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Relocate your license plate and tail lights to keep your vehicle street legal while using your Yakima EXO System. Includes wiring harness with 4-flat plug. Simple bolt-on installation.
Features:
Specs:
California residents: click here
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi everyone, it's Evangeline here at etrailer. And today, we're looking at the Yakima taillight and license plate relocation kit for the Yakima EXO system, otherwise known as Yakima LitKit here at etrailer. Now, when you do have the Yakima EXO system on your vehicle and on your hitch, you will notice that the accessories, especially when you have the top shelf installed, can be pretty large and bulky, so you may cover your license plate and or your taillights with everything assembled and installed and mounted to your hitch. So, because of that, we do have the Yakima LitKit, which is the taillight and license plate relocation kit. That way, you can stay safe and legal on the road. What you get with this kit are two taillight brackets, so they go onto the arms of your SwingBase.
And you have these red taillights as well as this license plate light for your license plate. So, just make sure to maybe get either an extra license plate or to move your license plate from the back of your vehicle to the front. And when you do take your EXO system off, you won't forget to put it back on your car. So, this includes a wiring harness to connect to your vehicle. So, what you need to do is just make sure that one, you have a wiring harness already pre-installed on your vehicle, and it just uses a four-way wiring harness.
So, if you do happen to have a seven-way port, just pick up a seven-way to four-way adopter here at etrailer. This fits US and Canadian license plates. Those are the ones with the holes on the top for these two plastic bolts. So, if you do happen to have a different style of a license plate, you may need to drill a hole into the top of it, so that this will fit. So, these LED lights are going to mimic the taillights on your vehicle.
So, whether you have your brakes on, or whether you have your turn signal on, so you're left as well as your right, this is gonna help keep you safe and legal on the road. You can also see, with the flashers on, how bright they are. So, this is gonna be great, especially during emergency situations, when you need to keep your hazard lights on. Now, as for ground clearance, the lowest point of the LitKit is gonna be your license plate. So, with the standard size of a license plate, it's gonna sit five inches below the bottom of your SwingBase arms to the bottom of that license plate.
So, the install process is very simple. It's just a bolt-on process and it includes the wrench you need to tighten those bolts down, so let's take a look at that process. So, now we have all our parts here set up for assembly. I already put together the passenger's side bracket, so we can put together the driver's side bracket together. So, first, line up your bracket with the bolts in the back, and then fit your wiring through the middle, then you're gonna put a bolt through the front. So, just fit that through and then use a flat washer, and then a nut to hold that down. Tighten down both bolts with the included tool. After you have your brackets assembled, you're then gonna open up the arms on the SwingBase to install them onto the arms, so just pull that lever on the side and swing out those arms. Now, you're gonna line up the bracket with your arms on your SwingBase. So, depending on which accessory you have is gonna be what holes you're gonna use. So, most of your accessories will use back two holes, but if you do happen to use the EXO DoubleUp bike rack, you're gonna use the front two holes. So, I'm gonna put them on the back two holes and use the included knobs, just to put them into place, and then tighten them down. Now, if your Yakima EXO accessory covers your license plate, this also has a license plate relocation bracket. So, what you can do is you can use the included plastic screws as well as the plastic nuts, and that goes in the back. And then just use a screwdriver or you can just use your hands to tighten this down here in the back, and that will relocate your license plate. And then you're almost there to the wiring harness, but first, you need us to set up the clips. You're gonna have six clips and that's gonna be three on each side. So, just pop them into the holes on the bracket, and make sure you have all six securely installed. And now, you get to plug in your main wiring harness. So, here's the plug-in port, right here towards the front of the SwingBase. Now, there's a trick to this. If you have it rotated, you can have it in the lock position where you can't pull that wiring harness out, but you can take that cap off. So, I'd like you to put that into that position and then just plug the four-way wiring right into that port. Now, that four-way wiring splits into two plugs, so make sure to get the correct ones for each of the taillights. Now, plug in the wiring harness from the SwingBase, on the back, into your vehicle. Now, in my case, what I have is a seven-way wiring on my vehicle, so I have an adapter. And that's what I'm gonna do and use to line up with the harness on the SwingBase. And once you've plugged in your wiring, just turn on the lights on your vehicle, just to make sure that everything is connected properly. So, that is nice and neat. Don't forget to feed the wiring harness through the clips that you just installed onto your SwingBase. Make sure that's all secure. That way, you don't have harness flopping around as you drive around. Now, whenever you are loading your accessories, you can take the rear most knob out of that SwingBase, and this will allow you to just drop that down, so you can load your accessories, but don't leave it down for an extended period of time. Once you do have your accessory loaded, you get that knob, line that up, and secure it back into place. Now, make sure that when you do have the LitKit on your SwingBase system, you remember that you cannot put these arms away back into the portable position, so just keep them out. And if you do need to fold your arms back in, you will have to take off these brackets. But once that's all done, everything is secured and you know how to use these brackets, that's it for the install. So, my final thoughts about the Yakima LitKit is I really do like how it fits in and works with the Yakima EXO system. Now, the EXO system is a modular system where you get to pick and choose which kinds of accessories you want. So, if you have the box on the bottom, the bike rack on top, that is a lot of space it takes up behind your vehicle, so you wanna make sure that you are safe as well as legal on the road and that you are visible. So, having these taillights to the side of your SwingBase as well as a bracket for your license plate is helpful, just so that your Yakima EXO system works as a whole. You can also use this with your other accessories. And if you do it correctly, you can just slide the accessory in through the top or through the side, just make sure that you are careful about where the brackets are placed. And then that you have the brackets in the right place, especially if you have the bike rack, that it's further out to the end. And that was a look here at our Yakima taillight and license plate relocation kit for the Yakima EXO system, otherwise known as the Yakima LitKit here at etrailer. My name is Evangeline, and I hope you enjoyed the journey..
I purchased the swing-away and after the easy installation that my brake lights were being covered by the storage box on the top tier. I ordered the brake light replacement kit. Also a very easy installation. I absolutely love this setup. It works great, does exactly what I was searching for, and customer service was excellent.
The lights work very well with the hitch box assembly.It is mounted on a Ford Transit camper. High visibility and easy to attach. The wire hold plastic clips have not held up after a few uses so I use some zip ties. The Transit blis system deactivates when a trailer is attached. You can use the Yakima box with lights and have blis active by setting trailer length to shortest setting in the controls. I believe it us longer than box and rack.
Tony
1/24/2025
In between box usage we have kept the swing arm and second box upright attachment on the vehicle. While driving in the Tampa area we were rear ended by a Ford F250. The unit acted as a cattle guard for us. The truck grill,hood and bumper were heavily damaged. We experienced no damage to our van. The Yakima was slightly damaged but still usable. The unit easily saved us more than the cost of the entire product in damage and more in what would have been lost time. We did have an issue with one of the box locks where it would not open. I believe it was caused by someone not turning key completely. I now carry a spare core and tools for removing just for peace of mind. I continue to endorse the Exo and have posted pictures in groups we belong to showing it being used. Lighting continues to work well,still use zip ties for cables. Bought some stick on reflectors that I added to the boxes back and sides. Lighting is important for a black box when driving at night.I highly recommend installing light kit.
Andrew N.
1/24/2025
Lights attached easily to my Yakima OnRamp LX Bike Rack (that was also just installed). The light package is sturdy and the lights project very well. My only complication is that the lights work great when hooked just to my car, but ... because I live fulltime in my Motorcoach ... I had to install a light module, by-pass, flat-four pigtail for the light package to work when my car is hooked to the rear of my coach with the electrical umbilical cord. One extra step for my unusual installation, but well worth the effort and expense. Thi light package provides as sense of travel safety that several other bike rack light solutions have not been able to provide.
Changed out the lock set, it was very easy. Plan on installing the light tomorrow
Brooke M.
7/11/2025
Hey! How did the install go, John?
All of the Yakima items I bought from you are awesome!!! They are very good quality and are great to use. I bought the swing arm , the box , the table. I just went camping for first time this year. Everything worked great. Thanks
Fast shipping!
Really loved this product. Easy installation, quality tools provided as with the entire Yakimo package. Great product support from the entire Etrailer team especially Kelsey S. Thank you!!
I used a patio table cover ( under $20) to keep out dirt, bird droppings etc.while storing outside.
Return policy is garbage
Excellent kit, I swapped out the plastic license plate bolts and nuts for steel.
It went together easy, however the 4 twist bolts were to short to attach to the exo bars. The 4 bolts need to be a quarter of an inch or more longer. I gerry rigged longer bolts, but would like the black capped bolts, just longer.
I like the way these go on and off so easily (2 minutes max). I hope others can't see this as well. I've read about others that have had their license plate fall off and can see how this could happen. The holders are plastic screws and nuts attached to a rubber holder. I made a hand-written copy of my plate on sheet metal; bought a metal bracket; and attached with hex cap bolts and locking nuts. I don't really want to hang my plate on this. Would rather the plate be on the car and somewhat blocked by exo carrier as to on the highway 500 miles back. Maybe I'll change my mind after a long trip.
Best class B investment anyone can make.
Tim
12/29/2024
Still works great and is in place full time.
Fit perfectly and are plenty bright. Nice product if you have the EXO sing base.
I bought this for a Christmas gift. We have a Yakima swing base and box so this will be a nice addition.
Light kit installation went well and easy. License plat rubber holder little flimsy,bought better bolts to hold better,not plastic
Great customer service! Definitely recommend etrailer.
Easy to put on and off. Effective.
Carla
9/4/2023
Still fantastic
Great quality and service
The Litkit was easy to install and seems to be made well.
So question is does one even open something shipped like this. My hope is to get a return and the same product ... but in a package. So far did talk to someone at help desk ... but not sure if this will will work.
Jenny N.
11/30/2022
I am sorry that the boxes arrived damaged like this. If anything is damaged then we are happy to replace it for you.
Looks great! Highly visible during the day and night.
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Brooke M.
7/10/2025
That is a very well-thought-out situation you have there! Looks like you ate your Wheaties :) When you're set up at your campsite, do you set up much else or is this how it looks?