Rear fog light(s)

Crash, do you know if a 21w halogen rear fog will keep the snow off it?

 

Lots of variables there. Assembly size, bulb placement etc. I’d need a thermal measurement for proper analysis. If you have it already, does the assembly feel warm when on?

 

No I ordered that slim hella led.

 

Late to this thread. Owning a white truck I'm always looking for ways to improve visibility to other drivers in the winter. I personally have the split putco blade and love it although it is not a replacement for rear fog lights. I suppose you could get creative with wiring to produce brake light output when your fogs are on. I've debated the jw speaker 274 previously but haven't put too much thought into an attractive mounting solution. There is an L-bracket option.

https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/led-stop-turn-tail-light-model-274/#product_parts

 

Caught up and see the light arrived, can you share a picture? Curious how it compares to the catalog.

 

Going to repeat what Daniel stern and Virgil from the CP forum both said. Because it's red doesn't make it a rear fog light.

 

Looks exactly like the pictures online.

 

I really like it, but the biggest problem I have is where to mount it on my 4Runner. Since the whole back end literally covers with snow within a mile or two in a snow storm, anything I do would have to be mounted inside the back window.

 

Came over from the fog light thread.

I don't know the placement, style and functions. Have you looked into Law Enforcement lights? You know they are extremely bright! I would assume with their small size and insane power that they would be able to keep snow off of them. Most have many functions to run at full power (probably too bright at full power) and at lower levels. But they can be pricey depending on the ones you go with.

The Feniex ones are the only ones to my knowledge that have 4 colors throughout the entire length, most have one half one color and the other half a second color. The cool thing with the Feniex "Quad Series" since it has red, blue, amber and white LED's. It can function as a running light, brake light (with a "brake pop" function), amber turn signal, white reverse light and practically any other function you can think of. Plus if you only use 3 functions, you don't need a separate controller. Watch some videos on them on youtube, there is no way you won't be noticed depending on the brightness level. It would be wise not to run at full power unless you don't want anyone within 200ft of you. lol The examples below can be had cheaper elsewhere, this was just a quick link for me.

This one can be surface mounted, flush mounted or on a bracket. It has a nice wide spread (60 degrees) that somewhat resembles a fog light style beam pattern. Many length options as well.
https://www.fleetsafety.com/feniex-quad-surface-flush-mount-four-color-led-light-head/
This is the same optics and appears to be the same specs as above but in a larger housing, maybe older design? This is also available much cheaper in a single color as well.
https://www.fleetsafety.com/feniex-quad-series-single-module-four-color-led-stick-light/

A couple videos of the quad. This would be my choice if going with something like this.
https://youtu.be/unlLJDhwsb8

https://youtu.be/HssyzxAuvog

These ones have a 180 or 40 degree optics available BUT only one color.
https://www.fleetsafety.com/feniex-fusion-surface-flush-mount-led-light-head/

The VLED's Strip Lights might be one option as well as their Pod Lights. Checkout the LEO/Emergency vehicle lighting websites, they have some really good options!

As far as mounting goes... Sky's the limit. I would think mounting on top of the cab or on the bed sides behind the cab would likely be the best if snow collection is an issue like @xMaverickx posted. Often times if the are mounted below the bumper they won't collect snow either since they aren't in the same wind stream, but aesthetically not that great and can catch on stuff pretty easily. Heck there's even the option to put "hideaway" lights in your tail light like LEO cars have. But again you run into the issue of snow collection.

 

I know my forward facing rigid pro fogs don’t get hot enough to melt snow or sleet.

 

Additionally Cali-Raised makes these mounts for the back corners of the bed that might work well for your lighting.

https://caliraisedled.com/products/05-15-tacoma-bed-accessory-mount

 

I hate sharing stuff before it is at least partially realized, but here is what I am working on. I’ll try to get better pictures when it gets closer to being done (it is very far from that right now).
Using 1 1/4 aluminum channel, I made some mounts for the rear end. They will mount under the bumper, and follow the body lines pretty well. Here:

That spot also allowed for easy mounting as there are clips there for the bumper cover that can easily be replaced with some different hardware if needed (I haven’t gotten that far yet). It did take some modification to the aluminum. I had to remove some from the top top clear the bracket and bolt toward the center, but that was a quick job with a router. Anyway, the plan is to use a VLED LPB on each side, as well as a LPR for some other lighting (either more reverse light, or most likely going to tie it to the cargo light to act as a scene light, but that isn’t really relevant here…). So I took a die grinder to the LPB so I could make them more of a surface mount. They will kind of go like this:

Once again, this is a very rough explanation. When it is all done, I will definitely update though with some half way decent pictures. But maybe it will give someone an idea to expand upon.

 

Lousy picture but hopefully representative. Freaking cold so took one and ran back inside. In bright sunlight the tail lights are barely visible but the Hella rear fog is bright.

 

I don't have any fabrication skills so I'm thinking about mounting the light to a trailer plate bracket in the same location.

 

I suck at fabrication. That is the nice thing about aluminum though. You can cut it with a carbide tipped blade. So a chop saw and a wood router will do it. I plan on getting a little fancier with some additional lights on it, so I will weld a cap on the end and make a bolt in angle to infill the bottom, but that isn’t necessary at all. I’ll get some pictures when I do the other side. But aluminum is fairly cheap, easy to work with, and won’t rust. If you are into off-roading it may not be the best spot though.

 

How are you planning on mounting it? I assume its outside the cab, mounted to the bed? Looks good though.

 

Not going there, just wanted to see how bright it was. At this point the plan is attaching it to a trailer plate bracket behind and under the bumper. 2nd idea is not putting on a tailgate light bar and mounting it between the tailgate and bumper.

 

Night shot.

 

I am not sure if you are looking into this for yourself or trying to help me out? If you read from the beginning of this thread you will see one of the 1st lights I investigated was VLeds plate brake light, at 143cd it is right at the lower limit of the spec for a rear fog light. Had lots of other ideas too but decided to get a real ECE labeled rear fog light instead of trying to make something work. Doesn't mean whatever would be used wouldn't work but 3 waaaaaay smarter than myself individuals all said the same thing. Just because it is red and facing backwards doesn't make it a fog or a brake light. I'd recommend looking at this thread if you want further details....
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/would-this-make-a-good-rear-fog-light.413715/
There is probably no way in hell it would ever be profitable for them but if DD could make a snow melting rear fog light that would be great.

Also with placement the sky really isn't the limit since they are supposed to be from 250 to 1000mm above the ground and center to far left if you only have one.

Those won't work for me, I don't have a tacoma. I am an outsider who wound up here because it is one of the best lighting forums on the web, nothing like it on a ford site.

 

I suppose I didn't read through the whole thread, my bad.

I didn't realize there was a height limit on rear fog lights either. Makes me wonder how Ford gets away with the 3 running lights by the 3rd brake light on the Raptor? Maybe they are considered under some other reg? I tried looking for regs but of course you have to pay to get the actual text. Would be nice to have open access to make proper decisions, lets FOIA that! LOL

I hear ya on getting the part designed for the purpose. Been there and done that on many other projects trying to use something for a purpose it wasn't intended for, often times just wasting time and money. I'm curious how and where you plan on mounting it.

Sorry about the brackets, I always forget your the F150 guy on here. Nothing wrong with that at all, diversity is great!!