Cheap/Free Mods

Finding this doing it an it working make me as excited as a cheat code for a video game!!!

 

Just wanted to say again what I've read on here, thank you for taking the time to post all of this. Awesome job

 

One recommendation, use a piece of metal w/o any holes in it or a way to really grab onto it.

I just found a guy in the bed of my truck trying to fish the metal "lock" out of the window channel with a piece of wire so he could open the window more. Even worst part, he had a little kid with him which I am assuming is who he was sending through the window to unlock the door.

I am going to cut mine down so it barely sticks out of the channel. YMMV.

 

No back up camera on my truck. I don't think it would blind the camera though.

 

Found this:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...mple-sleeping-platform-cheap-works-great.html

 

Pictures at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54242857@N00/sets/72157623486876580/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54242857@N00/5665148771/in/set-72157623486876580

http://www.flickr.com/photos/54242857@N00/5665715290/in/set-72157623486876580


Recently had to redo the black headlight mod on my 07 taco (rushed 1st time and screwed up paint ). While the headlights were apart - I decided to add 'Audi style' running lights to the bottom of the headlight
bezel that gets painted black. I had already done the side light turn signal
mod - so wired the new LED's to ground and the +12 constant abandoned from the side markers when doing the turn signal mod (so the led lights will not flash with side marker lamps when turning) . My goal was to integrate them as well as possible so it doesn't looking like I got the mod in the auto dept at Walmart

Looking for feedback - around town - comments have been mostly positive with a few taco owners asking where they can buy those headlights. However the true test is this group and looking for feedback:

either:

1. ' cheesy as hell - what were you thinking???'

or

2. ' look ok...pretty decent - just stay away from my trucks headlights you HACK!'

...Jurys out with me if I like them or not - I can simply disconnect the wiring if I decide to nix them...

Thanks! - later...

 

Got pics?

 

my bad - this response should have a few pics of the mod

The LED's were of the SMD variety that came 12 leds to a 12"
strip - I lengthened the strips to 15" by soldering on a partial
strip to add the 3 ". Total mod price was around $25. The
strips come with 3M adhesive on the backs and used some
epoxy to better secure the strips. I had to do a little grinding
work on the bezel so the strips would lay how I wanted them to-
but all in all worked out pretty good. I used a sharpie to blackout
the strips everywhere but where the LEDS were and to touch up
the black paint, hide the clear epoxy..etc)

If anyone is intersted in doing this mod - hit me up and I can
give you info on the LED strip supplier and other details.

 

Hey, looks great. Honestly though, how hard is it to do? Im worried about taking my week old lights apart lol. How long did it take? Any random tips?

 

Actually - not to much harder than doing the Black headlight mod on its own. Tear the lights down - paint the bezels and let dry. Right in the outer corners of the bezels (below side marker lamps) - you have to
dremel away a bit of the molding so that the light strip can continue up
from the bottom so its along the side marker light. Its at this end where
I popped a small hole through the bezel and behind it through the housing.
after the light assembly is reassembled - I put some GE silicone around the
wires were they exit the housing. I crimped on some connectors and connected to the 12+ and ground at the side marker. The +12V switched
to the side markets wil have been abandoned if you have done the corner
marker blinke mod.

As for the strips - I got them from a little LED importer in San jose - 3 strips were $24 . Each strip is 12" link and has about 10 side-firing SMD ultra-brite LEDs. You can cut the strips every 3 lights (~3") and solder to another strip to lengthen. the strips are very low profile and small - its tough to notice they are in the headlight housings in daytime - just sharpie over the vinyl sleave they are housed in and they are hard to see
against the blacked-out bezels. I will get the LED supplier info and post - nice people and very reasonable. You can also commonly get these on Ebay.

 

Great info on this thread.
Will be doing some mods to my truck using this.

 

Awesome thread! I've got some great projects to get started on!

 

Not really my thing, but it's not bad for a do-it-yourself project. From the picture, they almost look a little too bright (the light tends to blend in with the light next to it). If they were spaced a little farther apart, it might look more audi-ish.

 

does this work on 2011 tacoma? for some reason i cant get it to work....

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/139914-2011-seat-belt-chime-mod.html

Read through this whole thread

 

wouldnt work on my 2011 either
got the dealer to turn it off

 

removed the chrome emblems off today, dental floss kept breaking so I tried some kite string, worked like a champ

 

Will this work on a 2WD sport prerunner?

 

I built this mod and installed in the bed w/ industrial velcro (so it doesn't bounce around). Turned out great!