Building my own flush tail lights

[Justinswidebody]

Actually, the dedicated rear turn is the oddity in the States. Domestic brands have always used the rear brake as the turn indicator because it is simpler and requires less wires and bulbs. This was important going back to the early days of automotive design. Since then, the traditional design has persisted in USDM vehicles. You'll notice that those with an amber rear turn indicator are usually foreign brands. Just a result in the way the different markets evolved their standards.

Notice, too, that trailers are built to emulate the US domestic design, and require converters for foreign designed cars. This coincidentally is the reason the trailer plugs won't help with any of this as mentioned earlier in the tread.

Today, neither is more right or wrong than the other.

Now, this does not mean you can't do sequentials. Many do with this integrated brake/turn light configuration. It sequentials on with the brake lights, but since they aren't blinking with brake, it's a one-and-done sequential transition. It actually looks pretty slick in practice.

EDIT: Video example of sequential lights on non-separated brake/turn setups:

I agree it does look pretty slick... Problem is finding them in proper lengths...

I actually have a idea to make them sequential with less wiring, but it will still take a lot more time....

I can cut the led strands in 3 or 6 led segments.... And then just solder the segments back together but with a delay between each segment...

This would give the sequence effect... But more work that I don't feel like doing lol... Still looking for some LEDs that are already sequential that I can use ....

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[sharpsicle]

Actually, the dedicated rear turn is the oddity in the States. Domestic brands have always used the rear brake as the turn indicator because it is simpler and requires less wires and bulbs. This was important going back to the early days of automotive design. Since then, the traditional design has persisted in US brand vehicles. You'll notice that those with an amber rear turn indicator are usually foreign brands. Just a result in the way the different markets evolved their standards. If memory serves, Gladiators sold in Europe have dedicated rear turns because of this requirement.

Notice, too, that trailers are built to emulate the US domestic design, and require converters for foreign designed cars. This coincidentally is the reason the trailer plugs won't help with any of this as mentioned earlier in the thread.

Today, neither is more right or wrong than the other.

Now, this does not mean you can't do sequentials. Many do with this integrated brake/turn light configuration. It sequentials on with the brake lights, but since they aren't blinking with brake, it's a one-and-done sequential transition. It actually looks pretty slick in practice.

EDIT: Video example of sequential lights on non-separated brake/turn setups:

Wanted to add on to this. I believe the difference in rear signals is actually not a hardware change but a software change. The Tazer has the ability to change configuration of the rear lights for different markets.

I know this can be used to make EU spec Gladiators work with USDM designed tail lights (a la Oracle and similar), but I'm not sure if this configuration has been tested to go the other way. It might be a simple software change to get that dedicated turn signal to the back of the truck.

 

[Justinswidebody]

Wanted to add on to this. I believe the difference in rear signals is actually not a hardware change but a software change. The Tazer has the ability to change configuration of the rear lights for different markets.

I know this can be used to make EU spec Gladiators work with USDM designed tail lights (a la Oracle and similar), but I'm not sure if this configuration has been tested to go the other way. It might be a simple fix to get that dedicated turn signal to the back.

Is the overseas gladiator turn signal different?

 

[AKDrifter]

I agree it does look pretty slick... Problem is finding them in proper lengths...

I actually have a idea to make them sequential with less wiring, but it will still take a lot more time....

I can cut the led strands in 3 or 6 led segments.... And then just solder the segments back together but with a delay between each segment...

This would give the sequence effect... But more work that I don't feel like doing lol... Still looking for some LEDs that are already sequential that I can use ....

If you made a sequential rear turn signal there's no price that would stop me from buying them. Would just mean saving up a little longer.

 

[sharpsicle]

Is the overseas gladiator turn signal different?

Yes, the EU factory rear housings are clear and contain an amber turn signal.

 

[Justinswidebody]

Yes, the EU factory rear housings are clear and contain an amber turn signal.

I'll start researching

 

[Justinswidebody]

Yes, the EU factory rear housings are clear and contain an amber turn signal.

Not looking too promising

 

[sharpsicle]

Yes, so it's possible to separate turn from brake but does require repinning. Here are the pertinent posts on the EU tail conversions.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...n-na-spec-gladiator.31651/page-11#post-630483
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...n-na-spec-gladiator.31651/page-11#post-630694
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...n-na-spec-gladiator.31651/page-13#post-639712

But again, doesn't mean you can't still go sequential as-is!

 

[Justinswidebody]

Yes, so it's possible to separate turn from brake but does require repinning. Here are the pertinent posts on the EU tail conversions.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...n-na-spec-gladiator.31651/page-11#post-630483
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...n-na-spec-gladiator.31651/page-11#post-630694
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...n-na-spec-gladiator.31651/page-13#post-639712

But again, doesn't mean you can't still go sequential as-is!

Good read with a great idea....

I'm all for going sequential as is.... But I can't find any bright red sequential led strips that are cut to length....

If I can find these it would be easy...

I just don't want to get into a bunch of manual time intensive labor with soldering a ton of wires...

 

[Jerhemi]

Here's one with a tiny Easter egg gladiator.... No mountain though

Perfect. Subtle ??

 

[Justinswidebody]

Alright, so still having issues printing the lens...

Any orientation doesn't come out right , but I think I have a solution...

We will see how it goes.

Other than that, I'm going to have to do a redesign.

I started thinking, what happens when I put reverse on with taillights on......

Under the same defuser, it's probably going to produce a pink color.

So I'm first going to try a divider under the same defuser...

But it that doesn't work, then I'll have to separate the two and make a separate lens for reverse....

 

[USMC_1Wire6337]

Alright, so still having issues printing the lens...

Any orientation doesn't come out right , but I think I have a solution...

We will see how it goes.

Other than that, I'm going to have to do a redesign.

I started thinking, what happens when I put reverse on with taillights on......

Under the same defuser, it's probably going to produce a pink color.

So I'm first going to try a divider under the same defuser...

But it that doesn't work, then I'll have to separate the two and make a separate lens for reverse....

Bummer. I wonder if a resin printer would be better for the lens. Not that I am recommending you spend more money to fix the problem. Do you know anyone with a resin printer that could knock one out for you to test?

 

[Justinswidebody]

In

Bummer. I wonder if a resin printer would be better for the lens. Not that I am recommending you spend more money to fix the problem. Do you know anyone with a resin printer that could knock one out for you to test?

Actually purchased the biggest affordable resin printer for the tail lights...

All I can say is, I want nothing to do with resin lol. Stinky, nasty, and for the high temp resins it was going to take 48 hours to print a tail light because of the exposure time required to harden the high temp resins.


It's okay, I will get it working ...

 

[Minty JL]

No I asked him yesterday and he said he would get back to me today..... I'm which I haven't heard from him.....

Now I'm starting to wonder if I should even bother with that version anymore. Seems like everyone likes the raptor version

Thanks for the update, not that you owe me anything LOL.

I'll wait, because I know it will be worth it.

 

[USMC_1Wire6337]

In



Actually purchased the biggest affordable resin printer for the tail lights...

All I can say is, I want nothing to do with resin lol. Stinky, nasty, and for the high temp resins it was going to take 48 hours to print a tail light because of the exposure time required to harden the high temp resins.


It's okay, I will get it working ...

Gotcha. Guess I'm glad I haven't dipped my toes into that hobby yet then. Couch isn't that comfortable to sleep on...

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