2024-2026 Tacoma Lighted Tailgate Applique Installation Instructions

Items Included

Lighted Tacoma Tailgate Applique with pre-installed lights
Light wiring harness
Two adhesive-backed zip-tie mounts
Adhesion promoter
Three T-tap quick-splice connectors
Three male blade connectors
Two zip ties

Tools Required

T35 Torx bit
10 mm wrench or socket
Power driver
Utility knife, X-Acto knife, or box cutter
Wire cutters
Wire crimpers
Clean microfiber cloth
Isopropyl alcohol
Masking tape
Electrical tape

Before You Get Started...

Warm surfaces and 3M tape with heat gun if ambient temperature is below 68 degrees F

Any Modification or unintended use will void the manufacturers warranty

A dry fit of all pieces must be performed before the final installation of the product to ensure fit

Products cannot be returned for a full refund after the red backing to the 3M tape is removed

Installation Instructions

1. Remove the Tailgate Top Cap

Lower the tailgate.
Using a T35 Torx bit, remove the six bolts securing the top cap to the tailgate. Carefully lift the top cap away from the tailgate and set it aside.
Keep all factory hardware for reinstallation.

2. Remove the Tailgate Access Panel

Using the same T35 Torx bit, remove the bolts securing the tailgate access panel.
Remove the panel and set it aside. This will provide access to the inside of the tailgate for routing the lighting harness.

3. Remove the Driver-Side Tail Light

The applique wiring will connect to the driver-side tail-light wiring.
Remove the two bolts securing the driver-side tail light using a 10 mm wrench or socket.
Once the bolts have been removed, pull the tail-light assembly straight away from the truck bed. Do not twist or pry the assembly excessively.
Set the tail light aside while keeping its factory wiring connected.

4. Route the Light Wiring Harness

Place a small amount of electrical tape around the clipped end of the supplied wiring harness. This will create a smoother end and make the harness easier to route through the tailgate.
Remove or release the factory wire-loom retaining plates located between the tailgate and the truck bed. Opening these retainers will provide better access to the existing wire-routing path.

Feed the supplied wiring harness:

Through the inside of the tailgate.
Into the existing factory wire-loom path.
Through the sheet metal near the tailgate hinge.
Under the truck bed.
Up into the passenger-side tail-light cavity.

Pull enough wire into the tail-light cavity to make the electrical connections comfortably.
Leave sufficient slack near the tailgate hinge so the tailgate can open and close without pulling or stretching the wiring.

5. Prepare the Harness Wires

At the tail-light end of the supplied harness, carefully remove approximately 2 inches of the outer insulation.
Do not damage the insulation surrounding the three individual wires.
Strip approximately 1/4 inch of insulation from the end of each individual wire.
Crimp one supplied male blade connector onto each wire. Pull gently on each connector to confirm that it is securely crimped.

6. Install the T-Tap Connectors

Install the three supplied T-tap connectors onto the appropriate factory tail-light wires.
On the Tacoma shown in the installation video, the connections are:

Applique Harness Wire	Factory Tail-Light Wire
Yellow	Red
Black	Black with White Stripe
Red	White

Important: Factory wire colors may vary by model, trim level, or production date. Verify each circuit with a multimeter or test light before making any connections.

Place the factory wire inside the T-tap connector. Make sure the wire is correctly positioned inside the connector housing.
Use pliers or crimpers to press the metal blade firmly into the wire, and then close the connector cover.
Make sure the blade enters the connector housing correctly and makes firm contact with the factory wire.
Insert the corresponding male blade connector from the supplied harness into each T-tap receptacle.

7. Test the Lighting

Before reassembling the tail light, temporarily connect the routed harness to the wires on the applique:

Red to red
Yellow to yellow
Black to black

Push each connector together completely.

Test the lighting functions:

Press the brake pedal. The applique lights should illuminate red.
With the brake applied, place the vehicle in reverse. The applique lights should illuminate white.

If the lights do not operate correctly, turn the vehicle off and inspect each connection. Confirm that the T-tap blades have made firm contact and that each wire has been connected to the correct circuit.

Disconnect the applique after testing so the installation can continue.

8. Reinstall the Tail Light

Align the locating posts on the tail-light assembly with their receivers on the truck bed.
Press the assembly straight into place until it is fully seated.
Reinstall the two 10 mm bolts and tighten them until snug. Do not overtighten the bolts.
Hand-tightening is recommended to reduce the risk of stripping or damaging the mounting points.

9. Reinstall the Factory Wire-Loom Retainers

Return the factory wiring loom to its original position.
Reinstall each retaining plate by hooking one side into place and then pressing the opposite side until it snaps securely into position.
It may be easier to reinstall the bed-side retainer with the tailgate raised.
Check the wiring through the tailgate’s full range of movement. The wiring should not be stretched, pinched, or caught against any sharp edges.

10. Position the Harness Inside the Tailgate

Route the applique end of the harness toward the right side of the tailgate, slightly to the right of the center latch.
The applique’s lighting connection exits just right of center, so the harness connectors must remain accessible in this area.
Leave enough wire extending above the tailgate to connect it to the applique.
Remove the backing from the supplied adhesive zip-tie mounts and attach them inside the tailgate. Position them where they will hold the harness securely without interfering with the access panel or latch mechanism.
Route the individual wires next to one another in a flat, ribbon-like arrangement. This prevents the wires from creating a raised area beneath the applique or top cap.
Do not fully tighten the zip ties until the applique has been positioned and connected.

11. Clean the Tailgate

Thoroughly clean the applique mounting surface with isopropyl alcohol and a clean microfiber cloth.
Remove all dirt, dust, wax, grease, and other residue from the surface.
Allow the surface to dry completely before proceeding.

12. Dry-Fit the Applique

Place the applique on the tailgate without removing the adhesive backing.

Check that the applique:

Is centered from side to side
Sits evenly across the tailgate
Fits correctly around the tailgate contours
Does not interfere with the top cap
Aligns with the recessed trough along the top of the tailgate

Use masking tape to mark the correct position if desired.

Remove the applique after confirming the alignment.

13. Apply the Adhesion Promoter

Apply the supplied adhesion promoter only to the areas of the tailgate that will contact the applique’s automotive tape.
Avoid spreading the adhesion promoter outside the tape-contact areas.
Allow the treated surface to become ready for bonding according to the adhesion promoter’s instructions.

14. Prepare the Adhesive Tape

On the perimeter tape strips, peel back a short section of each backing liner.
Fold each exposed liner around the edge of the applique so it can be reached after the applique has been positioned. Secure the folded liner tabs with masking tape if necessary.
Completely remove the backing liners from any interior tape strips that will not be accessible after the applique is placed on the tailgate.
Do not allow the exposed adhesive to contact the tailgate prematurely.

15. Connect the Applique Wiring

Before placing the applique onto the tailgate, connect its wires to the routed harness:

Red to red
Yellow to yellow
Black to black

Push each connector together until it is completely seated. (Double check light functionality one last time)

Arrange the wires in a flat, ribbon-like formation. Use a piece of masking tape to temporarily secure the connectors and wires against the inside of the applique. to help them remain in position behind the tailgate applique during installation.

16. Position the Applique

Carefully move the applique into position. (Centered with equal gap on each side)

Use only light pressure at first. Do not firmly press the applique against the tailgate until its alignment has been checked.

Confirm that:

The applique is centered from side to side.
Both ends are positioned evenly.
The wires remain flat.
The applique sits fully inside the recessed trough below the top cap.

The upper edge must sit against the bottom of the recessed trough. If the applique is positioned too far forward, part of the mounting area may remain visible. If it is positioned too high, it may interfere with the top cap.

Once the alignment is correct, apply light pressure only to the areas where the adhesive is already exposed. This will hold the applique in position while the remaining liners are removed.

17. Remove the Tape Liners

Begin with the tape strip along the top of the applique.
Slowly pull the exposed backing liner while maintaining the applique’s position. Apply pressure to the bonded area as the liner is removed.
Continue removing the remaining perimeter liners one at a time.
Do not pull the liners upward sharply. Pull them slowly and as parallel to the tailgate surface as possible to reduce the chance of tearing.
Frequently check that the applique has not shifted.

18. Apply Firm Pressure

After all tape liners have been removed, use a clean microfiber cloth to apply firm, even pressure over every taped area of the applique.
Work around the complete perimeter and across all interior bonding points.
Good pressure across the entire applique is necessary for a secure adhesive bond.

19. Remove the Protective Film

Carefully remove the protective film from the finished surface of the applique.
Remove the film before reinstalling the top cap so that no portion of it becomes trapped beneath the factory components.

20. Secure the Wiring

Use the supplied zip ties and adhesive-backed mounts to secure the harness inside the tailgate.

Make sure that:

The wires remain flat.
The connectors cannot move or rattle.
The harness does not interfere with the latch.
No wiring is pinched beneath the access panel.
Sufficient slack remains for normal tailgate movement.

Tighten the zip ties and trim away the excess ends.

21. Reassemble the Tailgate

Reinstall the tailgate access panel using the original T35 Torx bolts.
Reinstall the factory top cap and secure it with the six original bolts.
Tighten all fasteners securely, but do not overtighten them.
Open and close the tailgate to confirm that it moves normally and that the wiring does not pull, bind, or become pinched.

22. Perform a Final Lighting Test

Complete one final test of the applique:

Apply the brakes and verify that the lights illuminate red.
Place the vehicle in reverse and verify that the lights illuminate white.
Open and close the tailgate while checking that the harness remains secure.
Inspect the applique to confirm that all adhesive areas are firmly bonded.

The installation is now complete!

Care for your BumperShellz™

Most BumperShellz colors will function much like paint. They can be buffed, polished, taken through automated car washes, and whatever else you would normally do. Some ABS colors can be sanded down and re-painted if ever you decide you want to change colors.

Lighted Tacoma Tailgate Applique — PRO Version Installation Instructions