Bed Lights Write Up

In response to stevenstaco's '20.00 bed lights' thread (link), i decided to go out to wally world and pick me up a pair of lights for a weekend project.

Tools:
-Basic ratchet/tool set (wire crimps, connectors, flathead screwdriver
-zip ties
-electrical tape
-wire (i used ~35')
-flame retardant tubing (i used 25')

for my lights, i used these. i mounted them by drilling a hole in the back of the bed pockets big enough for the bolt to fit through. i also drilled a hole in the bottom of the pockets for wires:






NOW FOR THE ACTUAL WRITEUP!!
First, i threaded my ground and live wires through the rubber grommet in the engine bay with a clothes hanger:



next, after retrieving the wires from the grommet, i ran them behind the kick panel (red and black):



after that, i removed the doorsill panel:

REMOVE THIS, but be careful not to break the clips. I had to yank and work at it for some time, but it popped off pretty cleanly:


which led to this (as you can see, ive already threaded by two wires through the tubing that is hanging out of the door. the ones already in the doorsill are OEM:



cleaned up with my wires clipped in:



after this, i ran the wires through a rubber grommet underneath the carpet under the drivers seat. if you follow the OEM wiring under the doorsill panel, you will be led right to it:



closer:



and from underneath with the wires threaded through (I LEFT THE WIRES TAPED TO THE CLOTHES HANGER THE ENTIRE TIME THROUGH THIS STEP. it was extremely convenient and saved times):



and another pic from underneath, cleaned up with hose:



underneath the truck, i followed the OEM tubing all the way down to the bed:



upon reaching the bed, i broke off and threaded mine up over the wheel well and through the bed pockets:



i continued to run the live wire back towards the drivers side tail light where i plan to put the switch (didnt have time). i also ran the ground to the lights and a live wire from the switch to the lights. i have yet to wire the passenger side light (i ran out of tubing), so thats just sitting unconnected right now. heres the wires behind the drivers side light cleaned up:



and my switch (i plan to drill a hole and mount it here when i have time again):



the lights look great turned on. here is a picture of just the drivers side light, and you can see how much just one lights up the bed (picture doesnt do the lights justice, btw):







thanks for checking out my write up! hit me with some questions!

 

thats cool. i like how they fit perfectly but the only thing i find against it is that you cant aim them where you want them. no matter what theyll be facing right at each other.... unlessss they throw out the light wide. if in that case than i like very much lol

 

sub'd. always liked this mod just no time to do it yet

 

true, i want to figure out a way to spread the light out a bit, diffuse it somehow

 

yeah, but you never know at night they might just throw out so much light that itll reflect and make the hole bed wide which would be awesome. when your done, take a pic of the lights in the bed on at night so i can see the way the light goes out

 

Im in the processes of doing the same mod... I found that if you space the bulb back about 1/4 inch ... it will spread the beam out. Im trying this mod with the spot version of this light for astetic reasons... so im in the same boat with the light being too consitrated.

 

bump! finished the writeup!

 

they look good ... nice write up glad you liked the idea

 

Only suggestion I could think is to sandblast/sand-down the lenses so it would diffuse the light.

Anyway, Great write-up, I may do that if I find that my shell light don't cut it (when I receive it).

THANK YOU!

 

I made mine flush with the bed and pointed the, down a little and that gives good light all around

 

i might try this...sand it down with some 80 grit and see what happens