Pod lights in rear of 5th gen

Has anyone ever cut some of the plastic rear bumper trim off to get access to the frame ends and welded some pod light brackets on? I want some more light when in reverse. I'd like to cut a bunch of that plastic off but I'm afraid with my oversized spare stuffed in there it would look odd.

 

I did the "tail as turn" mod from diode dynamics a week after i bought my turd, and allows a way WAY brighter reverse lights. Pretty nifty and took about 10mins to do both. Plug and play. I also have rock lights back there for when i want all the light on the trail. But for daily, the diode dynamics kit is a treat. Cheers.

 

You don’t need to weld to the frame. The plastic can support the lights. These are reverse, rear fogs, extra brake lights, and running lights

 

Can you give us the details on those lights, Kezin?

 

Baja Designs and Diode Dynamics both make a light that goes into the hitch and you can tap the trailer wiring for signal. There's also someone that does a pod kit that mounts underneath the bumper if you use the hitch enough to not bother with swapping the light out.

Only problem I have with just cutting the bumper is you get one shot and you can't re-aim them if you're wrong.

 

Another options as posted on Trail4Runner;

https://trail4runner.com/2020/03/23/baja-designs-s2-chase-lights-on-4runner-roof-or-bumper/

 

Diode Dynamics SSC1R pair in flush mount with their SSC1R trailer harness. That gives you extra brake lights, running lights, and reverse lights. I then added an additional wire running off the driver fog light to the main red beam that’s shared with the extra brake lights. Both sources have diodes on them so they can’t back feed each other. When the fog lights are on, that takes priority over the additional brake lights.

 

Another option;

https://trail4runner.com/2021/07/13/lasfit-led-pods-chase-lights-and-reverse-lights/

 

I'll admit the brain cramp -- you told me earlier that those are SSC1Rs.

 

Mind if I ask where you tied into the fog light at? I saw someone do this near the stalk in a YT video, but wondering if there is a more accessible location to use.

 

Just put in LED backup bulbs. Better than hacking up the bumper.

 

I have been looking into this setup because it seems low pro-file

https://www.etsy.com/listing/146532...ick_sum=fedd57d9&ref=shop_home_active_1&crt=1

 

How about this? No drilling required. I simply used the two 10mm bolts that secure the lower edge of the bumper cover. The lights are hard wired to the reverse lights.

 

I'm just gonna order the led reverse lights heh.

 

This short vid will give you a suggestion where to mount a light. A buddy had 3"x4" lights mounted in that area on his Gen 5. Works great. Yeah, the vid shows a Gen 4, but you get the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHH58a_5ZjQ

 

Here's a pic of the rear frame. Where the lights are, there were factory holes that had to be hogged out. Where the recovery points are welded is a 3"x 4" flat area.

 

I did it at the fog light. Already had an adapter to go to the SS3s I had mounted so I just pulled that and tapped it on the bench vs trying to contort myself to get it done elsewhere