Has anyone done this? 2005-present Tacomas, specifically. I searched and found some Tacomas, just none in the third brake light.
Thanks
Thanks
LED hideaway in a third brake light (Tacoma)
- Thread starter Icepuck72
- Start date
JGG
Member
I have done it in the cargo lights on an F350. It was utterly worthless. I wouldn't bother if I were you.
Maybe you could mount a couple Ions or Ghosts directly above the third brake light? Attach with double-sided tape and run wiring down through the gap between the light and the roof. Very low profile and no drilling.
Maybe you could mount a couple Ions or Ghosts directly above the third brake light? Attach with double-sided tape and run wiring down through the gap between the light and the roof. Very low profile and no drilling.
JGG said:
What LAW did you use? I've seen a few different applications like this (ford, chevy) using whelen Vertex and Feniex cannons- bright as snot and very effective. One even had 4 cannons mounted- solid red for the red lenses, and clear/red for the clear lenses. They had them alternate in some funky pattern and also had the white come on steady when the bed lights were turned on.
JGG
Member
I used Sound-Off universal LAWs. It's entirely possible that they were the reason that it didn't work out.
The ones with different lens options? If so I'd suspect you used the wrong lenses - I find those outperform vertex.
chief1562
Member
I brought this same ? up awhile back and was told the third brake light by law can not be modified in anyway.
I have yet to see any LE with them as additional warning.
I have yet to see any LE with them as additional warning.
Flashguy
Member
I've seen a couple at truck shows using strobe HAW's. That in an x pattern with HAW's in the reverse lights look great!
HILO
Member
chief1565 said:
The only thing you have to worry about is the 1 in a million chance someone rear ends your vehicle. Speaking with the experience of a litigious investigator, someone rear ending your vehicle and claiming it was due to your CHiMSL flashing would be cited with failure to maintain a safe following distance. There are federal guidelines relating to altering mandated OE equipment, but if one was to follow the guideline to a T, they would not instal HAW's, BLF's, or HLF's.
On a State level, I have not heard of any agency hanging paper on an authorized emergency vehicle for some light. Some States do have a provision that emergency lighting be as wide spaced as possible, but really if you want to do it, and red is legal for you, have at it.
JGG
Member
unlisted said:
I don't believe that they come with multiple lenses anymore. The ones I got only came with one anyway. They worked great in the taillights of the truck, but not the cargo lights.
RyanZ71
Member
Considering there are some auto makers out there who have the CMHSL flash a few times when the brake is applied (Seen it on a few Honda CR-Vs in particular) I am not so sure its all that big of a deal. At least to those who do their own work. An installer of course will follow the laws but if you do your own private vehicle, have at it.
Sorry forgot to add - all the ones I've seen installed they were hooked up so when the brakes were applied the red laws would go steady burn (even if flashing in a warning mode).
Carlos SpicyWeiner
Lifetime VIP Donor
The sos undercovers do not come with multiple lenses anymore.
Third Brake light mods arn't a big deal. We have done them but have always had brake light over ride function as that is most important.
Third Brake light mods arn't a big deal. We have done them but have always had brake light over ride function as that is most important.
RyanZ71
Member
There ya go!
Doesn't the regulation apply more to the flashing of the vehicle's light, meaning the lightbulb itself, and doesn't apply to external lights mounted into the brake light fixture that run off of a separate circuit not related to the braking system?
Doesn't the regulation apply more to the flashing of the vehicle's light, meaning the lightbulb itself, and doesn't apply to external lights mounted into the brake light fixture that run off of a separate circuit not related to the braking system?
TritonBoulder47
Member
I was assuming that he was putting a LED HAW in the clear sections (cargo lights) of a pick-up CHMSL (third brake light). Which I've seen a couple of times and it looks pretty good, but not as a primary rear warning device.
But upon looking at what a Tacoma CHMSL looks like, this is not the case... lol I say if you have the LED HAWs in hand, I'd buy a replacement CHMSL and start tinkering with it and see if it works good...
Putting a Strobe HAW in such a small housing is a recipe for disaster... I'd assume that those housing melted very quickly. The "Rule Of Thumb" I go by when dealing with Strobe HAWs is: Make a fist. If the housing you're installing the Strobe HAW in it the same size or bigger, you're good to go. If its smaller, you run the risk of melting the housing.
But upon looking at what a Tacoma CHMSL looks like, this is not the case... lol I say if you have the LED HAWs in hand, I'd buy a replacement CHMSL and start tinkering with it and see if it works good...
Flashguy said:
Putting a Strobe HAW in such a small housing is a recipe for disaster... I'd assume that those housing melted very quickly. The "Rule Of Thumb" I go by when dealing with Strobe HAWs is: Make a fist. If the housing you're installing the Strobe HAW in it the same size or bigger, you're good to go. If its smaller, you run the risk of melting the housing.