Turning off the cargo/tailgate lights

[coloradomarmot]

So, anyone figure out how to turn off the interior lights around the cargo/tailgate area when the back is open? We like to sit on the bumper while we're doing night photography. I figure there must be something obvious and simple that we're missing, but darned if we aren't missing it.

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[Zenyx]

There are two switches inside but neither control the cargo lights. One turns on and off a puddle light near the rear license plate and the other controls the other interior lights. Even with both of these off, the cargo lights stay on. On the Trailhunter (or those with the optional hatch and rear pillar lights) this could be up to 6 lights staying on. While they are LED and barely drain the battery, sometimes you want the hatch open but dark. I think they turn off after 5-10 minutes, I haven't timed it.

I'm sure there's a contact switch the hatch hits when closed. Might be a way to depress that to turn them off but an official toggle switch would have been nice.

 

[Thanos]

Yes. They do time out and turn off. Mine did after a certain time.

 

[blueRhino]

Hello.

As per manual rear cargo lights should turn off after 20 minutes with the ignition turned off.

 

[coloradomarmot]

I think there's actually a switch on the lower left control panel that'll turn them off...saw it today.

 

[Zenyx]

I think there's actually a switch on the lower left control panel that'll turn them off...saw it today.

That turns off and on the puddle light mounted above the license plate. I tried that switch as well when I wanted to turn off the hatch lights with it open without waiting 20 minutes.

 

[coloradomarmot]

Bummer, we really need a way to turn them off much quicker.

 

[bkw777]

Similarly and opposite, I wish there was a way to make them stay on until I explicitly turn them off. Accessory mode is always shutting off when I'm in the middle of something. I keep forgetting to see if it's adjustable via obd2 like with the fake engine noises and seatbelt alarm.

On my 3rd gen I ran 2 strips of generic led strips along the top edges of the window on both sides of the cargo area, and wired them to the cargo dome light by just soldering the wires to a replacement led that fits in the dome light fixture. That fixture has the usual off-door-on switch right on the light. Super handy.

This setup, on my decrepit old '96, is 9000x more useful than my brand new $50k 2025.

 

[Nodak]

the master cutoff is set to 20 mins, no way to adjust it since its tied into the BCM i think (body control module). its to ensure no parasitic drain kills the battery (which includes the radio, door open, headlights, any interior lights)

this has been in 4R since 5th production started (2009), i can confirm with my 2014 that the master shutoff is at 20 mins.

there is also one for the engine running while in park (it will shutoff after 60 mins unless you press the ignore popup screen) this is new with our 23 tundra and i suspect with the 4R also

 

[bkw777]

Automatically saving the battery is fine, but the problem is someone else ultimately controls it instead of you. That is intolerable.

 

[coloradomarmot]

Yep, I wish I could turn it off much faster.

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