how to wire bed lamps:

thanks, yah i commented in his link earlier. Its a good writeup, and having an override is a good idea. For me personally i leave the tailgate up when using the light, so i didnt go this route - but everyone does things different!

the way i wanted to write this was for the Cheap/Easy mod section, so all you needed was the kit and wiring that came with the kit, so that even someone with minimal experience with wiring could install the lights and be successful with minimal money and effort. The above link would be good for someone with more experience

 

Yeah i was thinking about that too. I have been trying to figure out a way to overcome that problem, but my enexperience in wiring has really limited me. I will keep trying to figure something out, because it would be much easier to have them be able to turn on, without haveing to open the tailgate, but also auto-turn on when it is opened.

Hope that made since. I might also put the switch in the cab instead in the bed, just because it would be easier then reaching inside to turn the switch. Anyway, ill keep looking around!

 

in the cab is just as easy as in the bed. I know a lot of members have done it this way. read earlier in the thread and maybe PM them and ask their advice if theyve discovered tricks with it

 

/just subscribing to the thread.

 

Awesome but FYI ...you can just hit "subscribe to thread" in the thread tools drop down menu. It's located at the top of each thread.
The rest of us don't want to hear about your lurking intentions


I completed this mod a few weeks ago and am anxious to post up a thread about my setup. I used thin LED light strips under the tie down rails and 2 switches. Powered them from the battery so the lights can be used when the vehicle is off.

I'll post a video of the setup as soon as I can.

 

I've seen that before - thats really a clean way to do it good job - i love mine for camping or surfing till dusk..

 

Thanks man!!!! Did not know that.

 

Great write up. Very thorough. I'll referring to this for sure when I get time to rig the bed lights up. Thanks

 

thanks! There’s a better way to do it of course - you can put a switch in the cab or get more expensive lamps.. but the point of this was to do it on the cheap and without any real knowledge of wiring so everyone would be able to do the mod.

For $13 bucks and some wire, simple tools, and time - you've got a set of lamps that'll last and the satisfaction of doing a job yourself.

 

I'm going to do this soon. Thanks!

01000110010101010100001101001011010110010100111101010101

 

Here are some pics of what I did to my truck after reading this. Thanks for the write up, Unholycumulus!!

 

that looks great! Good placement of the lamps. Props!

 

Damn it looks cozy back there! What do you use that space for?

Would probably work great for camping. Especially with those new lights. Nice install.

 

Really cool mod and great, detailed write up! I may try this as well when the time comes.

 

thank you.

 

nice. very similar to what me and my dad did

 

Yup. pretty much exact

 

Nice job, may be my next mod. thanks for the write up.

 

Thinking about doing this mod. Where do you run the hot wire that goes from the bed lights to the battery?

 

I'm pretty sure i detailed that on the first page - but to make it a quick and easy mod, i said to connect direct to the battery. Its easy to find a hot lead in the cab, or even put in a tap in the fuse box.. BUT you could connect direct to the battery.