More Trunk Light!

Yo - I've tried to work in the trunk at night. NOT. Soooo - if I get a flat on a dark road and need to actually see the tools and spare tire? Ummmmmmm. . . . .that liddle side light is pretty useless. SO

I awayed to Home Depot, and bought some of those neat-oh little "Stick-n-Click" LED "hockey puck" lights. Am sticking two of them on the lower part of the hatchback, where I can easily and simply push on their lenses to turn them on. The light - which admittedly is not super-bright - shines right down on the cargo area. You could put three or more in a row.

[attachmentid=9306][attachmentid=9307]

Now - I hope these pics come through - I'm only guessing here. . . . .gulp.

 

Would love to compare the relative brightness of our two products - have not seen the second kind, but will surely look.

As to "appearances?" - well, uh, how many times do you stare up at the underside of the hatchback? Probably not too many times a day. The light is well hidden - and at least mine come in a whole bunch of colors (the case,not the LED)

To each his/her own - I just needed some more light! Hope my (our) suggestions may have helped some Priusites "see the light." (ouch)

 

The Stick-n-Click lights are so inexpensive and inconspicuous once installed - why not just, well, "stick them" and leave them alone? Aside from changing batteries (3 AAA cells) every year, that is. Once in place, you'll never notice them - until you need some light "back there." Especially if you buy the ones with the black cases.

 

MAJOR UPDATE, PLEASE.
After I worked with the Stick-n-Click lights, I thought I needed yet another one, so my dear wife offered to go to Home Depot to get one.

When she returned, she brought THREE new black lights - but they were NOT the Stick-n-Clicks. She said she thought the new ones: Sylvania DOT-it lights, would be brighter and better.

We did A-B-A comparisons - and she was right! The DOT-it lights have three LEDs vs. the single one on the Stick-n-Click lights.

I strongly urge you to go with the Sylvania DOT-it lights - IF you even want to bother. I've got two of them now mounted on the lower hatchback, and though not terribly bright, they are enough to light up the cargo area after dark.

When they're off, you just never see them. I mounted them with three small dots of Velcro, so I can easily take them off for battery replacement. The DOT-its require you to use a small Phillips screwdriver to get at the 3 AAA batteries inside. A minor nuisance.

 

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder!

Here's my installation on the Prius hatchback of two black Sylvania DOT-it LED "hockey puck" lights. Push to turn on, push to turn off - they shine down in the cargo area quite nicely. And come off easily - they're on with black Velcro. I love them, even if anybody else doesn't! (double grin)

[attachmentid=9343]

Forgot the "wide shot" here it is.[attachmentid=9344]

 

First, I got them at Home Depot - not Lowe's.

Second, my wife came home with a card full of Velcro "dots," about 3/4 of an inch across. I cleaned off the hatchback with Fantastik, then with alcohol on a clean microfiber towel. Let it dry, then stuck three dots on each light, and just stuck them on the hatchback.

I just went out to the garage, and they're still stuck nice and tight. My wife LOVES the light that they shed on the cargo area. She's an artist, and has to carry a lot of stuff around. The OEM light just made her crazy - it's turned off for good!

Sylvania makes the DOT-it in many colors - you might well find some that match other car interiors, I'm not sure of that.

BTW - I accidentally left one of the lights on after I cleaned it - and the next morning it was still shining brightly. I didn't take a chance, though, I pulled it off and replaced the three AAA batteries inside. Takes a very small Phillips screwdriver - and to get the sticky back off, insert a pointed object of some sort in one of the screw holes - then gently pull out.

Oh, yes - there are two "grades" of Velcro. Get the heavy duty version - it's extra-sticky and stronger.

 

UH-OH!!!! My wife left Cara Verdi out in the sun most of the day while she was working. When we opened the hatchback this evening, we found that the Sylvania DOT-it lights had SLID down the hatchback about 3/4 of an inch. Almost un-glued themselves. SIGH. What to do?

Well - obviously in the Flawed-duh! heat, these ain't gonna work!

So - will away to Home Depot in the morning - get some very thin screws - drill two holes through the DOT-its - and just screw them onto the hatchback. WILL POST PICS.

Got all the glue-gunk off today, and now will carefully drill and screw the two lights onto the hatchback. I have some rubber shelf liner on the backs of the lights to cushion them a bit.

AGAIN - will post pics of the "operation" tomorrow (Sunday)

When good ideas go bad. . . . . . . . . . . .double sigh.

Meanwhile, got the bright blue LEDs in the front door light fixtures. WAY COOL! Wife luvs them!