If this is not a cargo light, then what is it?

[8valvehero]

Hey gang!

I've searched a bit and can't quite find what I'm looking for, so here goes:

 

I just completed that bed swap from my '86 donor to my '88 DD. While I was swapping the wiring harness over from the '88 I noticed that I had this weird little light behind my bumper. It's like a license plate lamp, but it shines on the ground instead of the plate because, well, it's behind the bumper. I thought it was cool, so I got it working, but I'm still left wondering- WHY?

What is it for?

My best theory is license plate light if for I choose to remove my bumper, beause there's square holes under it like you would use to mount a tag.

 

Anyone know? I've never seen it on any other MJ.

(ignore ugly temporary wire routing)

 

[Strokermjcomanche]

Looks like the plate like you said . Or he used it for some other purpose .

[8valvehero]

Makes sense, I'm just confused bc the harness has 2 connectors: 

for this light and my bumper tag lamps. weird.
thanks!

[Strokermjcomanche]

The connector on the drivers side (c319 ) is standard for the plate ,the passenger side list it as an (optional ) plate lamp.

[8valvehero]

That's the answer I needed. THANKS!
Brainstorm:

I could move it out and point it up at the 'Jeep' letters on the tailgate!
 

[mvusse]

That's the license plate lamp for trucks shipped without a rear bumper. There should also be two square holes for the plastic pieces that hold the screws for the plate.

[Strokermjcomanche]

I'd be cautious in doing that. Too much white light in the rear and you can get pulled over by a cop . It's almost like having a reverse light on and that could possibly cause an accident .

[dasbulliwagen]

My truck didn't originally have a rear bumper and had that same light.

[Lewt2007]

factory rear bumper delete option mine has the plate and light behind the tube rear bumper 

[cruiser54]

That's the license plate lamp for trucks shipped without a rear bumper. There should also be two square holes for the plastic pieces that hold the screws for the plate.

Yep. They came in to the dealership with a 2 by 4 on the back.

[Incommando]

Most (all?) states do not require a rear bumper on trucks or didn't for decades, anyway. Trucks were shipped without bumpers in many cases and the dealer sold you an add-on bumper if you wanted one. This also allowed you to get the custom bumper you needed/wanted from the start. A common southern and maybe western thing was a dealer bumper with the dealer's name welded onto it in some obnoxiously large manner.

[Brickmiata]

My old boss used to buy a 5ft piece of 4x4 lumber every other spring to use as a rear bumper on his little chevy.  I always though it was strange trucks didn't have to have a rear bumper.