes they'll do just fine. The cut will most likely be right at the indentation between the reverse bucket and the upper portion of the tail light, but I'll know for sure once I've had a chance to cut and test fit things.

 

Hey team, quick update!

The prototype is coming along nicely. I’m still working through a few final design tweaks—and of course, the biggest question is still ahead:
Will the BSM actually function consistently in this new location?

There’s some real testing ahead to figure out:

• Whether the radar needs re-aiming with Techstream
  
  
• Whether the steel bumper interferes
  
  
• And whether this holds up in real-world use
  

So while it’s not 100% there yet, I’m pretty excited with how it’s shaping up!

I’ll be wrapping up the design soon and looking for a local volunteer or two in the Utah area to help test it—since my own truck’s BSM harness is still on the fritz. (Would be great to get mine working, but hey, one thing at a time.)

Quick question for y'all—would you prefer this as a DIY kit, where you trim your own tail lights and install the bracket yourself?
Or would you rather have it offered as a ready-made housing, fully assembled and sealed?
The cut is simple and quick—the trickiest part is just making sure it’s sealed up tight against water.

That said, here are some pics of the prototype installed—I’m really happy with how OEM it looks inside the tail light housing:

 

Damn. I’m def good to test a set. I have reverse lights in the bumper already. Extra set of tails on the bench. Been waiting for your project to advance.

 

Id be willing to beta test. Definitely willing to cover printing/shipping cost.