What is the difference in OEM bed lights?

After extensive searching I've found three OEM bed lighting kits; 00016-34187, 00016-34089 and

$173 PT948-35160 Genuine Toyota 2016-2019 Tacoma LED Bed Lighting Kit

PT948-35160. There are several threads about them and but none definitively answer the question as to what the difference is between them besides the price. From what I can tell the lights are all the same but the wiring harnesses are different. Can anyone explain what the differences actually are? I plan to install the lights on my 2018 access cab but don't want to pay twice the price for the PT948-35160 if the other two are the same.

 

@tacomatime just did his

 

I’m not sure on the difference, but I just installed

$173 PT948-35160 Genuine Toyota 2016-2019 Tacoma LED Bed Lighting Kit

PT948-35160 this week on my ‘18 and the install went smooth.

 

Got the kit from Amazon for $21.99. Bright as bright can be and didn't break the bank.
Hooked it up to the tow hitch harness and it turns on with the parking lights.
AUTUNEER 60Inch LED Truck Bed...

AUTUNEER 60" LED Truck Bed Lights, 2PCS White LED (Light Emitting Diode) Lighting Fixtures, Waterproof Truck Bed Lighting Bar Switch Fuse Splitter Cable for RV SUV Vans Cargo Boats

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073ZGNDTC?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

 

They are all the same light. 00016-34089 was the cheapest, so I got those. They Fit perfectly, the wiring to the cab switch is way too long, so either bundle it up under the cap as per instructions, or cut it to length and use better connectors to the factory wiring harness. (Ones in the kit are crap).

I believe it’s simply wiring length that’s the only physical difference. Other is one is OEM Toyota part# and the other is that exact same part but the distributor part# (and no Toyota label on the box).

 

Are you taking about the two leds on the rear corners of the bed?

 

I've had mine for about 3 years. No issues. I wired mine to be hot all the time and controlled by a switch in the dash.

And yes....I know this is the 3rd gen forum

 

I installed this kit when I got my truck. Initially the light output is great and they look good!

But then I had one of them go bad a couple months ago after only about a year installed. One of the LED's died rendering the entire module useless. Warranty is nowhere to be found.

 

Knock on wood. Mine have been solid for about 3 years now.

Not sure what the warranty on them is. They aren't truly an OEM part. But instead were produced for Southeast Toyota group....which is a large conglomerate of Toyota dealers. They became popular enough to leak out to areas outside of that network.

I can't say for sure...but if purchased and installed by one the dealers in that network, it may be unofficially covered for the duration of the 3/36 bumper to bumper warranty.

But for the rest of us? It considered an aftermarket part and we're on our own

 

I didn't realize that. I have seen the LED bed light kits and wondered why anyone needed them, when the factory setup is so bright, lol.

 

True. But we gen 2 guys need something

 

00016-34187 and 00016-34089 are Southeast Toyota distributor parts. What if any changed between them is a good question. It's also out there as 00016-35087. Some have the instructions/template for the Tundra, some for the Tacoma.

$173 PT948-35160 Genuine Toyota 2016-2019 Tacoma LED Bed Lighting Kit

PT948-35160 is an official Toyota part that is now officially discontinued. But Toyota still shows bed lighting as an official accessory for 2019 but I haven't found a new part number for it.

The light unit themselves appear to be the same. The wire harnesses aren't the same. Whether one is better than the other is doubtful IMHO. The official harness routing is slightly different. But they both connect to the dome circuit.

 

That's the thing I hated about them....the connection to the dome light. I wanted to be able to turn them on and off when I wanted to....whether the truck was running or not.

It just a simple positive and negative setup. So you can wire them up any way you want. Mine are powered off the battery and protected by a 5 amp fuse.

I happened to have an older OEM rocker switch from a 90's era 4Runner that was never used. I'm frugal....so I just used it.

 

I installed the tailgate power lock and connected it with a home made t-harness inspired by TW forum members. I want to add the bed lighting but to be useful I think it needs to be controlled by a door switch at the tailgate. If I can figure out the best way to get a door switch on the tailgate, I'll wade back into the which bed lighting kit to get. Maybe the Toyota new part number will be known by then.

 

Mine were bought 3 years ago from North Miami Lexus on a group buy here on TW if I remember right. At the time they did not come with the templates for mounting. I think I found the printable templates on line at TRDParts4u. Make sure if you have to print them that you select "actual size" on your printer. They may already come with them these days....I don't know. The lights are the same between the Taco and Tundra. But I would imagine the templates are different.

 

I've seen more than one person here on TW use a pin switch to do just what you're talking about. Poke around a bit. There are threads.

 

I really didn’t see the need for more bed lighting on my little 5 foot bed. The roof mounted bed lights are more than enough.

 

Tonneau cover is why

 

And the access cab doesn't come with the roof mounted lights.

 

This is the answer I was looking for. Thank you very much.