HMMVEE LED Taillights & Corner Panel Guards
Published by Trails Less Traveled on April 9th, 2004
Some of us love seeing a well-built rig painted in olive drab; in the same way we prefer a hot rod in black primer with painted flames. So when I wanted to find the perfect taillights for our new Kevlar bodied CJ-7, I looked to the military. The military HMMWV’s (Humvee), uses a “composite taillight” that is found on many service vehicles. The versions used on HMMWV’s are unique because they are flush-mounted in removable, recessed buckets.
Kascar is a company that specializes all in types of HMMWV parts and accessories. They have new, genuine replacement lights and mounting buckets that are available in two versions. They are both compatible with 12 and 24 volt electrical systems and feature blackout running lights. One uses standard, replaceable bulbs, and the other is a LED type. The standard version features a gasket sealed, waterproof housing and each bulb is mounted on a trick little rubber airbag to isolate against any shock or vibration. The LED lights use a factory sealed, waterproof housing because the bulbs do not have an element to fail or replace. Not to mention that they are brighter, and drawn much less amperage than traditional bulbs. It will be necessary to run separate back-up lights, turn signals and license plate illumination in order to comply with state laws. Kascar sells turn signals and back-up lights from the same applications that will match the new taillights. The military wiring is easily adapted to stock or aftermarket wiring harnesses.
The gas filler will need to be relocated to the side of the vehicle using a TJ style filler housing, due to the lager physical dimensions of the new lights.
To cover this hole and at the same time provide a great deal of protection to the corner panels, we installed these corner panel guards from Off Your Rockers.
Dan at Off Your Rockers is now offering a version of his 3/16” steel corner panel guards in a diamond plate or smooth finish, with pre-cut holes made to install these lights. These are a great preventative measure against body damage and will cover up the holes that are no longer needed (along with any pre-existing body damage). We have provided this full-size downloadable template to print out and use if the lights will not be installed with Off Your Rockers corner panel guards.
The taillights will need to be adapted to a Jeep wiring harness. We contacted Centech and bought these high quality, waterproof GM style Weather Pac connectors. The wires on the taillights are numbered and will install as follows:
- 21-taillights
- 22-stop/turn signals
- 23-black out taillights (wire to separate switch or disregard)
- 24-Black out stop/turn signals (wire to separate switch or disregard)
- Ground-to chassis
Here is the finished installation. The end result is one that would be well suited to any Jeep whose owner has painted over or traded out the stainless and chrome accessories that a previous owner installed. Note the subtle differences in the appearances of the LED light on the left and the standard version on the right. As good as both of these lights look, the installation won’t be complete until the olive drab rattle cans are shaking.
This article was originally published in JP Magazine
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