Tail Lights

Yes, that’s one of the main reasons I got them. Yes, they are definitely plenty bright even though they are smoked.

 

My order for the resistors and future bed lighting arrived at the parcel delivery place I use in Point Roberts this morning. I will go down and pick them up next week on my days off. Only ordered on Wednesday. Very happy with them.

 

Factory tail light assemblies and an amber turn signal. I can live with the price.

To me, an amber turn signal is safer, and easier seen, especially in our rainy climate on roads that are almost foggy from all the water spray at times.

 

VLEDS is my favorite small-scale LED company. The guys there are awesome with great CS, amazing quality, and just well thought out products. For large-scale stuff I consider Rigid to be the equivalent, but with worse customer service just because they’re bigger. I consider them about equal on their fantastic products and designs.

I’ve tested many different led bulbs for turn signals and such over the years and VLEDS is the only brand with options that are even good at all. Diode dynamics was hot garbage for bulbs, as were lasfit, Sylvania, superbrightLEDS, anything on Amazon, etc. VLEDS are bright and I’ve never had one fail.

 

Safety/visibility is the important part, but just plain good looks is a big improvement with the kit. Overall there are no downsides.

Obviously lots of Tacomas out there, so you end up behind them all the time. I can definitely confirm that after being behind so many, the factory tail light setup is ridiculously dumb. If the brake lights are on, you will 100% not see the turn signal unless you are directly staring at the tail lamps. The red is just not visible and the fact that the turn is a mirror of the brakes, just makes it not obvious at all. The 2nd gen was much better.

 

I have never tried Superbright bulbs, but I have there clearance lights on my trailer and RV, and brake/turns on my trailer... nearly a decade and I have never had water issues or bulb failures...

The commercial vehicles I work on at work use Dailight, Grote and Truck-lite. We are constantly warranting then because of water or failure issues.

I picked up a 6 inch red light bar from VLED for a third brake lamp mod on my softopper. I am very impressed with the quality, briteness, and compact size. So happy that I bought a bunch of 3 inch ones for my bed lighting set up.

 

Wish I knew about the VLED before I got my MESO stage 1’s. They are still one of my favorite upgrades but my nitpick like mentioned above is how the difference in running lights and brake lights isn’t dramatic enough. I’m concerned if a bulb needs to be replaced MESO will be difficult to get a hold of.

Regardless they still look better than any aftermarket option and arguably the factory tail lamps tend to be the best made.

 

I thought the same thing, which is why I have two switchback and two of the brake/tail bulbs sitting in the garage. If/when they burn out I didn't want to be chasing them down.

 

Anywhere online I can source the bulbs? Thank you!

 

I think my smoked ones are from Meso or Cali...can't remember but they were just plug and play. No issues, took a few minutes.

 

Nothing wrong with aftermarket. I have mine with total tail kit. My stock taillights have red glass (they are stored in the box in the storage)... The ones I have on the truck have clear glass which '17 pro has clear glass on pro taillights as stock..

Mine looks OEM but taillights are aftermarket.

 

I got them directly from Meso. If they don't show them on the website send them an email, which is what I did. They usually have replacement bulbs around even though they aren't listed on the site.

 

I don’t want to speak for him but I think when he says aftermarket, he means full replacement led assemblies like alpharex or form, or eBay specials. Not stock looking housings made by the aftermarket.

 

Aftermarket means you replace them with something else. no matter what.

If you change original bulbs to leds, then that's aftermarket.. That includes brand change.

If you buy taillights from Toyota, then your truck looks stock but dealers know the bulbs. I am sure they don't care.

The dealers do not care what you do with the truck.. It's your truck.

 

Lol. I know what the word aftermarket means. What I’m saying is when speedfreak mentions “aftermarket” tail lamps, the ones I’m pretty certain he doesn’t like are the ones I mentioned by alpharex, form, eBay specials, etc. not stock lookalikes.

 

I know what he meant... Like I said, NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM (No matter what kind of taillights from ANY vendors). I have XB headlights on front. And "pro" like taillights on back.

AlphaRex, Meso, etc.. whoever make tail lights, they all are fine. Nothing wrong with those.

 

Nothing wrong with aftermarket assemblies is a matter of opinion. My opinion is the factory assembly is far superior in quality, material and fitment. I am not knocking anyone who differs from my opinion. We are all entitled to our own opinions.

The lights inside them, I am happy to change and rewire if I had too. It just so happens the aftermarket helped me out there and I am very happy with the quality.

If you are happy with your lamps then that is all that matters. I am happy with mine.