5th Gen Tailgate lighting

[samjudi]

Has anyone added an LED strip in the slot between the tailgate and bumper on a 5th Gen? I have tried and found the tailgate hinges get in the way. Above the hinges, and the lights are behind the tailgate, below, and the lights are behind the bumper. Over and around the hinges looks kind of raggedy.
I am using a 49" strip that does not completely fill the void, but goes beyond the hinges. Anything shorter looks like an afterthought. I wanted a strip that would light with the tail lites, brake and backup lites.

[dakazman]

Sam your 84 is an inspiration for me , very nice job on interior and engine . I cant believe we have two of the same vehicles and same years. 79 vette and 84 elky.
dakazman

[84withzz4]

You mean like this?


This is two 60 inch LED strips mounted one on top of another. The 2nd strip wiring had to be spliced into the 1st, then it plugs into the trailer light harness. This picture was taken in near darkness for effect. The LED's are VERY visible in the day time.

[samjudi]

Thanks dakazman. If you get over on this side of the state, drop a P.M., and say hello.

[samjudi]

84wzz4,
That is what I am trying for. Wanted to avoid the splicing if possible. My rear is stock. Do yours fit over the hinges?

[84withzz4]

I go out and take a close look tomorrow. maybe and try to get some pictures.

[jarhead]

Hey clownman.. I had one of those strips on my 87. They do brighten the tail up and that the reason I got one. The mounting strip prevented the lights from being visible since it set the lights up under the tailgate. I turned mine 180* and wired them reverse of normal. That way the left/right blinkers worked properly. It only lasted about 1 1/2 years. It cost $65 or so from O'riellys auto parts. I took it off since 1/2 of the lights stopped working. I'm thinking about the fitment of a 3rd brake light from the Cadillac Avalanche. Looks like it has some similar curves to to the roofline on the camino just above the back window. Good luck..

[Classy Blu Elky]

Originally Posted by jarhead

Hey clownman.. I had one of those strips on my 87. They do brighten the tail up and that the reason I got one. The mounting strip prevented the lights from being visible since it set the lights up under the tailgate. I turned mine 180* and wired them reverse of normal. That way the left/right blinkers worked properly. It only lasted about 1 1/2 years. It cost $65 or so from O'riellys auto parts. I took it off since 1/2 of the lights stopped working. I'm thinking about the fitment of a 3rd brake light from the Cadillac Avalanche. Looks like it has some similar curves to to the roofline on the camino just above the back window. Good luck..

Hey Jarhead, you might take a look at "The Brakelighter"
At this site, http://www.jandlenterprise.com

I installed it on my 80, wired thru the rear window and side moldings easily and hooked into the brake switch on the brake pedal frame. It lights up nicely through my medium tint.

[samjudi]

I had a similar strip on for about a year also. Same problems. Only some of the lights were visible. 84withzz4's lights look the way I wanted to go. Do not know if his modified tailgate/bumper setup made this possible.

[84withzz4]

Here are a couple of pictures of the strips mounted to the fiberglass roll pan.


I'll try my best to describe what's going on here. Note the tailgate hinge bolted to the bed (2 bolts). About 1 1/2 away from the bed is the edge of the roll pan, it's gapped to fit up to the hinges. Look to the right in the pic and see the sheet metal screw. That is the light strip attached to the back of the roll pan. For proper placement, it has to be attached in that manner. The light strip is "L' shaped. The screws go thru the flat part (black) for mounting, the protruding out part (white) is where the LEDS are. Note where the light strips touche the hinges.

The tailgate is in the "down" position. So, using the bumper, the light strip would have to be shimmed out to this position. I hope this helps.

[samjudi]

I must have a different lite strip, as mine is flat(no 'L' shape). Also no gap between hinge and bumper. That is the look I am going for, however.

[rnhart3]

X2 on the hi-mount brake light, Chev/GMC Yukon, Yahoe, Suburban etc....looks and works great