Wiring Reverse Spot Lights on a 3rd Gen Tacoma

I have an aftermarket bumper and I have spot lights that I would like to wire into the reverse lights. I have the factory tow package but I am wondering what color the wire is that I tap into? Thanks

 

I have no idea what color wire you tap into but if I were you whatever that wire is, I would run to a relay. T-30 would come from that color wire. T 87 would go to ground ( any existing screw or bolt will be fine ). T85 or 86 will get it's own power straight from the battery with an inline fuse rated as all the wire to whatever watts these lights are combined. Next whichever Terminal is left goes to both lights in series or parallel. ( series is a wire to one lamp and then to the next from there ) I will assume these lamps are grounded with the nuts and bolts you install at the rear bumper . If not there will be a ground wire from them that can go to any existing bolt or screw nearby .

 

If the spot lights are LED, you can run them directly off the Reverse light wire for the 7 pin jack. The lighting circuits for the trailer jack already have relays & fuse protection separating their functions from the truck lights.
This however still doesn't help you identify which wire to connect to on the trailer harness. Backup light connection should be the center pin on the 7 pin connector.

 

http://www.dieselhub.com/towing/trailer-wiring.html

 

Pull the tail light assembley and look.
-Edit, you're better off making the connection there anyway since that cubby offers more protection for the tap than anywhere behind the bumper or on the frame.

 

LOL I am old school and LED is the last thing that comes to mind. VE7OSR is correct if they are LED.

 

It's the green wire coming from the middle connection of the round plug. Just get some blue wire taps and piggyback. Ground the other wire and set. Super easy, don't make it difficult

 

I live in the salt belt NH, and wiretaps by Scotch turn wire here green in a little time. I find it surprising you can use them in a state where every 3 days or so you have to clean the windshield on the inside or suffer a garden on the dash I thought you guys might be using Round Up as a dash cleaner !

 

Yeah man....it's brutal here in Coonass country...but for what it's worth, I've checked mine multiple times, and had no issues. I put the LED pods in my bumper. Best thing I've done so far. Honestly...if you aren't running a trailer ever with a reverse light...(I've never seen one in my life), cut that green wire, and solder both hot leads to it, throw on some shrink tubing and you should be good forever.

 

If i had a trailer I'd want reverse lights on it too.

 

From my experience, the reverse circuit is more so used on trailers with surge brakes. There is a solenoid that bypasses the brake fluid when the vehicle gets put in reverse, in order to allow for backing of the trailer. Otherwise, backing up would put pressure on the surge brake system, thus not allowing the trailer to roll.

 

I just put mine on an add a fuse through an empty interior 12v fuse slot.



That way it works whenever I need more light, but not necessarily when I’m backing out of a spot at the mall..

 

In the 38 years that I have been driving, I have pulled 40' double stack enclosed trailers, down to my 8' utility trailer..I have still yet to have seen one with them...not saying they dont have em, but I know this, with the LED pods I have on my truck, there is no need for any trailer to ever have to have them behind my truck.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-led-reverse-pods.540403/

 

Hmmm...Never knew that, but i've never had a trailer with brakes on them either. I have pulled many, just never personally owned one.

 

Any chance of a picture of them lights at night with the U't trailer attached?

 

I havent ever done it, but trust me...it's not much different than daytime when those suckers are on. Ask anyone that has posted on the thread that I made, or anyone else with these, it's a game changer

 

My 10.5' trailer has brake lights on it. Loaded with Atv's or my SxS, I would think most of the light would be blocked at the front and you wouldn't be able to see behind it well without. I do want to add some Rigid's to my RCI bumper though. Already has the cut outs, so why not. Would be great on trails.