I have alwasy changed my own bulbs in my cars. altough I took a look in the truck and it is really tucked in there. I thinking I have a lot of screws to undo to take off the carpet. My question is before I attempt this, is there another way, meaning a trick, like does the whole tail light unscrew and I can do it from outside the truck?

 

screw the big plastic peice out holding the carpet and pull on it, it will come out, very easy to get to the bulbs

 

Which big plastic piece and where?

 

right behind the taillights, its like a big plastic screw you twist off with your hands it holds the carpet up.

 

At least on the '99s, the only thing behind the tail lights are round anchor points for the cargo net (one anchor point per side). They don't seem to unscrew, they keep turning.

There's also a plastic piece that fits down over the trunk latch that's secured by 4, large plastic screws. Perhaps someone who has replaced the tail lights on a '99 can comment?

 

The screws to get behind the carpet to the tail lights are on the angled part of the trunk they look like big nobs \ / where the trunk curves down like that look towards the top you will see them

 

they are the knobs for the cargo net. they should unscrew. if you wish to take out the plastic piece you refer to you can as well. just unscrew those (you may have to shove a fingernail under them and pull up as well as turning to help it) there are then four screw insert pieces you dont really need to take out once the screws are out. you can just lift that piece over the trunk latch loop.

lifting that piece up frees the ledge of the 'carpet'. you still need to get the one cargo net holder knob screw out of the back. that should give you enough room (pulling back on the 'carpet') to get back and get the bulbs in/out

 

Thanks Shogun, those knobs.