Installed '06 and earlier tailights in my '07

[Motorhead]

Been collecting the parts and today I removed my '07 and later tailights and installed the '06 and earlier tailights. It wasn't a simply unhook one and put in the other. The hardest part was finding the '06 and earlier tailight plugs.
I found them at a truck dismantler in Ventura for $20. 00.
The earlier tailights use the top bulb for the turn signal only and the bottom one for the brake lights. If you put on the brakes, only one bulb lights on each side. I used the existing single bulb circuit from my truck to light the top bulb. This circuit is a STOP/TURN/RUNNING light circuit. I then ran an extra wire from the "third brake light" circuit for the camper shell light and used it to light the bottom brake light. NOW I have TWO brake lights on each side and TWO running lights also on each side. I also had to transfer the lamp assembly locating pins from my later lights to the early ones. I like the smooth tailights

 

[RMacneil]

Did the computer that monitors the lights go crazy when you changed to the earlier lights? I've been wanting to do this but I hate the potential for creating headaches. I don't want to hear the computer chime all the time about bulb issues...
Do the`06 housings use the same type of bulb?

 

[Motorhead]

Did the computer that monitors the lights go crazy when you changed to the earlier lights? I've been wanting to do this but I hate the potential for creating headaches. I don't want to hear the computer chime all the time about bulb issues...
Do the`06 housings use the same type of bulb?

Wow, this has been a while since I posted this.
First, the TIPM or computer as you call it had absolutely no issues with the '06 lights. The '06 housings use the same bulb but not the same bulb holders as the '07 and up.
If you are going to do this then you need a COMPLETE set of '06 down tail lights with the bulb holders. The hard part I had finding was the '06 down tail light plugs that is part of the back wire loom. I acquired them at a wrecking yard.

The '07 up tail lights only use one stop/turn/tail bulb and a back-up bulb. The '06 down uses 2 stop/tail/turn bulbs and a back-up bulb. I liked the fact that I now have BETTER rear signaling and double the tail lights in back. The back-up lights on the '06 down assemblies are MUCH better than the '07 up.
You can hook up the two lights on each side two ways.
ONE way is to have both bulbs hooked up to blink when you turn right or left. That is the simplest way.
I went with having the TOP bulb of the two bulbs hooked up to the stock '07 stop/turn/tail light circuit. I then taped into the white with red stripe wire that is stubbed off at the back of the bed to use when you have the third brake light on a camper shell. This is a BRAKE ONLY light and not affected by the turn signal. I used this circuit to run the LOWER of the two lights for my brake lights. So now when say I am turning left with my brakes on, the upper left rear light flashes, the lower left light is on steady for the brake light and BOTH right bulbs are lit steady for brakes. I sure love the way it looks now with the earlier lights... . especially with my inferno red truck. PM me if you need any other info. Chris

 

[Prairie Dog]

I like the smooth look of the older lenses as well,. Thought I was the only one!

 

[seafish]

I like the smooth look of the older lenses as well,. Thought I was the only one!

Just ANOTHER reason I love my 2005!!!

 

[Shadrach]

When I bought my 03 it had a deck on it. The box I used came from an 09 I believe so I removed the newer style lights and saw what the wiring was like. Since the deck had different lighting I took the back half of the wiring harness from an 05? I think and matched each wire up to put it back to stock. The newer box had 3 sets of mounting holes in it for the tail lights. The lights only use 2 of them, each style being different. Since I didn't have an 03 box I don't know if the earlier boxes had 3 as well. Personally I don't like the 07 and newer lights.

The newer box also has different tie downs, "D" shaped ones. Shad

 

[DeezelDood]

I like the smooth look of the older lenses as well,. Thought I was the only one!

Ditto, no idea why they changed it.

 

[Motorhead]

Ditto, no idea why they changed it.

I thought it was a DOT issue but the 4th gens are smooth too.

 

[EricBu12]

I will probably get an LED Light like I had for my 2001 below. . This had a resistor built in to fool the computer. .



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This one seems to have the same resistor in it



http://www.k2motor.com/09-up-dodge-...m_medium=cse&gclid=CNqRgoabuLMCFSmCQgod41kA6g

 

[RMacneil]

Thanks for the great info, Chris (Motorhead). I appreciate it.
I'm going to start gathering the parts.