Diode Dynamics HitchMount Reverse Light Kit...feedback?

Anyone tried one of these?

I thought everything these guys made was good,
but Amazon says its a frequently returned product

so any feedback from folks that have one?

$128 Diode Dynamics HitchMount Reverse Light Kit, C1R + Brake

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKQY67ZF/

 

I've considered that before, I thought "WHY was it returned so much?" But in this case, there are lots of great reviews and a high rating.





4.4 stars out of 5. They've gotta be doing something right. I bet most of the returns because they bought the wrong item, or thought it worked for their truck and then realized it wouldn't work. If it's a shit product, then return it. Amazon takes anything back.

 

I have one of these. I got the C1R + Brake version. Seems to work as advertised. I got it for the backup light and the safety strobe feature. Using a Bulletproof Stainless Steel Trailer Hitch Locking Pin with it. (Black Ops Editon)

 

Could it be because people realized they need the hitch for something else than an additional light?
Long ago I had an additional break light and now I have recovery hitch receiver.

 

I am 50 and my night vision is starting to decrease. I have found it very helpful in backing up at night, and it is easily disconnected if you need to tow something. Takes about 45 seconds to disconnect it and move the wires out of the way for your trailer. I wish I woulda paid for the strobe, it's a good safety feature but I cheaped out and got the standard one.

 

I have the C1R + Brake kit. My aftermarket tail lights are great EXCEPT the reverse lights. So I tried the Hitchmount out and it's great. I would also recommend their Turn as tail mod if you have stock tail lights. Those were even better with some nice LED bulbs

 

Every bad review seems to be from F150 owners. And one video isn't even a Hitchmount so maybe the 3rd party seller screwed them. I still think it's a great kit for the 4Runner

 

Thanks for the feedback
I just went and read the negative reviews, and as PP mentioned they are from F-150 owners

I also got the Bulletproof Stainless Steel Trailer Hitch Locking Pin

 

I bought one, and rather than use the factory supplied harness i put a 7wire plug on mine so i can plug it into the standard plug.
Also, it sits WAY farther out than they show in all of the 4runner pictures. The locking tabs that lock it into the receiver make it stick way out. I modified this by machining two buttons that fit in the receiver hitch pin holes and using a small stinger screw to screw into the plastic body of the light assembly to hold the light flush with the end of the receiver.
Pix below

 

They specifically say it doesn’t work with some models and they list the make/models it doesn’t work with on their site. I’d guess a lot of those returns are owners of the models it doesn’t work with. I have the dual set as flush mount backup and brake lights. Also set to come on with fog switch. Love them. Good addition

 

Yours didn't come with the 7 pin attachment? Mine came all wired and was just plug and play.

 

It came with a harness that attached to the back of the 7pin plug, basically a T-harness. I didnt want to install that, i preferred to keep the OEM plug just as it was. Plus this was a test, more or less to see if my wife liked it more than the one i built. When we got the new TRD Sport with technology package it came with the 360degree camera system which had epic'ally awful rear view camera. I installed a better camera system and LED reverse lights which helped out a ton but there was a dead spot right behind you so i built a backup light out of a brake light assembly. It was so bright that it made the camera dim down and then worked against the purpose i intended. I bought this Diode Dynamics light as a test to see if it did the job but was dimmer than the one i built.
So the one i built, i built to use a 7 wire plug, and afterwards when this Diode Dynamics came out i did the same with so i could simply unplug it if i didnt like it and sell it to someone else rather than unhook the factory wiring.

 

I've been thinking about getting one of these so I could leave the hitch in.

Tow Hitch Bracket Tow Hitch Receiver Light Mounting Bracket Fit for Dual LED Cube/Work Lights Bar Pod Backup Reverse Rear Back Up Off Road Lights Fit for Truck SUV Trailer RV Pick Up (2 in-2.5 in)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPLM8X3L/?coliid=ITFCOLJPRDY9J&colid=1PRMHJ5NWOY6C&th=1

 

I’ll tell you from experience. If you make it too bright back there, the camera dims down and the image on the screen darkens. You’re in a catch-22, that’s why I ended up scuffing the lens of the one I built to try to “quieten” it down some and it wasn’t enough so I ended up painting the reflector black and that helped a lot but it’s still too bright. I got the diode dynamics hoping with that diffused lens it would be dimmer and it is. Sometimes the screen darkens with the diode dynamics and sometimes it doesn’t. If you had 2 pod lights back there the image on screen might darken down so bad you can’t see anything in the corners.

 

RIP departure angle

 

I use a 41.22 hitch recovery point there so I've never bothered with the hitch light personally.

Lasfit makes some LED replacement bulbs for the reverse lights. This provides enough light for the backup camera at night for me.
Too much lighting and you may run into a glare/dimming issue that someone mentioned above.

 

I also got the LED bulbs but my 5th gen is lifted and the LED bulbs sitting back in the housing doesn’t give great projection down at the ground right behind the bumper. The LED reverse lights in stock housing is bright as all get-out and lights a building up 100ft behind you but….. directly behind and under the bumper for about 6ft behind you is a big black shadow of nothing. Sure you can see but it’s not lit up like I would have liked it to be which is what sent me down the road of the receiver hitch light.

 

Oh...You're one of those handy people who are competent with stuff. LOL. I hate dealing with wiring and electrical stuff so I opted to just get the prewired one. You mentioned you changed the camera for your 4Runner. I also have the 360 and hate the quality. Did you just throw in a whole new system or upgrade cameras?

 

here friend
A thread full of what if’s, how it works, before and after pix. Hope you’re using desktop and have a good ad blocker. I wouldnt try to open this on a mobile phone unless you got REALLY good connection. The ads and pop ups will crash a phone with minimal service.

 

Actually I was thinking about mounting an extended trailer wiring connector to the top of one side and a back up light to the top of the other side. Anything to the bottom seems like a problem waiting to happen.

edit: I just looked and scrapped that idea. The mount is too short.

 

Installed mine in January 2023. Backed it into snowbanks a couple of times. Still running strong 16 months later:

 

I bought one from Amazon and installed it yesterday, I haven't zip tied the cords up yet cause not sure Im keeping it

Tip for removing your 7 pin connector to install this is use a standard screwdrive (a 90 bend helps) and gently lift the clip on the left side of the connector,
you don't need to remove the tape. Mine had 54 miles on it and had never been wet, so Im sure on older rigs it will be even harder to remove

I can choke down the $159 price, and it does throw more reverse light, but it sticks out farther than any marketing pictures show

And the locking hitch pin may keep it secure, but it still sticks out too far...gonna return my $50 locking pin

 

I guess you missed my post above from last week? Where i said the exact same thing and posted pictures.

 

No, I saw your post...and you are a lot more handy than me

but if I keep it, I will try your method of using a small screw to hold it further in place

I only tow something when one of my old vehicles breaks down, but don't want it too hard to remove

 

Try their Turn as Tail mod. It was amazing if you use brighter LED bulbs in the back. I thought it was more useful than the Hitchmount

https://www.diodedynamics.com/2014-2024-toyota-4runner-tail-as-turnr-module-backup-module-usdm.html

 

hot dang that’s a heck of an idea that’s a whole lot of real estate in the tail with a clear lens over it as the turn signal spot. Boy with a good bulb in there I bet that rocks as a reverse light.

 

Honestly, if I didn't get an amazing deal from a friend for my Morimotos, I would have kept my tail as turn stock lights. They were amazingly bright

 

Wow, those look great...
and, even with all the upgrades, those are $279...
The DD hitch mount was $159...

The turn to tail looks like MUCH better money spent...

Did you have any problems with these?

 

I used the DD Turn to Tail. But instead of an extra Tail or BU light, I repined the turn wire to be used as an extra pair of brake lights.
The red LED bulb that I used, has a fast flash (5 times) and then solid red as bright as the factory LED brake lights.
So from a distance, it looks physically larger than the stock 2 rows of red diodes.

 

No problems at all with the kit. And I don't remember spending $279. I think I sourced the bulbs from another website. But seeing how useful this mod was, I say it's worth it. Also, I think it's only $279 if you get their top tier light bulbs.