Thanks in advance!
Solution for Poor LED Tail Light Visibility
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
Solution for Poor LED Tail Light Visibility
There have been some earlier threads on the poor tail lightdesign of the new LED tail lights, specifically visibility from the rear duringinclement weather.
After doing a lot of online research on various LED lights,I found something that works quite well. I discovered Custom Dynamics- http://www.customdynamics.com/ I have no affiliation with this company otherthan now being a happy customer.
They sell a TruFlex 95 LED Strip Light http://www.customdynamics.com/truflex_flexible_led_lighting.htmthat provides an elegant solution. ThatTruFlex light measures 12.2” long and 0.34” wide, which just so happenes to bethe dimensions of the inboard vertical reflector portion of the rear lighthousings. By the way, my truck is thePlatimum version with the LED Tail Lights and BLIS system.
Photo 01 shows the rear of my truck in daylight, after Ihave installed the TF95RR light on the Port (left) side, but not yet on theStarboard (right). (Yes, tseekins, it’s criminal that I had to explain P and Sto the landlubbers)
Photos 02 and 03 are close ups of the finished light.
The only problem with this solution is that the lights are$74.95 each, but I think the safety factor is well worth it. I had never heard of this company before, butI placed my order at 1600 and 35 minutes later received an email that they hadshipped! They arrived 2 days later andwere installed within 45 minutes.
Installation:
1) There are 2 8mm bolts on each light assembly. Lower the tailgate and you will see the bolts.
2) After removing the bolts, pull the entire light assembly rearward, it willbe a hard pull; there are 2 spring clips holding the assembly.
3) Once you have the assembly out, unplug the wire connector from the rear ofthe housing.
4) Unwrap the tape and cut off about 3” of the black wire loom. Use caution, as all the wires are thin.
LED lights with or without BLIS: On both sides, you willneed to cut the Black/Yellow wire (ground) and splice in the black wire fromthe new lights. Then cut the Blue/Greywire (tail lights) and splice in the red wire from the new lights. Below are images of Connectors 4483 LampAssembly Left Hand, and Connector 4484 Lamp Assembly Right Hand. I used 22 – 18 ga butt connectors (red) withheat shrink w/adhesive (marine) tubing. The rear of the lamp assembly is open to the elements from below and youdon’t want corrosion there. Afterheating the heat shrink, I slathered on liquid electrical tape. On the outside of the lamp housing I cleanedthe area where I intended to attach the lights, using Windex and a papertowel. High tech! The TruFlex lightscome with 3M tape on the bottom, just peel the plastic off and carefully pressthem on. They are flexible and easy toapply, but once the 3M tape touches the light, it will be extremely difficultto move. I simply ran the 2 wires fromthe TruFlex lights around the housing near the tailgate.
5) When reinstalling the lamp assemblies, you must firstline up the guide pin at the top, and then the 2 pins towards the front of thetruck. Just push it forward, with maybea light hit with the palm of your hand, then reinsert the 2 8mm bolts.
Disclaimer: If youlive in a state with vehicle inspections, this modification may not passinspection, as they are not DOT approved lights. I first was going to mount them horizontallyon the tailgate itself, with the thought of leaving the gate down while gettinginspected. But when I saw howbeautifully they fit onto the lamp assembly, I decided to mount themthere. I seriously doubt that anymechanic doing the inspection will even notice, but you are on your own withthis.
After doing a lot of online research on various LED lights,I found something that works quite well. I discovered Custom Dynamics- http://www.customdynamics.com/ I have no affiliation with this company otherthan now being a happy customer.
They sell a TruFlex 95 LED Strip Light http://www.customdynamics.com/truflex_flexible_led_lighting.htmthat provides an elegant solution. ThatTruFlex light measures 12.2” long and 0.34” wide, which just so happenes to bethe dimensions of the inboard vertical reflector portion of the rear lighthousings. By the way, my truck is thePlatimum version with the LED Tail Lights and BLIS system.
Photo 01 shows the rear of my truck in daylight, after Ihave installed the TF95RR light on the Port (left) side, but not yet on theStarboard (right). (Yes, tseekins, it’s criminal that I had to explain P and Sto the landlubbers)
Photos 02 and 03 are close ups of the finished light.
The only problem with this solution is that the lights are$74.95 each, but I think the safety factor is well worth it. I had never heard of this company before, butI placed my order at 1600 and 35 minutes later received an email that they hadshipped! They arrived 2 days later andwere installed within 45 minutes.
Installation:
1) There are 2 8mm bolts on each light assembly. Lower the tailgate and you will see the bolts.
2) After removing the bolts, pull the entire light assembly rearward, it willbe a hard pull; there are 2 spring clips holding the assembly.
3) Once you have the assembly out, unplug the wire connector from the rear ofthe housing.
4) Unwrap the tape and cut off about 3” of the black wire loom. Use caution, as all the wires are thin.
LED lights with or without BLIS: On both sides, you willneed to cut the Black/Yellow wire (ground) and splice in the black wire fromthe new lights. Then cut the Blue/Greywire (tail lights) and splice in the red wire from the new lights. Below are images of Connectors 4483 LampAssembly Left Hand, and Connector 4484 Lamp Assembly Right Hand. I used 22 – 18 ga butt connectors (red) withheat shrink w/adhesive (marine) tubing. The rear of the lamp assembly is open to the elements from below and youdon’t want corrosion there. Afterheating the heat shrink, I slathered on liquid electrical tape. On the outside of the lamp housing I cleanedthe area where I intended to attach the lights, using Windex and a papertowel. High tech! The TruFlex lightscome with 3M tape on the bottom, just peel the plastic off and carefully pressthem on. They are flexible and easy toapply, but once the 3M tape touches the light, it will be extremely difficultto move. I simply ran the 2 wires fromthe TruFlex lights around the housing near the tailgate.
5) When reinstalling the lamp assemblies, you must firstline up the guide pin at the top, and then the 2 pins towards the front of thetruck. Just push it forward, with maybea light hit with the palm of your hand, then reinsert the 2 8mm bolts.
Disclaimer: If youlive in a state with vehicle inspections, this modification may not passinspection, as they are not DOT approved lights. I first was going to mount them horizontallyon the tailgate itself, with the thought of leaving the gate down while gettinginspected. But when I saw howbeautifully they fit onto the lamp assembly, I decided to mount themthere. I seriously doubt that anymechanic doing the inspection will even notice, but you are on your own withthis.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Central IL
Whether or not the stock lights create poor visibility, I like the look. Very nice. I have not looked that closely at the rear light assembly, but why couldn't have Ford adding this from the beginning.
Thanks for the product recommendation and tutorial.
Thanks for the product recommendation and tutorial.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 102
Likes: 2
From: Brookhaven - Georgia
When you look at the rear view with the modified light on the left and the factory light on the right it seems quite clear to me that the factory light is not adequate. Night time photos show the lights to be bright, but I've yet to see a daytime photo of the tail light in the rain with water spray from the road. I think your modification is appropriate and a good solution.
I posted the original concern about poor visibility. It was amazing to me that so many people debunked the idea of poor visibility. Safety is one of those things that can be hard to quantify. The argument that the lights are safe is more difficult to prove than the argument that they are inadequate.
Thanks for your work WhiteEx, this is a good solution.
I posted the original concern about poor visibility. It was amazing to me that so many people debunked the idea of poor visibility. Safety is one of those things that can be hard to quantify. The argument that the lights are safe is more difficult to prove than the argument that they are inadequate.
Thanks for your work WhiteEx, this is a good solution.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg, VA
SixSever- thanks, I'm happy with the outcome.
Gary- here are some pics with the tail lights off. The TruFlex in some cases looks like it is on, but that is only sunlight. They do have an orange look up close, but it is not noticeable from a distance.
Gary- here are some pics with the tail lights off. The TruFlex in some cases looks like it is on, but that is only sunlight. They do have an orange look up close, but it is not noticeable from a distance.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Fredericksburg, VA
I purchased the Service Manuals and Wiring Diagrams from Helm Inc. (www.helminc.com). They used to also publish paper versions, but since 2009 they are only available on DVD. It is my understanding that they also produce the manuals for the dealers, but I am not positive. The cost is $177 and I think it is well worth it. I have saved tons of money by being able to do things myself using the manuals. This is the link to the ones I bought; it is the first item, for $177, not the next two dealer versions: Helm Incorporated: Search Results=
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