lights in a topper

I want put some lighting in my ARE topper and not just one. I do a lot of hunting/camping and need to see well in there and a flash light can be a pain. Is there some way such as maybe led lights on strips or some other way to shed some light on the subject? I want to wire them to a switch near the back that is hot all the time.

 

Have you looked at the strips of leds that you can pick up on ebay for dirt cheap?
I just ordered some for exactly the same reason you want.

Here is an ebay link of something similar to what I ordered.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=290852455973

Only thing is they usually take around 2 weeks to ship from china.

 

Bad link.

 

If you look in the lighting forum and the 2nd gen tips/mods thread, there's a lot of really good info that can help you decide what you want to do and can guide you.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/7174-2nd-gen-tips-mods-more.html

Just look at anything that says "bed lights".

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Flexibl...y_Lights&var=420119610841&hash=item1c2fcc0db3


Try this one. If that doesn't work try just searching "led strip" or more specifically "white waterproof led strip"

 

You might just have to search around a bit as there are tons of differwnt things that come up whith all sorts of different prices for the same things

 

My buddy and I wired up 4 of these lights in his camper and they light up the whole thing very well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130573395227&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:3160

$20 for 20 good working waterproof LEDs. I've had them for 5 months now with no problems. Good Luck!

 

Also, check out the blitzpro 6LZ.

http://blitzpro.com/led-bar-light.html

It's $30.00 and one of them will absolutely light up everything in a topper, plus it's a super low amp draw (0.5a).

 

That's MY truck!

 

Have you got more pics of the setup?

 

I can get some. I'll post pics as soon as I get the chance.

 

I like the idea of using the Red LED strips. Especially if you do any camping, since red lights do not affect your night vision. Coming out of a camper at night with your night vision blinded is not a good thing...lol. I am ordering some strips for my truck next month. Going to mount them under the bed rails so that they have an indirect lighting effect, but can still light it up well enough to see. Just my $.02 worth...lol.

 

Here a set I made for someone:

 

You might be able to find light strips that have a combination of red and white leds... ebay has everything!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-30CM-12-...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ab47a5685&vxp=mtr

 

I put an led strip under the bed rails and it is extremely bright at night



I put my switch in the front of the cab, but you can also install the switch in the bed or use a remote.



Here are some threads that I found really helpful:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/li...ished-leds-cupholders-console-bed-lights.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ed-lights-project-heres-lengthy-how-post.html

 

Where did you get the switches? Those are awesome!

 

http://www.otrattw.com/

my switches are under novelty and are the red/red LEDs

 

aww..shit. now i need accessories just so i CAN HAVE those switches!!

my ARE has lights, from ARE. they are right in the middle and everything you load or unload into the truck..will destroy the lights. i need to revisit this.

thanks for the switch idea.!!

 

The Amber color Contura V series match nicely.

 

Someone previously mentioned mounting battery LED Puck lights from WalMart or similar. Throw off a lot of light, last a long time, turn on/off with a tap.