One of my favorite mods that I never get to see in use! 😂 And there are a lot of mods where we could say “it should’ve come this way from the factory” but this one truly fits that description. Just upgrading to LEDs is a good safety upgrade, but this MESO upgrade with the amber signal light is a safety game changer! I’ve driven behind other Tacomas and not realize they even had their turn signal on.
Great video as usual Chloe! I have had the Total Tail Stage 1's installed for nearly 2 years and they have worked flawlessly so far. I really like the complete 'C" running and brake lights that are way brighter, and really love the return to amber for the turn signal. Just hoping at some point MESO will finally restock and offer spare bulbs for sale. If one of the turn switchback fails, I will be forced to revert to stock until I can find a replacement. As far as the running/brake reds, I would still prefer to buy a couple spares from MESO, but other traditional running/brake LED's will probably work as well... Keep up the great work, thank you!
Got my hands on this kit after watching this video. Great mod, worth the price. Besides looking better with the “full C,” the backup/turn signal bulbs are super bright. The camera does not pickup the increased lighting.
Nice! I like how simple the change is and different/better it made the tail light function. I'm not really a fan of sequential anything and this mod looks 👌.
Thank you Chloe!!! I just bought my 3rd gen after totaling my 2nd gen. This was my first upgrade since I wanted to keep the stock look but upgrade the tail light to led. As a bonus, they look and function much better than stock. Thanks for the help.👍
Love what you have done with your truck, I actually watch your channel because I can see what a mod looks like since I have a silver sky metallic Tacoma. I was planning to rewire my taillights to get the same effect, but this mod will save me some time, great job.
This mod looks absolutely amazing. I have never liked that Toyota switched to red turn signals on the gen 3 tacos. This is definitely on my sooner than later to-do list of mods. I'm up in the air though between going with the stage 1 or the stage 2. Something I've noticed when upgrading halogens to LED's is that they're sometimes more of a side-grade because, while the LED's are brighter than the halogens, they don't utilize the reflector as efficiently. I can only find one short video on RU-vid of the stage 2, just showing the hazard lights in the dark. Sure would be nice to see a side by side of stage 1 vs stage 2. I'm leaning towards biting the $70 bullet and going with stage 2 right out of the gate. Meso Customs should sell a stage 1 -> stage 2 conversion kit.
I installed this mod on my 2020 SR5 some months ago. I have to agree that it is a very good mod. Makes the truck look better at night and adds what I think is a better level of visibility. I do worry about sourcing replacement bulbs if needed. And as far as the load resistor thing mine required them. I got a hyper flash on the left with out them.
@paulf5072 see my reply above. Less electrical load on the flasher circuit causes that. The flasher is designed to expect the load of the numper of bulbs the vehicle has on each side, front and back. If one of them is incandescent and burns out that will happen. Also if you installed LED bulbs they operate on less power that can cause it too, then you need to add a load resistor to correct it.
I love how many things we can do to these trucks. I’d love to see videos on the dealership money traps, like changing brake fluid, transmission fluid, coolants, etc. There are other videos online about these, but your production skills and communication is way better!
Thank you! Great video and easy to follow. It turned out I need the load resistors. If you still have those available, I’d love to have them. Thank you again!
Hey Chloe this video made me get this kit because i’ve always preferred amber rear turn signals instead of red (found it in stock on runnin4tacos) but mine are hyper flashing so if you still have the load resistors I could use them
I did my lighting upgrade when alone too, and set up my cell phone to record the video, LOL. Brighter reverse and tail lights really help when backing up. But, don't upgrade the license plate lights because the glare will wash out the backup camera view!
Did that conversion two days ago,; very true, once it is done, it looks like it should have come from the factory like this. I used the VLEDS kit, but I think it is exactly the same as the MESO. I did install the resistors.
Perfect video! Thanks for the information! Do you happen to have the load resistors? They are out of stock when I did my order and unfortunately my left side circuit needs the load cell.
Hi Chloe your videos are so informative and lots of time helpful in my small modifications. Recently I bought a stage-1 taillight mod from Meso Custom after watching your video. After installing it to my 2017 Toyota Tacoma 3rd gen SR5 all my turn signal front and rear are hyper flashing. I know in your video you said if someone needs the low resistor, is there any chance that you still have this low resistor if yes how much are you selling it. Thanks and please advice - Jonathan
In watching you install your lights there is an modification you might want to consider. Bed stiffeners, as you add more and more modifications and considering the box in your truck is a composite box it might be good to increase the structural strength by adding bed stiffeners . It’s just some thing I would recommend to all Tacoma owners. Maybe it’s some thing you will want for your truck and you can make another modification video out of it. There are several different ones on the market I’m sure you would do your homework and see which one suits you the best. Yes the ones I have even work with my deck system they don’t get in the way of the opening and closing of the drawers. Hope you don’t mind a recommendation.
Total Chaos stiffeners were the first thing I installed on my 2021, drilled 6 holes in the truck before it had 200 miles on it. I know a guy with a 2018 who cracked his bed off roading, no rack or cargo.
I just did this mod tonight and noticed the MESO laser etching on the brake light units faced out when they were in the correct orientation. That may be the hint for correct anode /cathode terminal alignment.
On of my first mods on my 2017 can't believe toyota took the amber turn signals away there required in every other country in the world and rightfully so much safer and brighter all around no need to change the whole light fixture with this set up one of my top rated mods looks and safety you will really appreciate them
Great video! You hit me sold on them and was able to grab a set at R4T! Just installed them and getting hyper flashing on the left side. Do you still happen to have those spare resistors?
Think this is the next mod I'll do, front and back. And while I'd really like one of those new Corvette's, this little truck is bad ass. Think I'm keeping mine also!
About the polarity, starting from the top, I noticed when I remove the OEM bulb, the print on the bulb is on top, so when I put the meso led, i installed it with the "MESO LOGO" on top as well. The middle bulb's lettering is on the bottom, I installed the led that the "MESO LOGO" was on the bottom. The third one (turn signal/reverse light) is already pre-installed. It worked perfectly for me, 100% success.
Just installed them on my 2023 Taco SR5 v6 4x4. They are awesome super bright did not have to use a resistor. Mine are stage 1 the stage 2 was not on the website.
Hi Chloe i just got done watching this video and i purchased the stage 1 kit for my 2018 tacoma and i cant find anywhere else to buy the resistor to prevent it from hyper flashing. Do u still have those extras u Mention in this video? Thanks
I just put this kit on my tacoma last week. I also replaced the red lense tail lights with the TRD Pro tails However I also installed some morimoto xb leds and I get hyoerflashing sometimes. Now sure how to install resistors
Installing resisters is easy I could explain. It but it's much easier to go to stage 1 tail lights at messo customs and they have videos on the installation there are also many videos on hyper flash that show you exactly how the register is installed and how and why it works hope that helps you out it's very easy good luck by the way my stage 1 lights have been in for over three years with no problems
Hi Chloe Do you have hyper flashing at all? The reason I ask because I used LED bulb with built in resistors. They work fine but they burned out quickly. That’s my next mod project for sure. Have a great day!
I love your videos they give me so much hope with modding my 2021 Tacoma off-road but my question for you is do you think that your air filter system would fit my truck to?
Does anyone know if you can use this wiring harness to just make the top blinker work with the brake light? I don't want to relocate the blinker, I just want it to act as a brake light/blinker
If your in reverse the whites come..while still in reverse and you put the hazards on do the amber hazards come on and turn off the reverse lights..pls reply..thanks Chloe
it's going to be very bright yellowish color. I just installed mine today and I made a 'Before" and After" video for my personal purposes to see the comparison.
Late to the game here but has anyone had success getting replacement bulbs for the Stage 1 harness? I would love to get this for my Taco but worry about getting spare parts.
I’m sure these are probably great but rather than being a non-mission critical part like a chrome delete, tail lights are essential to the operation of the vehicle. The main problem I see with these is that they are produced in small boutique batches and if one of them fails or becomes damaged, the chances of being able to get a replacement are low.
Valid point--I still have not been able to purchase a couple spare red bulbs, or the more critical amber/white switchback bulbs from MESO--they have been sold out FOREVER. Having said that, the system has worked flawlessly now for nearly 2 years and I really like it--esp the the brighter running and brake lights, but also the Tacoma traditional amber turn signal...
The only thing that MIGHT fail would be an led. There’s replacements everywhere for those though. Also if you have a non Pro Tacoma you can always buy the blacked out Pro taillights to go with this like i did. Killer combo.
I just installed mine today. When reversing, the back uplight color is white. If reversing with hazard on it's much brighter while flashing and the color is very bright yellowish. I noticed that when reversing and use the the turn signal, let say right signal, the right side is very bright yellowish but it's hyper flashing and the left side is just the plain white color (not flashing of course). By the way, mine is 2022 Tacoma Off Road MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'm not sure if that's the same as Automatic Transmission. I hope this help.
