Tailgate Hatch Light

[munkeeboi]

$50 rear tailgate hatch light. video shows install and function. A bit too much panel popping for me for one light, but might be a good project to do with the other camping lights

Hatch Lights

Camping Light

 

[Bluegill]

I bought these. The 2 tailgate lights have arrived and I'm still waiting on the single center hatch light. Was going to install all at once but the center hatch light may not be here until March so I think I'll install the 2 lights. I'll post the results up here on this forum. They should be great for camping.

 

[usuzukuri]

any progress on your light install @Bluegill?

 

[Bluegill]

I wasn’t able to get to it before my trip this past weekend, will try to knock it out this week.

 

[climr]

I installed the cartrim hatch light today. The install is actually way easier than the video on cartrimhome’s website. All you actually have to do is pop out the light placeholder, pop out the control panel for the tailgate, connect to the wire harness there, fish the wire over a few inches to the left and install the new light. Literally takes 5 minutes. Highly recommend. The video on their site was shown with a vehicle without an electric tailgate which is a bit bigger job.

 

[munkeeboi]

Here’s the photo of the connection with the included Y-adapter and the approximate distance you have to fish a small wire through. Takes about 5 min for the install.

also, the light dims and brightens if you keep your hand on the light.

I have a 2nd one that is inbound if anyone wants one at a discount.

 

[Bluegill]

This is the center tailgate light that I thought I was buying! I have my write-up in my Overtrail Upgrades thread in the Member Builds section of this form.

 

[gvan1998]

Ill take one, how much?

 

[usuzukuri]

Here’s the photo of the connection with the included Y-adapter and the approximate distance you have to fish a small wire through. Takes about 5 min for the install.

also, the light dims and brightens if you keep your hand on the light.

I have a 2nd one that is inbound if anyone wants one at a discount.

with this setup, does the light turn on automatically when the trunk door is opened and off when you close? Or do you have to manually turn on/off with tapping the light?

I ordered the old setup but this new one is much easier to install. Will return if the new setup turn on automatically.

Thanks.

 

[YellowLab]

This is the center tailgate light that I thought I was buying! I have my write-up in my Overtrail Upgrades thread in the Member Builds section of this form.

I need to see what Amazon sent me. Since this is the center light - can I also hook the two other tailgate lights into this as well? Any way I can avoid going through the mess you did playing with trim would be a great thing -

 

[Bluegill]

It all depends on the adapters or the plugs included with the light kit.

The two kits I bought came pre-wired with adapters that only fit the little tiny LED light by the jack in the driver's side D-pillar of the truck.

The adapter or plug for the actual stock tailgate latch button is much different than the adapter for the little LED light.

I wish I had bought the center tailgate light kit that munkeeboi bought!

​

 

[YellowLab]

I wonder if the amazon one I bought would work - the picture says for "power lift gate' and the cable is VERY short

 

[Bluegill]

You bought the correct one! That kit ties into the stock tailgate button!

Somehow I got screwed....I hate how you sometimes receive products that are just a bit different than what's advertised on Amazon. That's what I get for buying this cheap china shit!

 

[YellowLab]

You bought the correct one! That kit ties into the stock tailgate button!

Somehow I got screwed....I hate how you sometimes receive products that are just a bit different than what's advertised on Amazon. That's what I get for buying this cheap china shit!

And does this easily connect into the two tailgate lights you added (just plug and play)?

 

[munkeeboi]

with this setup, does the light turn on automatically when the trunk door is opened and off when you close? Or do you have to manually turn on/off with tapping the light?

I ordered the old setup but this new one is much easier to install. Will return if the new setup turn on automatically.

Thanks.

Yes, this turns on/off automatically with the tailgate,but can also by dimmed, brightened, or turned off when the tailgate is open.

@YellowLab has the right kit from amazon (and is the same as the one I got from Cartrimhome). They are all from China based on the included instructions. I think they just figured out an easier way to get power or they only had a non-powered tailgate version when developing it. The 1958 LC version doesn't have a powered tailgate and needs to run the cable to the driver rear light.

I still have an extra kit (Easy connection version) for cheaper than Amazon for anyone interested.

 

[usuzukuri]

Yes, this turns on/off automatically with the tailgate,but can also by dimmed, brightened, or turned off when the tailgate is open.

@YellowLab has the right kit from amazon (and is the same as the one I got from Cartrimhome). They are all from China based on the included instructions. I think they just figured out an easier way to get power or they only had a non-powered tailgate version when developing it. The 1958 LC version doesn't have a powered tailgate and needs to run the cable to the driver rear light.

I still have an extra kit (Easy connection version) for cheaper than Amazon for anyone interested.

thanks for the confirm @munkeeboi,
gvan1998 was asking for the price on your extra set.

 

[CaryGX550]

Yes, this turns on/off automatically with the tailgate,but can also by dimmed, brightened, or turned off when the tailgate is open.

@YellowLab has the right kit from amazon (and is the same as the one I got from Cartrimhome). They are all from China based on the included instructions. I think they just figured out an easier way to get power or they only had a non-powered tailgate version when developing it. The 1958 LC version doesn't have a powered tailgate and needs to run the cable to the driver rear light.

I still have an extra kit (Easy connection version) for cheaper than Amazon for anyone interested.

Hi @munkeeboi I'm interested and will PM you. Thanks.

 

[usuzukuri]

And does this easily connect into the two tailgate lights you added (just plug and play)?

you can t-tap those 2 lights into this, should be alot easier compared to the other route.

 

[munkeeboi]

wonder if this version of the camping lights allows a connection to the existing tailgate buttons as well

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DY14NBYT/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1MVF9M7YFNPNX&th=1&tag=landcruiserforum-20

 

[YellowLab]

Yes, this turns on/off automatically with the tailgate,but can also by dimmed, brightened, or turned off when the tailgate is open.

@YellowLab has the right kit from amazon (and is the same as the one I got from Cartrimhome). They are all from China based on the included instructions. I think they just figured out an easier way to get power or they only had a non-powered tailgate version when developing it. The 1958 LC version doesn't have a powered tailgate and needs to run the cable to the driver rear light.

I still have an extra kit (Easy connection version) for cheaper than Amazon for anyone interested.

How did you connect power? Ive bridged the left to the right then there is one long cable for the left light that attaches to another cable with two connectors (at the top of the picture). Is there a power cable inside the door that I have to tie into? Or do I need to run a cable from the compartment by the jack and bring that into the tailgate?