2008 shogun swb rear lights

[Jall619]

Hi all,

I am collecting a 2008 shogun swb tomorrow and just wondering if anyone know why they don't have rear lights either side of the doors?
When I went to view the motor I never noticed that the rear light weren't on. As I was driving off I noticed that the back lights weren't lit up but the brake lights were working. I messaged the seller to say the back lights weren't working other than brake lights and he said on the shoguns they are built into the rear bumper. They only have the brake lights, side lights and reverse light built into the lights either side of the door.
I was a little baffled at first and second doubted him as it just didn't look right to me. The back of the vehicle is hardly lit up at night and I've never noticed it on other shoguns. I have seen online that it's because of lighting regulations that's the reason they had them built in the bumper but there's very little information.
Does anyone know if it can be wired so the rear lenses light up once the headlights are turned on or would this make it illegal?? Just really weird and I would like know the reason why they have done it this way if anyone has any information.

Thanks, Jordan

[iguana]

Yeh is a bit odd, I was pulling a trailer with a Shogun of mine & pulled over at night by German police saying why weren't my tail lights working, they were, but at their angle passing me they couldn't see them.

I'm sure you could wire up a set in the higher position if you wanted.

[lost in espace]

Regs say that the lights have to be visible when the rear door is open, cheapest fix.

[Smint]

Spare wheel on the back door, when the door is opened the spare would block out anyone's view of the side light.

Prados are the same and probably numerous other older Japanese 4x4's (might even be the same on older LandRover Discos), on some LWB Prado models the spare wheel was located under the boot floor, on those vehicles the bumper lights are deleted and all lights wired through to the normal light clusters.

Many Prado owners have rewired their cars to get the upper lights all working, depends on the maker whether the bulb holders and wiring are already in place in the upper clusters, you might find the appropriate holders and even the bulbs already fitted up there which arn't currently connected.
Not sure as i've seen Shoguns with underslung spare wheels so its unlikely the upper lights are designed from factory to perform all functions as Prados are, you'll have to check yours out, you might be able to make something up yourself, especially these days with LED's being all the rage, just run wires up from the bumper lights and connect to whatever you fit.