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A tailgate light bar is a great way for truck and SUV owners to get a little extra peace of mind. These simple LED light strips mount to the rear of the vehicle and replicate whatever your tail lights are doing. Whether you’re stopping, turning, or throwing on the hazards, they’ll light up to help drivers behind you get a better read on whatever it is you’re doing. Best of all, they use simple plug-and-play connectors to tap into the trailer wiring harness, keeping installation extremely simple. All you need to do is determine which is the best match for your truck. This tailgate light bar buying guide is here to help with just that.
Our Methodology in Selecting Tailgate Light Bars
For this review, we researched and evaluated tailgate light bars based on several factors. These include utility, color temperature, lumen count, construction, and ease of installation. We also factored in pricing, availability, and, most importantly, customer reviews. In the end, we narrowed the choices down to just three light bars that we think anyone ought to consider.
Summary List of Best Tailgate Light Bars
- Best Overall: MICTUNING 60-Inch LED Tailgate Light Bar
- Best Value: LIGBT 60-Inch LED Trunk Tailgate Light Bar
- Honorable Mention: Nilight 60-Inch Tailgate Light Bar
Best Tailgate Light Bars Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: MICTUNING 60-Inch LED Tailgate Light Bar
Pros
- Silicone-injected sealed ends for durability
- IP67 waterproof rated
- Four-way flat connector wire for an easy installation
Cons
- Not compatible with certain European makes/models
The Mictuning tailgate light bar is a solid workhorse, offering a rugged 60-inch design in triple-row formation and several different functions, including strobe, reverse, brake, turn signal, and running lights. Different colors work in tandem for each signal style using 504 LED chips and a flexible light strip. One of our favorite features with the Mictuning light bar is its all-out focus on durability. It offers a rainproof design with silicone injected, sealed ends, an inline fuse for short circuit protection, and an IP67 dust and water ingress protection rating that works well in all types of weather from exceptionally dry to flood-like conditions. A four-way flat connector wire also makes this one of the easiest units to install in a simple plug-and-play style.
The only drawback to this model is that it’s not compatible with some European models. That’s really a small gripe, though, as it will still work with virtually all popular pickups and most SUVs anyway.
Best Value: LIGBT 60-Inch LED Trunk Tailgate Light Bar
Pros
- Affordable
- IP68 rating
- Easy to install
Cons
- Quality matches low pricing
- Not as bright as other options
If you’re looking for the most affordable tailgate lightbar possible, the LIBGT 60-inch lightbar is what you need. This single-row lightbar uses 90 LEDs to signal to other drivers precisely what your next move is. It costs less than $20 yet still promotes the same ease of installation as any other lightbar. A simple adhesive backing mounts it to the truck, and a 4-pin connector keeps wiring simple. It also has an IP68 rating to offer peace of mind.
As affordable as it is, there are some drawbacks. A single row of LED lights means it’s nowhere near as bright as some of your other options. Also, overall quality isn’t on par with some of your higher-priced options.
Honorable Mention: Nilight 60-Inch Tailgate Light Bar
Pros
- Silicone sealing for moisture buildup resistance
- Easy to install using automotive-grade 3M tape
- In-line fuse for short circuit protection
Cons
- 30,000-hour LED lifespan short of 50,000-hour LED lifespans offered by other units
The Nilight tailgate light bar is a good option. The 504 LEDs in a 60-inch triple-row formation packs a strong punch, offering up to 300-percent greater illumination than traditional stock halogen bulbs. Its three-row style offers sequences for turn signals, reverse lights, brake lights, running lights, and sequential strobe lights running a combination of red, white, and amber colors. On the construction side, the Nilight light bar is very well-put-together. Silicone sealing offers moisture buildup resistance and each LED bulb carries an up to 30,000-hour lifespan, which means it can last practically an entire lifetime. It also offers a peel-and-stick mechanism using double-sided, automotive-grade 3M tape with standard flat 4-pin connections good for a plug and play setup.
Unfortunately, the overall lifespan is a bit shorter than most competitors. That’s to be expected, though, as it is one of the most affordable options out there.
Our Verdict
What to Consider When Buying Tailgate Light Bars
Key Features
Vehicle Light Signaling
Tailgate light bars should replicate all of the critical functions needed to alert oncoming drivers of what you are doing and where you are going. Go for tailgate light bars with strobe, reverse, brake, turn signal, and running light functionality that offers white, red, and amber lighting setups that light up in logical sequential order.
Lumens
Lumens are the measure of the total amount of visible light. The higher the lumen count, the greater the brightness. For areas with super low visibility and a heavy fog/rain concentration, opt for higher lumen count tailgate light bars.
Durable Construction
You should make sure a tailgate light bar has the following features for the best in durability: IP67 waterproof rating, silicone sealing, and heatsinking. All work to limit/eliminate dust and water ingress, prevent moisture buildup, and allow heat to be transferred away from the device and into the atmosphere to cool the unit down.
Tailgate Light Bar Pricing
Tailgate light bar pricing can range from $20 to well above the $100 mark. How much you pay depends on the quality of the build and the standards it meets, how bright it is, and the specifics of its functions.
FAQs
You have questions. The Drive has answers!
Q: Do LED lights use a lot of electricity?
A. Compared to stock halogen bulbs and incandescent lighting, LEDs offer much more energy savings.
Q: How do I choose a light bar?
A. The five most important factors: utility, color temperature, lumen count, construction, and ease of installation. Utility ranks above and beyond. Our preferred tailgate light bars offer all of the functions needed to let approaching drivers know what you are doing and where you are going. Look for tailgate light bars that offer strobe, reverse, brake, turn signal, and running light functionality with sequential operation of white, red, and amber lighting.
Q: What color temperature should a tailgate light bar offer?
A. Look for tailgate light bars with a 6,000K or 6,500K color temperature, which falls under the daylight white side of the spectrum. These are the most commonly used for automotive lighting applications thanks to the excellent visibility offered for near and far-field applications.
