LED Backup pod

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Joined
Dec 8, 2025
Threads
17
Messages
285
Location
Moose Mtn. Alaska
For the most part, reverse lights were put on cars to basically inform or suggest to the driver behind you that you have engaged reverse as they don't actually illuminate anything. Given our dark winters thankfully sans road lights (they truly kill your aurora viewing) I'm looking for some LED pod/location suggestions for my 2021 LC200.

Here is a pic of TOWMBO'd 2020 Macan S that achieved what I'm looking to do on the LC. Any suggestions? TIA

siberian

Cut-out.webp


Reverse.webp
 
If you are ok taking up your hitch while not in use, diode dynamics C1R is a fantastic option. I went with a bit cleaner approach imo and did a xenon depot xtr lp license plate light. Its not as bright as any legitimate pod, but it's definitely quite clean and out of the way.

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Wow that C1R is a sweet solution. Excellent, thank you!

Ordered, next is the tail lights and winterizing if the car ever gets here! Denso TPMS ordered,valve stem lift kit, rims, center cap, Nokian tires to be ordered and still have some room for more goodies from the insurance money! Just hope my Porsches don't get jealous.

siberian
 
I have the c1r kit and am having a hard time with the trailer harness connector. The DD harness is supposed to go inline of the OEM harness and connector but for the life of me I can’t disconnect the thing and I’ve tried the push pins, bolts, brute force, etc.

Your other option is these 3d printed reflector housings that mount a couple of cube lights.

 
Well it was connected at some point so it has to be able to be removed... I assume the unit is clean and this looks like the type of connector (I don't have the car yet so I can't take a picture) but got this from etrailer.com.

You'll notice on the pic below at 7 o'clock there's a pin that needs to be pushed to release. The one o'clock slot is just a guide tab. If you can't depress the tab any further try inserting a small flat head screwdriver to depress the tab. You should then be able to pull it out. Please let us know if that works for you.

siberian

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Consider replacing the existing incandescent bulbs with LED.

Plug & play.
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Old incandescent vs. LED.
The yellowish glow of the incandescent is barely visible with the LED overpowering it.
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^Likewise, I would recommend replacing the bulbs in the backup fixtures first. I have the same need camping out in boonies and it can be pitch black on a moonless night. With enough lumens, the lenses do a good job of dispersing light and the backup camera is much much more useful.

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You can also modify the rear reflectors to make them active rear fogs. I use this regularly as chase lights in the day as dirt and silt can be blinding to the cars in the rear, but also as good running lights in the dark and fog.

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Another hitch light option are the Baja Designs S1 Hitch Lights which are probably the brightest aftermarket option. I don't use it as much as I would like as I use a hitch carrier often in my offroad trips. It comes as a white light with a optional yellow diffuser.

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^Likewise, I would recommend replacing the bulbs in the backup fixtures first. I have the same need camping out in boonies and it can be pitch black on a moonless night. With enough lumens, the lenses do a good job of dispersing light and the backup camera is much much more useful.

View attachment 4055869

You can also modify the rear reflectors to make them active rear fogs. I use this regularly as chase lights in the day as dirt and silt can be blinding to the cars in the rear, but also as good running lights in the dark and fog.

View attachment 4055870

Another hitch light option are the Baja Designs S1 Hitch Lights which are probably the brightest aftermarket option. I don't use it as much as I would like as I use a hitch carrier often in my offroad trips. It comes as a white light with a optional yellow diffuser.

View attachment 4055871
Paul did you plug the S1 straight into the front of the trailer connector or did you disconnect and go through the back?
 
Paul did you plug the S1 straight into the front of the trailer connector or did you disconnect and go through the back?

I actually plug in via a switched Anderson circuit I added. Sorry don't have any insight on the trailer plug.
 
@dudemancool1904 did u manage to disconnect the tow harness? Is the connector I showed above the one you have?

siberian
 
@dudemancool1904 did u manage to disconnect the tow harness? Is the connector I showed above the one you have?

siberian
Nope no dice. The back of the OEM connector looks nothing like the etrailer one you posted. I’ll take a pic for you.
 
@dudemancool1904 , here are two types of connectors I found perhaps it's one of these. In either case, on the single 7 pin you need to depress the two lock tabs at 11 and 12 o'clock (circled in blue) with a small screwdriver to unlock it and then lift the connector up and out.

If it's the split connector it looks like there are two tabs one black the other slightly larger grey that need to be depressed to be able to slide the body to the right based on the picture. I hope that helps

siberian

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So given this is my first rodeo on Toyotas I decided to check concerning the rear light pod and the the onboard connector. This is the reply I received. Can anyone (as I don't have the car yet but would prefer not to have to return the item) what kind of trailer connector set up a 2021 LC200 has? It seems some are hardwired

Here is their reply:

Hello Greg,

Thanks for reaching out! You'll want to check one more thing; we've seen that many Land Cruisers, while they do have the outboard 7-Pin, they are hardwired from the back. Our kit will require the 7-Pin to disconnect from behind the bumper, like below:
The outboard 7-Pin and the behind-the-bumper connection are slightly different, and ours will only fit the rear type.

Hopefully this helps, and if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out!

Thanks for your help

siberian

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Took a quick look and the 7 pin plug on the 2021 LC200 is detachable so I'll do the Diode Dynamics light pod install this weekend.

siberian

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Took a quick look and the 7 pin plug on the 2021 LC200 is detachable so I'll do the Diode Dynamics light pod install this weekend.

siberian

View attachment 4073200
That looks nothing like the OEM connector. Most likely a custom job from etrailer or similar. Nice!
 
SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So the 2 minute job took 20 minutes but it was educational. The reason is that the clearance of the spare tire behind the receiver is measured in angstrom units and there was no way I could get any wire from the harness into it to connect to the light pod. Thus lowering the spare was the only option, question was how the f* do you do that. Once I found the hole and assembled the lego tire wrench things proceeded smoothly.

Unit works wonderfully. More pics to follow, thanks for your help along the way!

siberian

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I will add that the reason the 7 pin connector was not OEM is that the previous owner installed a Tekonsha brake controller and this resulted in them installing a standard 7 pin plug. Yep, I lucked out, I got the brake controller and a standard plug that allowed me to connect this seamlessly

siberian
 
A quick note, the standard cable from the wire harness to the pod is at the absolute limit given the spare tire being positioned where the cable sneaks by. I would highly recommend ordering a 1 meter (that's the shortest they offer) cable to provide an extension allowing you to connect and disconnect the pod when you need the receiver easily.

The part number is DD4098 DT 4p 1m extension wire.

siberian
 
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