May 13, 2018

Tacoma Auxiliary Reverse Light Mounts

I wanted to add some auxiliary reverse lights to my Tacoma so it would be easier to see when backup up my boat at the launch.

I found these cheap 4″ Nilight Led Light Bar at Amazon for $14 and thought they might do the trick (if they last).

I wanted them to be kind of discrete and not hanging down too low below the bumper so I decide mounting them to the side of the hitch mount would be the best place.

I designed a quick simple mounting bracket in Solidworks that would mount right up with a few bolts.

I then 3D printed them in PETG so they would hold up to the elements.

My original thought was just to mount them with two bolts straight through holes in the hitch mount but one of the holes is a through hole into the square tube so I couldn’t get a nut on the back. I though I’d just be able to tap it but the biggest tap I had was a 1/2″ and the hole was to big to get enough treads to bite.

I  switched up and decided to just try a well nut that would expand inside the hole when tightened.

I had to modify the design for the well nut and I didn’t want to reprint the parts so I just machined out a recess for the well nut on the mill with a boring bar.

The lights weight less than a pound each so it should still be strong enough.

I had to machine up a spacer/washer for the smaller bolt too.

Here the bracket has been mounted…

… and my measurement where perfect the first time too and the mounted lights fit just where I wanted them to go.

The light are hopefully spaced out enough to light up around the trailer when backing up.  I still need to wire them up though, they will be on a switch but still only come on with the reverse lights so hopefully I shouldn’t run into any legal issues.  (5-13-18)

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