If you drive a 2007-2013 Toyota Tundra, you already know that the factory reverse lighting is not exactly impressive. When you throw the truck into reverse at night, the small incandescent bulbs barely light up what is behind you. In this install guide, we are going to show you two different ways to seriously upgrade your Toyota Tundra LED reverse lights. First we replaced the factory 921 style bulbs with high power LED bulbs, and second we mounted external LED projector lights directly onto the rear bumper for even more output. We tested both methods on our 2010 Tundra, and we are going to walk you through the entire process step by step.
Two Ways to Upgrade Your Tundra Reverse Lights
On the Tundra there are two ways to do LED reverse lights. The first and easiest option is installing high-power LED bulbs, and the only tool you need is a T30 Torx bit. The second option is mounting external LED lights on the bumper, which requires more work but produces much more light. In this video series, we did both, so you can choose the quick bulb swap, the bigger bumper light project, or both together.
The nice thing about this approach is you can start small. If you just want a brighter reverse bulb, grab a set of Tundra reverse light bulbs and you are done in a few minutes. If you want maximum visibility while backing up a trailer or navigating a dark driveway, add the bumper-mounted projectors as well.
Tools You Will Need
For the LED bulb replacement, all you need is a T30 Torx bit. For the bumper-mounted lights, you need quite a bit more. You need a tape measure so you can position the light in the right spot on the bumper, a wire stripper and a wire cutter to help connect it to the factory reverse light wiring, and electrical tape to finish your connections. You also need a 14mm socket to mount the LED module, plus a 5/16 inch and a 7/32 inch drill bit to put the holes in the bumper. Last but not least, you need a drill and a soldering iron.
Part 1: Installing the GTR Lighting TW6 921 LED Bulbs
First we did the LED bulbs. The Tundra uses what is called a 921 style light bulb. It is a regular incandescent bulb, and it looks like an oversized 194 or 168 type bulb. It is essentially just a mini wedge. We pulled the factory bulb out and installed the new LED bulbs in its place.
Removing the Tail Light Assembly
To get started, open up the bed and use your T30 Torx bit. There is one Torx screw on one side and one on the other side. Pull them both out, and the whole tail light assembly will come out with it. Once the bolts are loose, gently pull the tail light forward. Do not push it out too far, otherwise you could break the retaining clips that hold it in place. Next, unhook the three sockets and set the tail light on a safe surface so you can install the bulbs.
With the wiring exposed, we turned on the reverse lights so we could confirm which socket we were working with. We did that by applying the parking brake, turning on the ignition, and sliding the shifter into reverse. Once we knew it was on, we removed the bulb (careful, it is hot) and started to install the new bulb.
Installing the New LED Bulb
What we used for this install is, in our opinion, the brightest 921 or 194 style LED bulb available on the market. This is the GTR Lighting TW6 series 921 bulb, part number 7010221. You can find these on our website, and if you want to compare options you can also look at this Tundra 921 LED bulb upgrade to see what fits your build.
Now, most LED bulbs are polarity specific, which means they are only going to go in one way. We plugged it in and you could see how bright it is and what color it is. But a lot of times you are going to plug it in the wrong way and it is not going to do anything. If that happens to you, simply unplug it, flip it around, and you are done. After that, reinstall the bulb into the tail light housing and place it back into the truck.
One quick note: the tail light on our test truck was an aftermarket LED tail light, so the brake and turn functions are handled by full LED circuit boards. That is why it looked a little different when we pulled it out. Do not worry, this installation works the same way for a factory tail light or an aftermarket tail light.
When you are ready to reinstall the tail light, match up the two metal pins with the two holes with plastic grommets. When you get that in place, the metal clips on the other side will line up with the screw holes. Be very careful not to scratch the paint. Line up one side and the other should be pretty easy to get back in. Push it so it seats correctly, then reinstall the Torx screws. Once the Torx screws are back in, the LED reverse light bulb install is finished.
Part 2: Adding the GTR Lighting 9W LED Bumper Reverse Lights
Now that we had the LED bulbs installed, we also added an extra punch to the reverse output by adding the 9W LED projector lights from GTR Lighting. These lights flush mount right onto the back bumper and are triggered by the reverse lights. They come in pairs, they have an IP67 waterproof rating, and they only draw 0.67 amps each. Each one is a 9 watt LED creating approximately 600 lumens of light. The color is about 6000K and the beam pattern is 120 degrees, so this is a great product for the rear bumper. If you want to see the full range of options for your truck, check out the Tundra bumper LED lights we carry.
The way we installed them is flush mount. It does come with a bracket, but we removed the bracket and did not even use it. Instead, we used the supplied mounting studs and drilled a hole in the rear bumper to fit it in place.
Measuring and Positioning the Lights
To install the lights on the rear bumper, the first thing you have to do is decide where to put them and make sure it is exactly the same on both sides. Because everything is curved, it is tough to find a sharp edge to measure from. What we chose to do was measure center to center of the rear backup sensors. If you do not have the sensors, you are going to have to do a lot more measuring than we did here. Using a regular tape measure, we measured about 17 inches center to center. Since 17 divided by 2 is 8 and a half, we put a mark right at that spot so it would be even on both sides.
Drilling the Bumper
To give you a better idea of how this works, we attached the stud to the back of the module. We drilled a 5/16 inch hole right where we put our mark. The stud goes through that hole. Then we drilled a second hole for the wiring, which is 7/32 inch. We recommend you figure out where the screw holes are for the original bracket, make sure those are level, then go back behind it and mark a spot for your wire.
Once the holes are drilled, feed the wiring through the small hole. When it gets close, feed the stud through the big hole. To secure it, take the supplied 14mm nut, put it on there, and get it as snug as you can with a socket and ratchet from the back side until it is secure.
Running and Connecting the Wiring
With the projector mounted in the bumper, the wiring through, and the stud and nut secured, you have to run the wiring up through the bottom of the truck to the opening at the tail lights. We already had this out from showing you how to do the LED bulb install. For the Tundra, it is very simple. On the reverse light you have a red wire and a black wire, and on the new LED module we installed on the bumper there is a red wire and a black wire. So you pull your new wiring up, secure it in place, and connect red to red and black to black.
This is where your wire cutters and wire strippers come into play. There’s a lot of extra wiring you don’t need, so make sure it’s tight without leaving unnecessary slack. Loosen it slightly so you can route it away from moving parts. Then cut it closer to your reverse light wires. The last thing you want is a bunch of extra wire tucked in there. Use your wire strippers to expose the metal, then do the same with the factory reverse light wiring. Once everything is stripped, twist the wires together, matching red to red and black to black.
Soldering and Waterproofing
After you twist the wires together, we solder the connections. Use your soldering iron and be very careful, it is very hot. Solder all your connections thoroughly.
After you are done soldering, make sure to tape up your connections so they are as waterproof as possible and so they do not touch each other. If you touch the two bare wires together, they will short out and pop the reverse light fuse, which is a headache you do not want to deal with. So just make sure you do this the right way.
Securing Wiring Away From the Tailgate Mechanism
The last thing you want to do, for safety’s sake, is make sure the wire you just installed is not touching the hydraulic strut or the latch mechanism for the tailgate. When this goes up and down, the lever inside moves, and the last thing you want is to get your new wiring caught up in it. We pulled the slack all the way toward the factory wiring and used a zip tie to secure it to the factory wiring, keeping it down really low to hold the new wiring in place. Trim the zip tie, then test your tailgate up and down to see if it binds on the new wire.
Repeating the Passenger Side
Now that we had one side done, it was really important to duplicate the other side. We made our mark first, took our measurement (about 17 inches), and went 8 and a half. Before drilling that hole, we did several different measurements to make sure it was as close as possible to the original side. You do not want one light in one spot and the other in a different spot. As we always say, mark once or twice, measure four times, drill once. We repeated the passenger side install just like the driver’s side.
The Finished Result
With both projects complete, we have a truck that is dramatically brighter when backing up. We have the GTR Lighting TW6 style LED bulbs in the tail light housings replacing the factory reverse light bulbs, and we added the 9 watt GTR Lighting projector LED lights on the bumper for even more light and better safety while backing up. Doing both together gives you the best of both worlds, but even just the bulb swap is a noticeable improvement over the dim factory incandescent bulbs.
If you have other lighting projects planned for your truck, our full lineup of parts for the Toyota Tundra can help you tackle everything from headlights to reverse lighting. This particular install is one of our favorite quick upgrades because the improvement in visibility is so obvious the first time you back into a dark garage or driveway.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size bulb does the 2007-2013 Toyota Tundra use for reverse lights?
The Tundra uses a 921 style bulb, which is essentially an oversized 194 or 168 style mini wedge incandescent bulb.
What LED bulb was installed in this video?
The GTR Lighting TW6 series 921 LED bulb, part number 7010221, was used as a direct replacement for the factory reverse bulb.
Do the LED reverse bulbs need to be installed in a specific direction?
Yes, most LED bulbs including this one are polarity specific. If it does not light up, simply unplug it and flip it around to correct the polarity.
What tools are needed to install the bumper-mounted LED reverse lights?
You need a tape measure, wire strippers and cutters, electrical tape, a 14mm socket, a drill with 5/16 inch and 7/32 inch bits, and a soldering iron.
What are the specs of the GTR Lighting bumper reverse lights shown in the video?
They are 9 watt LED projector lights sold in pairs, rated IP67 waterproof, drawing 0.67 amps each, producing about 600 lumens at 6000K color temperature with a 120 degree beam pattern.
Meet the Experts Behind Headlight Revolution
Chris Nelson – Founder
Before founding Headlight Revolution in 2011, Chris worked as an automotive install technician specializing in lighting, sound systems, and engine performance parts. He has personally tested thousands of lighting products and works directly with lighting engineers to evaluate the technical performance behind every recommendation.
Josh Beberg – Content Production Manager
Josh leads hands-on testing and content production at Headlight Revolution. From beam pattern comparisons to real-world installations, he works directly with lighting engineers to ensure every review is grounded in measured results, not marketing specs.
