Custom LED PRO Tail lights

Any tips on getting the tail lights apart before I start hacking them up? I have an extra set of 18 OR tails, I want to black out everything and mask it so just the face of the “C” where you have leds is left unmasked and paint everything else black so that’s the only light that shines through. A poor mans Meso tail light if you would, I have your stage 2 kit on my pro’s but wanna switch back to stock with the extra set of triton adapters I have. Just figured with 2 sets of OR tails I’d be willing to try taking one set apart to darken them up from the inside

 

Contact or look for posts from @20tacoma17 as he did this pretty recently.

 

Tips? Have a back up set ready?

 

I used this Meso thread to get them apart. A few post into it he shows you where to cut.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-btlm-led-retrofit.467712/

 

thankfully I have 2 sets of stock red tails from a friend trading his in with Depo pro’s on it. So it wouldn’t hurt too much if I ruin them lol

 

Awesome that’s perfect, thanks for the help!

 

Careful when you cut them open, you'll gouge the lens pretty easily if you're not careful. Ask me how I know.

 

Any word on this? Really like to look of these tail lights.

 

I was wondering the same thing!!

 

I contacted through their website, update I got was they have so much going on they don't expect to cycle back to these until 2nd quarter next year at best

 

It felt like it was a once a year thing.
Or that was how it felt, as I have tried getting them once each year since 2017.
Finally for a set this year, but still wanting the BroPro version.

 

Here is a short clip showing how these light up the neighborhood with the brake on. Almost look like the afterburners are on...

 

Are they hard to look at? I like the design, but to be honest, I really dislike overly bright tail lights. German cars have been guilty of this the last few years. Your turn signal or brake lights shouldn't make me squint.

 

So this is a valid point. The problem is finding a good brightness balance. You need them BRIGHT in the day in order to not wash out in the sun, or reflections. But then on the same token, at night they are now overly bright. I think the perfect setup would be 100% bright output in the day, but at night it adjusts down to 60% output(turn signals too) so it’s bearable.

 

I only have a layman's understanding of LED's, but I have a feeling that might increase the price a fair bit, right? Probably need some sort of logic board controller, and have it reduce the voltage based upon whether the running lights are on or not, if the LED's can even support that? I know some LED's really dislike being underdriven (to the point of flickering), unlike incandescents.

 

Also probably doesn't help that the Meso Ultimate 3rd Brake Light was also involved with the lighting of the neighborhood....

 

that’s a lot of light!

 

With all the MESO lighting I have, I often claim to friends and family that I harness the power the the sun with my truck

 

Meso Any tips before I start attempting to peal up LED strips? Seem to have a loose ground or power connection. Either the ground is from underneath and strip has lost connection or strip internal has broke connections guessing before I start since I can bend and everything comes on fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6aK8jKpVdk


Diode Dynamics is about 10 mins from me, took the LED board to them. Was told that appears to be something they used to make but dont anymore. One of Diode Dynamics guys took a look and made the diagnosis the internal ground is not connecting correctly since the bends appear to be effecting it. One reason they stopped producing a similar product.


https://www.aspectled.com/products/l-series-dotless-linear-led-strip-lights#

I reached out to another company and found something that appears to be what could fix but no longevity I feel like ones installed in mine. I am starting to think the only way to get something to last is create a custom PCB which would cost quite a lot for a small batch. I ended up taking the Bro Pros apart, pulling out custom LED board. Then sealing them backup. Purchased 4 RED LEDs from Diode Dynamics to install for the Running / Brake light, made a custom harness for brakes. Doesnt look as nice but works and shouldnt have issues anymore. Its bright as hell though.

 

Looks to be the same thing happening to my driver side.