Rear cargo area dome lights

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FB Fabworks said:
Thanks for starting this thread. Had to go out and buy some LEDs too. Install is a little different. Made some brackets to replace the speakers. This way the lights are behind the speaker grille for that stealthy look. Used a rear deck light switch from a 85 4-runner. :beer:
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Really nice clean install! Does the speaker grill material obscure any of the light? Did you run your wiring direct from the battery or fuse box?
 
Montana Cruiser said:
Really nice clean install! Does the speaker grill material obscure any of the light? Did you run your wiring direct from the battery or fuse box?
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I couldn't tell any difference with the grilles on or off. Ran the wiring from the fuse box. Gonna add another fuse box soon.
 
fb fabworks...where did you get those lights from?
 
I got the lights from Menards. Kinda like a Home Depot or Lowes up here in Yankeeville. They were $9.95 each. The switch is from an old 85 4-runner I once had. I'm sure C-Dan could find it.
 
97 FZJ80 said:
None of the US 80-series have rear cargo light. This includes all the LCs and LXs.
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My 450 has two lights:

  1. Located just behind the moon roof, directly above the CD changer.
  2. For the third row passengers located in the cargo area.
 
CELICA XX said:
My 450 has two lights:

  1. Located just behind the moon roof, directly above the CD changer.
  2. For the third row passengers located in the cargo area.
Click to expand...

attachment.php
 
These are some great ideas, I like the use of the speaker grills. What I did was battery pack-powered lights on the hatch itself. Two main reasons, one was I couldn't figure out how to get power into the hatch, the second was I wanted the light to be more on the tailgate and open drawers, than have more light on top of the drawers inside the cargo area. Here's the full writeup if anyone's interested,
http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=1865
also a pic. ;)
nak_cargolight_after3.webp
 
CELICA XX said:
My 450 has two lights:
  1. Located just behind the moon roof, directly above the CD changer.
  2. For the third row passengers located in the cargo area.
Click to expand...

I'll second that, on both my '94 and '95. I was waiting to see if I was crazy or something. Of course, I don't have either an LX or a CD changer, but you get the idea. When did they stop putting cargo lights in 80's?

EDIT: By the pics, it looks like you might be speaking of a light directly behind the hatch, available outside of the US I gather? Must be me, I haven't needed another light there.

-Spike
 
nakman, nice work. I was just looking at doing something like your install after this past weekend. I was looking through my drawers for something and had to find a flashlight to find it. The hatch is a perfect place to add switchable lighting so you can see what you're doing on the tailgate. If I find a way to get power into the hatch I'll pass it along.
 
...I was looking through my drawers for something and had to find a flashlight to find it. The hatch is a perfect place to add switchable lighting so you can see what you're doing on the tailgate...
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Exactly! It can be brighter than a 7-11 inside the truck, but open up a drawer and you're staring into a black hole. I actually kept a headlamp in the drawers, just so I could find a stinkin' screwdriver. Putting lights on the hatch makes all the difference. :cheers:
 
i second the lights from ikea, for $40 you get 4 lights, all you need is a dremel or sandpaper and get most of the lip off of the speaker grill, if you do it right the light will be held in by the remaining lip. i run the wire for mine from the dome light over the rear seat so now i can control themfrom there and they will turn on with the doors open.
 
This may be one of my light mods I will get working on. I have to get past step one. I like the idea of running the wires from the dome light over the rear seat. Question? should the dome light over the second row seats turn on when the rear doors are open? Only the dome light over the 3rd row seat does. What gives?
 
Rear LED Lights

Here are some pics of the lights i installed they work great, huge improvement, i ran the wire for the 2 rear lights over the headliner by fishing it through with a coat hanger and soldered it to the 2nd dome light.
lclights.webp
 
nakman said:
These are some great ideas, I like the use of the speaker grills. What I did was battery pack-powered lights on the hatch itself. Two main reasons, one was I couldn't figure out how to get power into the hatch, the second was I wanted the light to be more on the tailgate and open drawers, than have more light on top of the drawers inside the cargo area. Here's the full writeup if anyone's interested,
http://www.risingsun4x4club.org/forum2/showthread.php?t=1865
also a pic. ;)
Click to expand...

I put four LED lights in the hatch itself as well, along the molding below the window.

Doing the wiring wasn't that bad. i just went up the pillar, under the headliner, and through the rubber grommet used to pass the wiring for the defroster. The grommet pops out easily, and the wire required for LED's is pretty slim.

I used Hella LED step lights that angle the light output, and oriented them so that when the hatch is open, two shoot 30 degrees into the bed, and two shoot 30 degrees behind the vehicle.

My only disappointment was that the lights put out considerably less than their rated output. They were supposed to be .7 watts each, and 2.8 watts of LED light should be pretty bright. Instead, the four combine to use a bit less than 1 watt. The packaging is pretty weak on these things, and I think I was shipped the wrong units.

I'll upgrade again when I find the perfect lights, but I'm very happy with the orientation.
 
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