I've been thinking up creative ways to get more light from the factory reverse lights on my truck. Yes I know that I can buy auxiliary lights (I've had the KC brand back up lights before and they worked great), but I'd rather not have anything hanging lower than the bumper to get ripped off. Plus I'm trying to keep most of the mods on my truck stealthy because I live in Seattle and have already had one truck stolen and another broken into.

Here are my questions:
1. Has anyone on here ever tried those 50watt halogen 1156 bulbs that are made by Design Tech (or any other brand)? They cost about $20 for a pair. I've read mixed reviews on them... people say they work good but burn out fast.

2. Could the stock tailight wiring handle the amperage draw of a 55 watt halogen H3 bulb? I was looking at the tailight today and it looks like it would be fairly easy to retrofit an H3 bulb into the reverse light housing. Cost: free since I have a bunch of 55watt H3 bulbs laying around.

3. Finally, what do you think about retrofitting some 35watt HID bulbs into the housing? I saw a picture of it online somewhere and it was BRIGHT! My only concerns with this setup are that rumor says HID bulbs don't like turning on and off, and that HID bulbs have to warm up to full brightness (althought I'd believe that even not at full output they would still be brighter than the stock bulbs). This setup would cost about $30 (cheap HID kit from DDMtuning).

I found the picture I was talking about for question 3...

 

Man that throws of more light than my KC's. What the heck are those?!

 

The guy that posted that picture on another side didn't say much other than they are HID bulbs in the reverse lights... I'd assume he retrofitted some 35watt HID bulbs in his factory taillights from what the picture looks like.

That's what I'm really wanting to do but I'm concerned about them turning on and off multiple times a day. Everything I read says that is bad for HID bulbs... then again they are so cheap it might be worth just giving it a try.

 

hids take a bit to warm up and cost a bit of $. as far as reverse aux lights unless they have the appropriate gauge of wire running to them i would not use them with the factory wiring. LED driving lights would be the best due to draw.

 

I did some searching and it looks like 18 gauge wire would be required to run 55 watt halogen bulbs... so does anyone know if the factory tailight wiring is 18 gauge? If no one knows, I can go take apart my tailight and try to figure it out tomorrow afternoon.

 

i would not use 18ga wire thats way to small get some 14ga its cheap and use a relay !

 

Yeah I know I keep responding to my own post, but the more I research, the more I learn...

I looked at the wiring diagram in my Haynes manual and if I'm reading it correctly, the back-up lights are powered off the same circuit as the gauges which are all powered off of a 10A fuse... Considering that 55watt bulbs should be drawing around 4-5amps each, I would assume that the factory wiring wouldn't be able to handle the load. Which is confusing because that Design Tech company sells a 50watt halogen bulb that uses the factory wiring... I'd assume it would be drawing pretty much the same amperage as a 55watt bulb...

Looks like if I decide to retrofit a 55watt H3 bulb, I'll need to run new power wires and a relay for the lights.

 

I just wish my reverse lights would work. It's rare when they do. I'm thinking about hacking into the wiring, and just putting in a toggle switch...... Which opens up a lot of possibilities as far as tailgaters or people who creep up on your bumper at stop lights are concerned. lol

 

Borrowed...

"I put 50watt halogen back up bulbs in place of my little super whites. Advanced Auto carries them for a few dollars, Pep Boys carrier a better version but costs around $10. Here's what's in my truck:



..."


Not taking cred... This is from Bear80's post on another forum...

 

wow, can't delete... that's a new one to me.

 

just throw in a 3way switch or a 2way hard part is where to put them new lights at '

 

Due to a pop-up ad on this website I wrote to these guys because I could not locate led headlights as a retrofit :
Customer.Service@sylvania.com
I got this reply
Tom Burke/HID/2001 Toyota Tacoma prerunner V6

Tom, thank you for your inquiry. We do not offer HID retrofit kits any longer. You may want to check with our Sister Company Valeo Sylvania as they do offer these types of products. http://www.xsighting.com/

Below are our items that are available to you if desired. They're not HID but we do offer premium halogen lighting solutions.

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...uctComparison/

2001 TOYOTA Tacoma

High & low beam headlamp
9003/HB2
9003SU Silverstar ULTRA for Ultra Night Vision - The Whitest and Brightest Halogen
9003ST Silverstar High Performance Lighting: The Whiter and Brighter Halogen
9003EB EcoBright - Your Environmental Choice
9003XV XtraVision Halogen - The Brighter Light
9003CB Cool Blue Halogen - The Whiter Light

Regards,
Customer Service

has anyone found led's for our toys???

 

Guys you all are making this harder than it is, i'm working on a set of led reverse lights right now, and so far test fitting them just one light is already bright enough I can't wait till I hook up the other one I'll post up some pics on when its done and all I have in it right now is $10, some solder and time. I'll try posting up some pics in between doing a headgasket on my DD 4runner and doing and RR on my 2door runner and school it's kinda crazy. Did some reverse leds on my mustang and it was one of the best things I have ever done thats what got me into doing it on the 4runner working on spare tailight and converting that to led too. Just need to stop and take some pics.

 

I stuck in a pair of 30 LED 1156 bulbs in mine. I went for the narrow beam width version and the light output is great. Problem with the stock reverse light is the reflector (or lack thereof). I tried painting over the factory black plastic, helped a little. The LEDs are nice because they have built in reflectors and the narrow beam pattern (30 degrees wide as I recall) puts the light out in back where you need it):
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/LEDs/7.html





I have found those 50w halogen bulbs are a good way to burn out your factory reverse light switch, BTDT!