Ideas to place PIAA 510's in an '07 Tacoma?

[ScottA]

I'll take delivery of an '07 Tacoma in the next 2 weeks & am considering some lighting upgrades.

I see literally dozens of threads explaining placing Toyota's OEM Fog Lights into the standard bumper, but has anyone ever placed any aftermarket (e.g. PIAA) DRIVING LIGHTS (like the 510) in the location of the original fog light pockets? My Dodge Dakota accommodated the PIAA 510's perfectly in the stock locations with the benefit of throwing much more light forward than even the high beams! Super white & super bright!

My experience with manufacturer's fog lights has been poor. Simply not enough light to do much with while driving. As I consider the aftermarket driving lights, I am uncertain if Toyota has any metal mounting plates near or adjacent to the original fog light pockets?

Has anyone ever replaced the Tacoma's stock OEM fog lights with PIAA driving lights?

If so, may I kindly request a reply to learn more.

Thanks.

[stevegillings]

Question: what do you need more light for? The stock headlights provide plenty of light while not blinding incoming traffic. Are you living in a foggy area where you need better fog lights? Your post did not sound like that, though.

[Johnny Law]

While I don't have an answer per se for your question, I can tell you that the OEM foglight isn't bolted in. It simply rests on two tabs that protrude left/right into corresponding holes in the plastic of the bumper. The back rests against the area of the bumper housing the lights. The OEM fog lights themselves are very light, I'd imagine there is a little more weight to the lights you are considering.

[ScottA]

The need for more light is perhaps academic. More is always better, however the lights are only used like "high-beams" -- in other words when no one else will see them. Living in the Pennsylvania, we have our hearty share of critters that are typically nocturnal & run in front of you at night. I have been able to avoid collisions (namely with deer, raccoons, opossums, and one red fox) by seeing them () before they entered the road. As you know, lights are no guarantee to avoid a collision, but the extreme lights extend the viewable distance much farther and remove shadows that might otherwise cover the critters eyes with just headlights -- simply, they reduce the likelihood of a collision. If the Tacoma's OEM lighting is that good, maybe I won't need aftermarket lighting at all then! Thanks for the comment!

The PIAA lights weigh in at about 2 lbs. each. Not too heavy, but these will require mounting on a piece of steel versus a plastic channel to remain speed steady and aligned. Dimensions are in the attached image. I'm curious to know if there any metal BEHIND the OEM airdam (like the bumper itself?) near the light pockets that would support these driving lights? Or is it only plastic back there??

Thanks again.

[Corban_White]

fog lights are for fog. that is why they are down low and point close to the truck rather than out far like high beams. they are to cut under the fog rather than reflecting off it and making it even harder for the driver to see like they would if they were up higher. if you want a "high beam" type attachment point, i would consider up on the roof or somewhere in front of the grill, but definitely not lower than the stock headlights.

[Johnny Law]

The stock fog lights are 4 5/8" diameter, I just went and measured. You would probably have to mod the PIAA mounting point to get it to fit. Although with the price of PIAA's, I wouldn't want to cut them up at all. There is no metal behind the stock fog light location. It's all plastic, including a small bracket that clips from the fog light hole up to the top of the bumper for support.

If it's light you want, I'd get a brush or grille guard and mount some HID's on there. Xenarc 1010's are now down to about $348.