Just replacing the stock reverse bulbs with LED's with higher lumen output makes a big diff as well. Same with the 3rd brake light position. Between the stock bulbs and the LED replacements it is roughly double the light.

 

I concur. I have built in rigid D2's in my bumper and never use em. My LED reverse lights that go in the existing housings work great (we don't have them out yet, another week and they'll be up for sale I think). Simple plug and play.

 

It's been about 18 months or so... seems like I tried replacing the reverse lights and I couldn't get to them. They were sealed in. I have the LED lights with bliss. Still have the bulbs.

Unless there's some secret or I just plain missed it they can't be changed, at least in my tail lights.

Did I just not try hard enough?

 

BLISS systems can't replace reverse unfortunately. They are part of the housing.

 

I already have the LEDs in the BLIS housing as well as original LEDs in the cargo lamp, as well. Since these cannot be changed, I added the rock lights.

 

Except I have the BLIS tail lamps with LEDs already....

They are not the best and brightest.

 

I like a clean OEM look.....so I am thinking about adding an LED bar onto two actuators that will lower the LED bar down. This way I could really throw some light behind me if i wanted to and it would never be seen, otherwise. This would not be tied into the reverse lights, just purely auxiliary lighting.

I may not, just thought it might be a fun little project, and I already have a cheap 20 inch LED bar that I pulled off of one of my Suzuki Samurais. Of course I would only do this if I could figure out how to get it all mounted to be hidden when not in use.

 

Yeah the BLISS suck for reverse lights. If you have BLISS your only real options are to install flood lights. If you don't have BLISS you can upgrade the reverse lights to some plug in LED bulbs.

 

Which is why I've been looking to do something like what you've done. I've had those LED's in my Amazon "Shopping Cart" for about a year now. Just didn't know if they would work very well/well enough.

Great thread. I'll most likely be doing the same thing soon.

 

I've always thought that reverse lights are one of the most overlooked yet most important light on a vehicle. They seem to be engineered so others know you're backing up but not designed to light the area so you can see. I grew up in a rural area and backing up in an area with no street lights requires good reverse lights. Most vehicles fail in this area. Reverse lights should have more powerful bulbs. Reverse lights should use the same lenses and bulbs as fog lights to have a similar low wide beam.