Feature Friday: 8 Fog Light Kit Setups For 5th Gen 4Runner

Welcome back to another Feature Friday! If you missed last week’s FF, we looked at soft shell RTTs for the 4Runner. This week, we will be looking at seven aftermarket fog light options that owners upgraded to from their OEM fog lights and what they like most about them.

As always, feel free to DM the owners on IG to ask any additional questions about their setup if needed.

Enjoy!

Top Products Featured

• Heretic Studio 4Runner Fog Light Pocket Kit (Amber): Check Price
• Diode SS3 SAE/DOT Yellow or White: Check Price
• Diode SS3 Pro Yellow or White: Check Price
• Baja Squadron SAE: Check Price
• KC Lights KC Flex Era 3: Check Price
• KC Lights KC Flex Era 3 Amber Caps: Check Price

Why Upgrade Your Fog Lights?

OEM fog lights on the 5th Gen 4Runner leave a lot to be desired. Whether you purchased an early model 5th Gen with halogen fog lamps or one of the newer models with LED fog lamps, the light output from the factory often pales in comparison to aftermarket options. SAE/DOT-compliant restrictions are part of the reason, but you’ll find that some aftermarket options carry that certification while still being brighter.

A simple solution to improve the light performance of your stock fog light housing is to add cost-effective drop-in LED lights. These replace the original halogen bulbs and are extremely easy to install. They usually range from $30 to $100, depending on the quality of the LEDs used.

There are also some really cool LED bulbs called switchbacks that can switch between white light and amber, all with just a single bulb. This option is very nice and is still less expensive than a full fog light housing replacement.

The main problem with an LED replacement is that you are limited to the OEM reflector housings. This is where a full fog light replacement (pocket kit) comes into play. Most lighting companies now sell plug-and-play fog light kits for the 4Runner. These kits require no splicing of the OEM wiring harness and typically come with their own mounting brackets, allowing for easy installation directly to the OEM fog light mounts.

The major benefit of going with a full fog light replacement is the increased light output over OEM. The difference is truly remarkable. Most companies offer both white and amber color options, as well as several light output patterns, depending on your driving needs. In addition to increased light output, many companies, such as Diode Dynamics and Baja Designs, offer several options for both SAE/DOT-compliant and off-road use.

Now, let’s take a look at what these owners decided to swap their OEM fog lights out for and why!

1. Kyle Hassell (@k4runr) – Diode Dynamics

Fog Light Details

• Model: SS3 Pro | 6000K White | SAE Fog
• Lumens: 3000
• Price: $380/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I swapped to an aftermarket fog light to increase visibility during night wheeling and rural driving. These lights are amazing and fully illuminate the entire road and beyond. With an extremely wide beam pattern and high magnitude output, they offer a significant upgrade over the stock fog lights, providing clear visibility on nighttime adventures. Let there be light!

2. Ryan Lau (@4runnersaurus) – Heretic Studio

Fog Light Details

• Model: LED Fog Light Kit | Amber | Combo Beam Pattern
• Lumens: 2904
• Price: $340/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I chose to go with Heretic Studio because they use true amber lights. The more yellow tint of the big brand names was a bit too close to the white of my low beans, and I wanted more color separation for driving in bad weather. These are not DOT-compliant, but I mainly use them for off-road driving anyway. Heretic Studio lights are top-notch in quality, and I think they look great.

3. Cody Carbone (@trailrunn4r) – Baja Designs

Fog Light Details

• Model: Squadron R SAE
• Lumens: 3150
• Price: $430/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I personally found the OEM fog lights to be a bit of an eyesore with the reflector housings. Initially, I considered purchasing the Baja Designs Sports (non-street-legal), but I discovered that the SAEs offer a substantial output and are 150% brighter than the OEM.

I also had issues with moisture getting into the OEM fog, causing the lights to fog up, go figure! With the Baja Designs fogs, you’ll never have to worry about any weather conditions thrown at you and your rig.

4. Blake Farnham (@wulf_runner) – Diode Dynamics

Fog Light Details

• Model: SS3 Pro | Yellow
• Lumens: 2700
• Price: $380/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

The factory fog lights on the 4Runner are pretty underwhelming. Even with aftermarket LED bulbs, I wasn’t getting the output I had hoped to achieve. Having purchased Diode Dynamics products in the past and been extremely happy with their quality, I decided to buy their SS3 Pros for the 4Runner.

The output on these is insane, brighter than my factory headlights. Now, they have an even brighter version with their “max” option. My favorite part is that they’re SAE/DOT-compliant, which allows you to use them on the road legally. I’ve had them installed for two years now with zero issues.

5. Daniel Khimthang (@daily.4r) – Rigid Industries

Fog Light Details

• Model: 360 | Yellow | SAE Fog Light Kit
• Lumens: 3100
• Price: $650/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I wanted more output from my fog lights while still being able to run them in the city. This kit keeps things simple with a plug-and-play feature and no splicing involved. The amber fog looks so much better than the white in my opinion. With the monsoon season here in Arizona, it helps cut through the heavy rain. It also helps during my night runs or dusty trails.

6. Rovie Flores (@adobo4runner) – Diode Dynamics

Fog Light Details

• Model: Elite Series | Cool White 6000K | Amber Backlight
• Lumens: 1850
• Price: $220/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

I chose these fog lamps because of the OE-style design. They are easy to use, plug-and-play, and even include a fuse tap for the amber DRL. I love the amber backlight functionality (wired to 12v with constant power). The backlight matches the rest of my amber accents. The pattern is extremely crisp, and it’s evenly spread.

7. Jon Ayran (@org4runna) – Baja Designs

Fog Light Details

• Model: Squadron SAE | AmbeAmberens: 2480
• Price: $430/pair

Why Did You Upgrade Your OEM Fog Lights? What Do You Like About Your Setup?

Let’s face it, the stock fog lights that come on the 4Runner really don’t do much. I needed something that would give me a lot better performance when driving in low-visibility conditions. These fog lights make it easier to see in the snow or while driving on super dusty terrain, especially with the amber light.

The fog lights are super high quality compared to others on the market and don’t have that cheap plastic feel. This brand has been proven in the racing industry, so I have confidence that these will survive anything I put them through!

8. Brenan Greene (@Trail4R) – KC Lights

KC Flex Lights (Amber Caps Combo Lens Pattern) on C4 Bumper

Fog Light Details

• Model: KC Flex Era 4
  • 7,912 Lumens
• Model: KC Flex Era 3
  • 3,672 Lumens
• Model: KC Flex Singles
  • 975 Lumens

I added my build in here because KC does offer a Flex Era 3 fog pocket kit for the 5th Gen 4Runner; however, I run them on my C4 Hybrid. The outputs on the Flex Era 3 and Flex Era 4 are both insanely bright (lumens mentioned above).

I’ve been running KC Lights since before the Flex line, and they have revolutionized their housings, optics, and the design ethos overall. The housings are stealthy and fierce. When you hold these lights in person, you will be impressed by the design and features they offer, including bezel options, lens options, cap options, and more.

The Flex Era 3 and Flex Era 4 both feature backlights, which are very helpful at night for others tracking your truck on the trail when dusty conditions are present. You can run the backlights on the road, and they won’t blind anyone, although KC does not have the DOT/SAE stamp of approval just yet. That applies to both the backlights and the full power; however, there are rumors that they will launch an SAE Flex. The amber caps are clearly what made the look of my build “Jade” and throw a very dependable amber cut light when dust, snow, and rain are present.

Is the number of amber fog lights I have a bit overkill, yes. Do I have fun lighting up the trail? Absolutely.

Final Thoughts

Of all the lights you can swap out on your 4Runner, I firmly believe that you will gain the most performance and value by replacing your OEM fog lights with an aftermarket alternative. Many of the options above still retain that stock 4Runner look, while increasing light performance by well over 100% in many cases.

We want readers to get inspired by a variety of rigs/products. Next week, we will be showcasing winch setups.

Have a great weekend, everyone!