Low-Profile & Affordable Upgrade, With 4 Different Lights To Choose From
With winter essentially here, daylight shrinks with every passing day. For an off-road enthusiast, traversing trails in the dark can be a daunting task, with a greater risk of getting lost or sustaining damage from obstacles you can’t see. The same thing applies to late nights on poorly lit pavement.
No one complains about having too much light on night trail runs as having good visibility is paramount. I recently added Cali Raised’s low-profile ditch light brackets with side-projecting LED pods; and the difference is night and day (pun intended). They make a specific kit for the 2022+.
Find It Online
- Ditch Light Kit (Bracket & Lights): Check Price
Kit Overview
This kit includes everything you need to install ditch lights on your 3rd Gen – a pair of mounts, wire harnesses, a control switch, and the light pods. Some of these parts are optional, so you can choose to buy just the brackets (add your own lights) or get a completed package that’s ready to go. You can upgrade to an OEM Tundra square-style switch, which I recommend for a cleaner OEM finish. If you have your own switch panel system, you can also connect the lights directly to that.
Ditch Lights Purpose
The primary use for ditch lights is to illuminate the terrain around you. They’re typically mounted and aimed to project light at a 45-degree angle from the front of the vehicle for peripheral illumination. These are one of the simplest and most cost-effective forms of off-road lighting you can add to your rig.
Cali Raised offers 4 different lights to choose from. I went with the ones that have a flood light pattern and side-projecting LEDs for additional illumination. This feature is important when navigating dark trails or rough landscapes. The lights cast a wide, bright glow, allowing you to see obstacles, terrain features, or even wildlife that might otherwise go unseen.
This improved visibility significantly enhances safety for you and those you’re traveling with by turning night into day. Just look at the output seen above! Impressive, especially considering the price point.
Easy Installation & Affordable
One of the most standout aspects of this ditch light kit is the ease of installation. Unlike many aftermarket accessories in the off-road realm that can require complex modifications, this kit is designed to have as simple an installation as possible. I installed mine in under an hour with simple tools.
The kit is also priced incredibly well, offering solid value for performance. You’ll spend a fraction of what you would with big-name brands. The combination of affordability, ease of installation, and excellent performance make it a great addition for any Tundra owner.
Installation
I highly encourage you to try installing this kit yourself. This is a simple mod that anyone can tackle. If you need a step-by-step video for reference, Cali Raised has an instructional video here.
Tools Required
- Allen Keys (provided in hardware kit)
- Adjustable Wrench
- 1/2″ Wrench
- 12mm Wrench or Socket
- Zip Ties
- Auto Trim Removal Kit (optional)
- Cable running kit / Cable fish rod kit (optional)
Step 1. Mount Brackets To Pods
Cali Raised includes a pair of mounting brackets. You can mount them pointing forward or backward depending on your desired height. I opted for the lowest profile by doing the latter.
With the included hardware, use (2) nuts and bolts to attach the bracket to the light pod. Leave the nuts and bolts loose enough so you can adjust the angle of your pods once mounted on the hood.
With the brackets on, we will attach the hood mounted brackets. The mounts will have a “P” or “D” on them for passenger side or driver side, respectively. If you have pods with side shooters like mine, ensure they are installed on the proper bracket. For example, the driver-side LED Pod will have the side shooters pointing out left, away from the vehicle.
If mounted on the incorrect bracket, the light will reflect off the hood and blind the driver. Using the large nut and bolt included, tighten them until snug with a 1/2″ wrench and adjustable wrench. Again, keep the hardware loose enough to adjust the direction of the pods later.
Step 2. Mount Bracket To Hood
With your hood open, you’ll see (2 bolts on each side that attach it to the truck. To install the ditch lights, only remove (1) bolt from the hood with a 12mm wrench, ensuring the hood stays in place. Remove the front bolt first, and align the ditch light bracket with the front hole. Loosely reinstall the bolt so that you can still rotate the bracket.
Next, remove the rear bolt from the hood and pivot the ditch light bracket to align the holes. Then, reinstall the rear bolt. Check the hood alignment to ensure it still closes properly. If the alignment is off, loosen the bolts and bump it back into its original position. Once the hood alignment is good, fully tighten the bolts and repeat the process for the opposite side.
Step 3. Wiring
The wiring looks like nothing short of an octopus, but do not be intimidated. This process is basically plug-and-play. The wires have four ends with a box relay in the middle. The ends have a positive (red) and ground (black) wire for the battery, a ‘control’ wire that connects to your on/off switch, and two ends that connect to the LED pods.
Start by connecting the wires to the battery. Use a 12mm wrench to remove the nut on top of the positive terminal (it won’t explode, you’ll be fine). Next, place the ring on your red wire on the terminal bolt. Then, tighten the nut back down on top of it. Repeat this process for the ground wire on the negative terminal.
Next, connect your LED pods and route the wires on the inside of the hood bracket, not the outside. We will worry about tidying up the wires later.
Step 4. Connect Control Switch
The last end of the wire is for your control switch, which needs to be routed through the driver-side firewall into the cab of the truck. This is where a cable running kit would be helpful.
You’ll see cables running through your firewall with a rubber boot surrounding it. You can either push the control wire around the boot or cut the boot at the bottom to surround the wire. I choose the latter for my SwitchPros system to avoid the metal firewall rubbing on the wire and reduce the chance of water ingress.
Once the control wire is through the firewall, connect it to your control switch. The switch can be mounted wherever you please. If you have the OEM-style switch, remove a factory blank switch by prying the sides to release it. Ensure there are no wires connected to the switch you remove.
For those with a switch panel system, you will need to cut the BLUE wire from the ditch light control wire harness, and butt splice it to your desired power system switch wire.
Step 5. Function Check & Clean-Up
With all your wires connected, test the function of your lights. If it does not work, I recommend watching Cali Raised’s video to see what you might have missed.
Next, bring the hood down and aim the lights in your desired direction. Then, tighten the bracket bolts down all the way. Lastly, tidy up all your ditch light wiring under the hood. Use plenty of zip ties to ensure your wires are not touching any hot objects and are free of slack so they don’t get caught on anything.
Final Thoughts
The Cali Raised kit for the 3rd Gen Tundra is an awesome investment for anyone looking to enhance their nighttime driving experience. They’re affordable and have a hassle-free installation with everything you need in the box.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a full-time adventurer, these will give you the confidence to tackle the trails in the long, dark hours of winter.
