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3rd Gen third brake light on a 2nd gen possible?

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by putput, Aug 19, 2017.

  1. Aug 19, 2017 at 10:15 PM
    #1
    putput

    putput [OP] Member

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    I wanted to replace the third brake light on my 05 truck with a clear lens but everything I'm seeing on eBay/Amazon are really too ricey looking. I want something similar to the one on the 3rd gen but it is obviously too big and wouldn't fit....right?

    The other day i noticed something didn't look right about the 3rd Gen fleet truck in the lane next to me, when I realized it was using a 2nd gen like light! Look at the pics. I found them searching "2017 Tacoma fleet"

    Maybe they share the same bolt pattern and can be swapped?
    Maybe...a new wire can be run and a bed light can be installed on a 2nd gen?2017-toyota-tacoma-trd-sport-access-pick-up-rear-view.png 2017-toyota-tacoma-trd-sport-access-pick-up-doors.png 2017-toyota-tacoma-trd-sport-access-pick-up-rear-view.png 2017-toyota-tacoma-trd-sport-access-pick-up-doors.png
     
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  2. Aug 20, 2017 at 10:53 PM
    #2
    Captqc

    Captqc Well-Known Member

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    Gen 3 access cabs use the same 3rd brake light as the Gen 2's. I bought a clear lens and made cargo lights. Double cabs use a larger light.

    image.jpg
     
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  3. Aug 20, 2017 at 10:57 PM
    #3
    bra

    bra Well-Known Member

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    Badges off
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  4. Aug 21, 2017 at 1:30 AM
    #4
    putput

    putput [OP] Member

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    Is the bolt pattern for the gen 3 access cabs and double cabs the same? Are the lights interchangeable?
     
  5. Aug 21, 2017 at 7:09 AM
    #5
    Captqc

    Captqc Well-Known Member

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    Nope! Totally different, double cabs mount from the inside and are wider.
     
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  6. Aug 21, 2017 at 7:21 AM
    #6
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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  7. Aug 21, 2017 at 10:03 AM
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    putput

    putput [OP] Member

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    Ah..ok. thanks. So much for that.
     
  8. Oct 14, 2022 at 6:09 AM
    #8
    Rocket23

    Rocket23 Supreme post overlord.

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    Please tell me how you did this. Please please please
     
  9. Oct 14, 2022 at 4:20 PM
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    Captqc

    Captqc Well-Known Member

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    Okay, bought four white led panels and two red ones off eBay, bought a clear lens from a company called Kleerz. Then I removed the old light and wired the brake light to the red led panels, then I pulled a wire from the dome light back to the brake and connected it to the white led panels.
    D9BC510F-24D7-46AF-832E-8531C462500D.jpg
    D636ADB7-0E69-4513-81EF-1DD9C2815943.jpg
    BC4808E3-6C09-4168-B935-641EA9AF81BC.jpg 231FF14C-07D3-4AA0-8DAD-6A1CECDAD741.jpg
     
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  10. Oct 15, 2022 at 5:32 PM
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    Rocket23

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    So you open the door or hit the dome switch and they light up. Basically the dome switch is the dash switch in the other Tacomas.
     
  11. Oct 15, 2022 at 5:36 PM
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    Captqc

    Captqc Well-Known Member

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    Yup, they light up when I approach the truck as they are tied to the dome light.
     
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  12. Oct 15, 2022 at 5:37 PM
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    Rocket23

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    Just a smidge of soldering I would imagine then.
     
  13. Oct 15, 2022 at 5:49 PM
    #13
    Captqc

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    Super easy mod , just make sure you disconnect your battery before you connect any wires.
     
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  14. Oct 15, 2022 at 7:16 PM
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    Rocket23

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    Thanks. Glued the led boards in place I imagine no reflective backing needed?
     
  15. Oct 15, 2022 at 11:22 PM
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    soundman98

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    just be sure to spot check those led boards every few months. my boss insists on running similar discount led boards in the dome lights of the work trucks, and after about 4 months of hard use, the led's start burning out and/or the resistors start falling off from heat cycling.
     
  16. Oct 16, 2022 at 8:24 AM
    #16
    Captqc

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    Yup, I glued the led panels in place. And to soundman98’s comments about the LED’s, I’ve been running mine since 2017 without failure.
     
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  17. Oct 16, 2022 at 3:18 PM
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    Rocket23

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    Last question. Resealing the light to the truck, where did get a gasket on the cheap?
     
  18. Oct 16, 2022 at 3:31 PM
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    Captqc

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    Bought a cheap brake light on eBay and used it’s gasket.
     
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  19. Oct 17, 2022 at 5:04 AM
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    Rocket23

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    Works for me. Ty.
     
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  20. Dec 20, 2023 at 6:06 PM
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    2G taco guy

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    New head, fog, rear lights, light bar, backup lights, new grill, 1.5” wheel spacers (don’t hate on me. lol). That’s it if you consider those mods… mostly for work so next is new exhaust, radio, then maybe rims and level/lift kit (struts, control arms, etc..). Not the basic one
     

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