2023 LIMITED Raptor lights

Ok, folks. I recently sold my 2nd Gen TRD Sport and bought a 2023 Limited. I wanted to install raptor lights, but found zero products that fit the Limited grill. For those that are interested, here's what I did.

1. Bought lights intended for an OR or Sport, but only to use the harness....since I am not super electrically-inclined to make my own.

$40 Seven Sparta Upgraded 4 PCS Grill Lights Compatible with 2020-2023 Toyota Tacoma Off Road & Sport OEM Grille Aftermarket Grille Light with Two Fuse Adaptors

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BD7V7G9R?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

2. Bought these cool LED Bolt lights (11mm, Amber, Aluminum)

https://www.oznium.com/led-bolts-prewired-leds/led-bolt

3. Cut the lights off of the light kit I bought on Amazon, then spliced the LED Bolt lights onto the harness.

4. I drilled an 11mm hole into four 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 corner brackets that I bought from Lowes, then spray painted the brackets flat black.

5. Hooked up the harness to the low beam light fuse (and battery ground point) to test it. It worked. I had to cut a small channel into the fuse box lid edge to route the add-a-fuse out of the box.

6. Strung the four Bolt lights into each bracket, then attached the brackets to the upper lip of that grill opening using thick 3M tape. It seems pretty strong, but I will use gorilla glue if they come loose.

7. Finished hooking up each Bolt light plug to the rest of the harness and secured it along the entire route to the fuse box using zip ties.

By using one of the headlight fuses, my Bolt lights come on when I either turn the headlights on, OR I leave it in Auto and it's dark enough for the headlights to come on automatically.

I didn't choose the cheapest route, since I bought two sets of lights, but it was the easiest route for me to take since I didn't want to build my own harness. You CAN just use the Amazon OR lights, but in my opinion it doesn't look as good or low profile as the bolt lights.

 

Very creative of you!

That grill is unique and I would have just lived without the Raptor Lights...I'm saying that now not knowing what I'd do. lol

 

I'm so excited to watch this thread grow.

 

I guess I could have lived with my 2011 TRD Sport, but I'm 55 and having fun with my new ride. It's something to do, kills time, etc

 

Heck,

I'm 57...and I bought a Y2K GSX-R750 after I retired from the USAF at 44 in 2011...family said I was having a mid-life crisis! lol

(Sold it after 6 months and then bought a 1982 GS750T)

Now that I drive a truck, I'm still being heckled by my family for my vehicle choice.

Have fun with your truck.

 

That wiring into the fuse box is mint

 

I didn't notice that! lol

I was able to fit that wire into the fusebox without cutting the cover.

 

Of course, I had to take photos! lol

 

I'm retired from the AF in 2013 out of Langley. Can't believe 10 years have passed already. The Tacomas keep me young!

 

You're not a "Baby Retiree" anymore! lol

Yeah, the retired years roll by quick...as do the aging years! Waaaaahhhh!!!

 

Sweet now the truck can identify as a raptor and be serviced at ford dealers

 

Nice job! Cool little handy project. I know it looks "tough" at night too.

 

Identify as "Raptor."

I love it!

Don't know about servicing at Ford Dealership...I like my Toyota Dealership in Dover! Woop-Woop!

 

I read somewhere that three lights were Raptor, but four lights were Taco-lights. Speaking of Raptors, my wife and I bought a new 4Runner and Tacoma within two weeks. Total price with taxes, and both with TRD pro rims and BFG tires was still LESS than a new Raptor. Unbelievable.

 

I got the idea about cutting the lid from another forum. Therefore it's their fault for me doing that!

 

dont believe everything you read

 

Very nice. I just purchased my 23 limited and want raptor lights also. My question is the lights that you purchased from Amazon to use the harness is, would the clips on those lights just not slip onto the grille?

 

Cool, love seeing DIY. I had similar parts to do this on my old Sport Trac, but sold it to buy the Taco before I got around to it. I bet you could have handled the wiring from scratch... ;-) But for the price of the grill light kits out there, it was a smart move to save you a bunch of time and effort.

For folks looking at this and wanting to do it themselves, you can get the positive lead into the fuse box in the passenger rear corner. The harness coming in can be unclipped, pulled up, and the little "door" opened, slip your wire in and click it all back together. No cover hacking/wire pinching required. I think I have seen it covered elsewhere, someone on YouTube might have actually given good advice for a change....but don't recall where I saw it.

 

Those clips will hook onto many different areas of the grill, BUT they just don't look like they belong on that grill, with the shape of the plastic around the lights being the way they are. That said, those plastic cases with clips do come off of the lights themselves, leaving you with the issue of how to mount them. This is why I went with the Bolt lights, which so far have done well and look great. Since installing, I did decide to plug the add-a-fuse into the INJ fuse so that they'll always be on when my lights are set to AUTO (DRL setting for the Limited). I did this knowing that I will RARELY have a reason to drive in the dark (using low beams) come Spring and Summer.