Aluminum Third Brake Light, KC Cyclones, Bolt On, No Drill

I've finally launched this and they're for sale in the 3rd Gen and 2nd Gen Marketplaces. I'm proud and humbled to say the interest has been more than I anticipated. This is the only all metal bolt on aftermarket 3rd brake light available, all hand made by yours truly.

This is for 3rd Gen AC Access Cabs and all 2nd Gens and have three KC Cyclone lights.

These are all direct bolt on, no drilling. The assembly I've applied self etching primer and painted satin black. You can replace the KC lights without removing the entire assembly and comes with a new double sided gasket and black center plugs. You use the old OEM plug to wire, it's very easy.

The reason I chose KC Cyclones is because they're 500+ lumens, low amps, highly rated, weatherproof, lightweight, 20+ year warranty and very affordable.

Double Cab version with four lights is still in the works.

These members showed interest or committed

@kmorgan3 3rd Gen AC
@bulalo 3rd Gen DC
@daveeasa 3rd Gen DC
@Dirk Diggler 3rd Gen DC
@MARSHBUSTER 2005
@rjmart34 2015
@fmb 3rd Gen AC
@Shaggy1215 3rd Gen DC
@ShirtTucker 3rd Gen AC
@Buttskevin21 3rd Gen AC
@HelloFelix 3rd Gen DC
@su.brat 3rd Gen DC
@Mistermaus

I'll try to leave this thread for development after the launch.

 

Subbed . Wiring plug and play would be awesome

 

I was thinking of that, but you would still have to wire the Cyclone lights and the wiring for a cargo light for access cabs, which is fairly minimal.

 

Also, for DC owners, you'll have to drop the head liner to access the bolts from the inside. Plus, it's highly recommended to put in the rivet nuts so you don't have to drop the liner again. The other DC version involves drilling out the two bolts from the outside which can be done, but it's total caveman shizzle (no offense to cavemen).

Whichever the case, the easiest is use your existing harness from your brakelight and wire the cyclones and/or cargo light. Plus, once you peal off the gasket, you're not using the old brake light without a new gasket.

 

I’m game. I have a shell now so I’d love it if there were some optional plugs for the time being. What I really want is a waterproof plate which I can easily convert into a 3rd brake light if I ever lose the shell.

Thanks for shouldering this. I like metal over 3d printed. And a more reasonable price than the $500+ bd5 which is just loco for a silly brake light.

 

Is your shell flat where the plate bolts on? This is 2.25" wide the exact width of the gasket. That was the fabrication I had to do because the Cyclones with the 1/8" aluminum wall and angle is more than 2.5".

Whichever the case, I did it and the plate is the exact dimension of the OEM gasket and 2.25" wide.

If enough members want it prewired, I may hit you up for a harness, but like I've been saying everyone can use their existing brake light wiring harness to wire it up.


Edit, I see you want this to replace your oem third brake light, not the shell.

 

Yeah if we get into the harness phase I’m sure we can figure something out to help people along. I haven’t opened it up myself and I’m not sure what the connector looks like. I’ve seen a few photos from others, that’s about it.

I kinda think it’s useless as a cargo light. Under rails or bed lighting seems better for that. I find it mostly annoying and leave cargo off. Would be cool to leverage the cargo rocker for the lights but I think we have some connector issues post relay so it’s mostly using the switch output via T harness and a relay, a mild pain. Would be cool to tap the output directly at the lamp connector but then a pain to feed it back down and to the bed.

I have a leer 100xq with a nice cutout for the 3rd brake light. Looks sufficient for more beef there but we will have to see.

 

The cargo light is really why I did this and also because Meso is out of stock. The cargo light is easy to wire into the overhead panel (shapeways) even for AC and the existing wiring for the DC. The Cyclones are .42A each. Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not an electrical guru, but I know you do this in your sleep.

The harness is simple and it's on the existing oem brake light, hence why I keep saying everyone can use their old one.

I'll wire all this up with a harness and KC lights but it'll drive up the cost. Which brings me back to my original points, AC owners will most likely want a cargo light and DC owners should really drop the liner to put in the rivet nuts. So, there's still a little bit of wiring, etc.

 

Yeah, sorry if I was rambling, as there is no problem at all with the cyclones as pure replacements to the brake/cargo function in that spot.

I’d personally want only red up there and leverage the cargo light output to drive bed lighting (I’m 2016 so no 2020+ bed light connectors to take advantage of) as a better solution. With a tri fold tonneau the cargo lamp location is useless. Under rail lighting would probably be a better option, it puts light where it’s most useful. Something about the cargo rocker vs a dedicated switch is preferable to me but I never got started on that project, so much other fun stuff took priority.

For bed lighting I think it’s possible to overdraw the OEM cargo circuit depending on how nuts you go, hence potential relay needs. And for sure you want a relay if tapping the switch vs post OEM relay. The hard part is a nice plug and play location downstream of the Oem cargo relay, prior to the 2020+ bed light connectors.

The whole problem of getting at the post relay signal for bed lights prior to 2020’s was what the rambling was about.

I have 4 white and two red cyclones in a box waiting for this or hood lights or dome in the shell. Those bullets are kinda lame. I could see some value in a pre-mounted solution with OEM connector so install for DC would be:

1. Drop headliner
2. Remove OEM leaky lamp and gasket
3. Install rivet nuts
4. Replace headliner
5. Install gasket
6. Plug in replacement lamp to OEM connector
7. Mount lamp
8. Test

You’d have to team up with someone who could bulk order cyclones for you to make sense of that. Otherwise you’re just doing a bunch of extra unpaid work.

I honestly think one basic config works fine, two reds and one white in the center. Too many choices is what makes the MESO option so overwhelming.

 

make sure u leave enough slop in your mounting holes. Even w my meso mount, I had to work the holes to get the mount to lay well against cab back.

 

For everyone I've scared the hell out of with the long posts, I'll have a finished product this Monday or Tuesday and take live pics, because everyone is visual.

 

I've trolled every thread in here and thx for the info. I'm drilling holes for the plate mount and including two washers and rubber gaskets for the AC owners to use the existing screws. DC light is still in the works, I've got the OEM brake light and have to line everything up.

 

Hold on to your credit card, I'll give you one free along with @bulalo and @daveeasa because you were early adapters.

I'll give away one for free to AC owners or any 2nd Gen (we know you're in here) who post in here.

After that I'll go to the 3rd Gen and 2nd Gen marketplace for sale.

I'll post the finished product this coming week. You'll have to buy KC Cyclones and wire it up. DC owners are about two weeks out.

 

Dude I’ll happily pay. Time and R&D are real expenses. And I’m DC. The real question though is if I can make time before I get the shell on. Once it’s on I’ll have some big inertia on tackling it. And photos will be much harder.

 

I've bought enough material to make 100 of these to start. Just paying it forward, this site has given me more inspiration for mods and ideas that I never knew imagineable.

 

What Generation are these going to be for?

 

All years 1995-2021.

There's really two versions

1995-2004 drop headliner bolts are inside

$73 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma With 4L Right Petrol intake air snorkel kit high performance system compatible kit Replacement black Rotational Molding (2005-2015)

2005-2015 bolts are outside

2016-2021 access cab bolts are outside

2016-2021 double cab bolts are back inside (yeah wtf)

 

Ok so the 2nd Gens are in on this!!!

 

Any chance of getting one with all red cyclones?