Wiring LEDs in Front Light Bar, Rock Lights, Puddle Lights, Rear, Footwell, Bed, Map and Dome

Blais03 · Mar 26, 2018

Excellent write up! how have the rock lights held up? any issues with using zip ties? Im thinking about doing the exact same set up!

pc3coyote · Mar 26, 2018

Blais03 said: ↑

Excellent write up! how have the rock lights held up? any issues with using zip ties? Im thinking about doing the exact same set up!
Click to expand...

Hey Nick, no issues at all. Including the middle/rear 6 only secured with zipties. I even did some light offroading in Big Bend last week and they all survived!

Blais03 · Mar 26, 2018

pwalnut said: ↑

Hey Nick, no issues at all. Including the middle/rear 6 only secured with zipties. I even did some light offroading in Big Bend last week and they all survived!
Click to expand...

Still just as bright?? Any condensation?

pc3coyote · Mar 26, 2018

Blais03 said: ↑

Still just as bright?? Any condensation?
Click to expand...

Seem just as bright and I haven’t noticed any condensation issues but I can look tonight after work to verify

Blais03 · Mar 26, 2018

pwalnut said: ↑

Seem just as bright and I haven’t noticed any condensation issues but I can look tonight after work to verify
Click to expand...

Do you mind checking for me? Before I purchase I’d like to know. Thank you for getting back to me too.

pc3coyote · Mar 26, 2018

Blais03 said: ↑

Do you mind checking for me? Before I purchase I’d like to know. Thank you for getting back to me too.
Click to expand...

Will do!

Blais03 · Mar 26, 2018

pwalnut said: ↑

Will do!
Click to expand...

Anything?

pc3coyote · Mar 26, 2018

Blais03 said: ↑

Anything?
Click to expand...

All 8 are working perfectly, are just as bright as new, are held on fine, and don’t have any condensation issues even after Florida rainy weather and light offroading in muddy/swampy Florida and dry/rocky Texas.

Blais03 · Mar 26, 2018

pwalnut said: ↑

All 8 are working perfectly, are just as bright as new, are held on fine, and don’t have any condensation issues even after Florida rainy weather and light offroading in muddy/swampy Florida and dry/rocky Texas.
Click to expand...

Excellent. Into the Amazon cart they go. I know what I’m doing this weekend

pc3coyote · Mar 26, 2018

Blais03 said: ↑

Excellent. Into the Amazon cart they go. I know what I’m doing this weekend
Click to expand...

Good luck! Let me know how it goes!

Blais03 · Mar 27, 2018

pwalnut said: ↑

Good luck! Let me know how it goes!
Click to expand...

I just ordered the 8 lights, the wiring harness, some heat shrink butt connectors and some waterproof 2 pin connectors.

pc3coyote · Sep 9, 2018

jzh11 said: ↑

I wonder if you wired the undercarriage lights to the cargo lamp it would come on when you hit the unlock button. They would definitely come on when you opened the door at least and you'd already have the stock button to use. Can anyway chime in? I'm very interested

Edit - awesome job btw

Edit edit - I just went and double checked...the cargo lamp does come on when you hit the unlock button so I don't see why that wouldn't work
Click to expand...

Doc V said: ↑

Great write up first off and I appreciate you thinking of cheap rock lights and making the assumption that they will break. Did you end up going with a relay or a diode for the reverse light? I am torn on whether to use a SPDT relay or a diode to restrict back-flow from with the reverse lights. I wanted to confirm before I get under the truck in the cold! Thanks man
Click to expand...

outxider said: ↑

You can wire the reverse light pods into the stock oem reverse wire either at one of the rear taillights or trailer harness, but will need a diode to prevent back feed so when you hit the switch, the reverse indicator doesn't light up on the dash. I haven't done it but read/watch some videos regarding it. My reverse pods are just tapped into the reverse signal off the trailer harness.
Click to expand...

Old_Guy said: ↑

I wired my Rigid Ignites into the reverse light wiring which I installed into the tubes on my SnugTop XTR. I also installed a Rigid SRM backup light kit in the bumper.

I moved the turn signal to the reverse light socket and now have the full "C" as tail and brake lights.

The Rigid Ignites come on when in reverse and the switch in the cab turns all four on. You will need to install a diode to keep from back feeding. Some get weirded out when folks start talking about diodes, but they are very easy to install. I used solder seal connectors for the wiring and posi-tap connectors to tap into existing wires.

Click to expand...

DubfromGA said: ↑

This is of great interest to me. I'd really like to increase light output when in reverse.

It'd be cool to see how it looks through your reverse-camera, too. Hopefully the image is enhanced a great deal, too.
Click to expand...

All see OP for some updates! Including the @DSIM harness to add a dome light signal trigger for the rock lights and I also added footwell lights also with the dome light trigger!

DubfromGA · May 10, 2018

pwalnut said: ↑

Hello, friends!

I decided to compile all of my electrical write-ups in one thread.

This write-up includes:

LED front light bar

activated by physical switch

LED rock lights

activated by physical switch AND dome light signal (approaching vehicle, unlocking vehicle, opening doors, etc)

LED reverse lights

activated by physical switch AND stock reverse signal

LED footwell lights

coming soon

Note: this is how I did it and I'm not the best electrically. It seemed like the most logical way but there could definitely be better approaches.

Huge thanks to @DSIM for coming up with a great product (referenced below in rock lights section) and for all of the help answering my relentless questions. Daniel is a great dude!

Parts List

Front light bar

Light bar of your choice (I initially used a

MICTUNING 32" 180W Combo Led Light Bar - 13200 Lumen, 6000-6200K Crystal White, Waterproof for Off-road Jeep ATV UTV SUV Truck Boat

30" double row MicTuning light bar and then switched to a 20" single row Heise light bar in my @SouthernStyleOffRoad bumper)

$10 MICTUNING MIC-B1002 LED Light Bar Wiring Harness, Fuse 40A Relay On-off Waterproof Switch

MicTuning wiring harness

Custom CH4x4 blue LED push switch (could also use a

MICTUNING M0810-T-LLBB LED Push Switch with Connector Wire Kit for Toyota - LED LIGHT BAR Symbol -Blue

MicTuning blue LED push switch)

(or other aftermarker bumper depending on how you're mounting it)

Rock lights

Rock lights of your choice (I used

4 Pods LED Rock Lights, Ampper Waterproof LED Neon Underglow Light for Car Truck ATV UTV SUV Offroad Boat Underbody Glow Trail Rig Lamp (White)

8 Ampper white rock lights)

4 Lead LED Rock Lights Wiring Harness, Ampper LED Wiring Harness for LED Pods and Work Lights with Fuse 12V 40A Relay Waterproof On Off Rocker Switch

4-lead Ampper wiring harness

Custom 4x4 blue LED push switch

@DSIM dome light harness (great product that was exactly what I was looking for and works exactly as intended)

Reverse lights

Reverse lights of your choice (I used

$149 RIGID INDUSTRIES Ignite Backup Kit Black Flood Flush Mount: Mounting Accessories For Offroad Use

2 Rigid Ignite flush mount diffused)

$10 MICTUNING MIC-B1002 LED Light Bar Wiring Harness, Fuse 40A Relay On-off Waterproof Switch

Mictuning wiring harness

Custom 4x4 blue LED push switch

Diode

Footwell lights

Coming soon

Extras

@forty2 3-switch black narrow switch plate (great if you're adding several lights and there's also a 2-switch version, you can skip this and use the blank location if you're only installing one light and depending on your model of truck)

Consumables

Good quality electrical tape

$10 TYUMEN 40FT 18 Gauge 2pin 2 Color Red Black Cable Hookup Electrical LED Strips Extension Wire 12V/24V DC Cable, 18AWG Flexible Wire Extension Cord for Ribbon Lamp Tape Lighting

18AWG 2-pin wire

Black spray paint (whichever)

Tools

10mm, 12mm, 14mm deep sockets

5mm allen key (I think)

Flat head and phillips screw drivers

Trim removal tool

Wire crimper

Wire stripper/cutter

Lighter

Drill with various size bits

Dremel with cutting disk

Soldering iron and solder

Wiring Diagrams

Front Light Bar

Rock Lights

Reverse Lights

Footwell Lights

Coming soon

Switches

Front Light Bar

Instructions

Leave the main connections (battery positive and ground) connections for the end once you have all your wires routed as a precaution. Always start with negative battery terminal disconnected (use a 10mm socket) and cover terminal with a rag so it can't make contact.

Remove the grill. Use the phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws and the flat head screwdriver to remove the two plastic tab screws. Grab the upper supports and pull straight out. The plastic tabs will come out.

Remove the wind deflectors on each side. Use the flat head screwdriver to remove the single plastic tab screw on each side.

Remove the two transmission cooler bolts by using the 12mm deep socket. Push the transmission cooler back to make it easier to slide the LED light bar in.

Remove the two nuts on each of the outer sides of each crash bar with the 14mm deep socket. Leave the inner bolts alone. Install only the driver side light bar bracket but only hand-tighten the nuts.

Slide in the light bar from the passenger side to the driver side. Let it rest on the crash bars. Install the passenger side bracket and hand-tighten the nuts. Use the smaller bolts that came with the light bar to attach the light bar to the brackets with a 5mm allen key. I also added two hardened washers (one on each side) but they likely aren’t needed. You may need a second person to hold the light bar as you bolt the light bar to the bracket so that you can lean down to see through the grill to line up the bolts and holes. Ensure that the light bar is pulled all the way forward and rotated to face straight out.

Mount the relay to the bracket by the battery by temporarily removing the bolt with a 10mm socket.

Cut off the spade terminals from the white and black wires from the harness, cut it shorter to length, and use the 14 AWG butt connectors to connect it to the red and black light bar wires (white to red, black to black). Use electrical tape over the connectors. Use electrical tape over the second set of white and black wires from the harness or cut them off if you don't plan to use them (they are for a second light bar).

Temporarily run the two red terminals to the positive battery terminal and the two black terminals to the ground to the right of the relay to test the light bar. Use the attached switch. If it works, disconnect the terminals. If it doesn’t, troubleshoot. The battery terminal requires a12mm socket and the ground requires a 10mm socket.

Reinstall the transmission cooler

Cut off small corners of the wind deflectors with a dremel and then reinstall. This is so that it doesn’t hit the light bar.

Zip tie the wire going from the light bar to the relay in various places to keep it out of the way. There are plenty of places to attach too.

Follow @moe2o4’s guide to disassemble the dash panels

If you're only installing one switch: Remove the blank switch place-holder from the far right. It unclips from the back and pushes to the front.

If you're installing multiple switches: Remove the cubby. It unscrews from the back. Screw in the new switch holder.

Cut off the switch from the harness. Cut off a straight piece of a metal hangar. Use the hanger wire to poke a hole in the rubber firewall. Use electrical tape to tape the red, white, and black wires coming from the relay to the hanger. Rub a dab of dish soap over the taped area of the hangar and then pull it through from the interior by pulling on the end of the hangar.

Wire the switch to the harness wires by using the 20 AWG butt connectors. Red harness wire goes to the green switch wire, white harness wire goes to the red 1 (first after green) switch wire, black harness wire goes to the black switch wire. After that, use the 20 AWG quick splice to connect the red 2 (second after green, first from black) switch wire to the green cargo wire (first wire on the first switch from the left). After you connect everything, wrap all the connects in electrical tape.

Reconnect the two two red terminals to the positive battery terminal and the two black terminals to the ground to test the light bar. By default, nothing is lit up. The switch text LED should light up when the interior lights are on. The switch light bar LED should come on when pressed. Test the new switch to make sure it works, that the lighter comes on, and the switch light bar LED should also light up. If it works, proceed. If it doesn’t, troubleshoot.

Ziptie the extra slack going from the relay to the firewall, from the firewall to the battery positive terminal, and from the firewall to the ground terminal. Reinstall the dash panels. Reinstall the grill.

Photos

Light bar only:

Lows and fogs only:

Lows, fogs, and light bar:

Lows, highs, fogs, and light bar:

Rock Lights

Instructions

Engine bay wiring

Always start with negative battery terminal disconnected (use a 10mm socket) and cover terminal with a rag so it can't make contact.

Run two power wires and two ground wires (for relay and switch) to battery and ground in side of engine bay using 12mm and 10mm socket respectively. Trim to right lengths utilizing 18AWG wire and butt connectors (heat shrunk with lighter, wrapped in electrical tape) as needed. Use wire loom (electrical tape on ends) over wires

Cut off switch. Use a sharp object (coat hanger, shish kabob stick, etc) to poke a hole in the rubber boot, with the switch wire electrical taped to it, to run the switch wire into the cab. Use wire loom to cover wire

Switch placement and wiring

Use trim removal tool, 10mm socket, and phillips screwdriver to remove three trim pieces on driver side

Use phillips screwdriver to remove cubby and mount switch plate (or install in blank location)

Push in switches

Use butt connectors (and electrical tape) to connect switch wires to switch

Use quick splice connector (and electrical tape) to connect switch wire to another switch wire for illumination

If you want the rock lights triggered by the dome light signal in addition to the physical switch (approaching vehicle, unlocking vehicle, opening doors, etc

Follow this Toyota guide on removing the a-pillar cover

Ziptie @DSIM relay to one of the factory harnesses

Follow @Volksparts guide on wiring in the @DSIM black wire. Feed @DSIM black wire up behind dash towards a-pillar and use quick splice connector to connect @DSIM black wire to yellow a-pillar wire

Use quick splice connectors to connect @DSIM red wire to switch green wire and @DSIM yellow wire to switch red 1 wire

Reassemble

Lights placement

Middle four lights were placed under each door, rear two lights were under the bumper, all were ziptied to the frame

Front two lights were under the front bumper. I made a paper template of the light by tracing it and used that to drill three holes (two mounting bolts and wire) into the flimsy plastic in the front of the truck under the bumper in front of the wheel well. I then mounted the lights using the two supplied bolts. I accessed the inside of the wheel well to secure the 10mm nut from the wheel well using the 10mm socket to hold the nut and the 5mm alley key to tighted the bolt. You access the wheel well by removing one 10mm bolt with the 10mm socket and one push screw with a flathead screwdriver from inside the wheel well and them pull the plastic aside.

Lights wiring

There are two wires from the relay for each side, each with two leads

Run one wire across back of engine bay facing cab ziptieing to existing harness as you go

Cut off wiring harness leads. Connect additional wire to one of the harness wire leads with butt connectors (and electrical tape, wrapped in wire loom) and run straight down to under truck

Run wire to first light (in wire loom) at the passenger front door ziptieing to existing harness as you go

Three way splice with two butt connectors (one for red positive wire and one for black negative wire). One side has the incoming wire. Other side has rock light wire twisted together with additional wire. I'd strip the wire for both the rock light and outgoing wire and then twist the strands together (do that for both red and black wires respectively). Wrap in electrical tape and then put in wire loom

Repeat above for passenger rear door, passenger rear bumper, driver rear bumper, driver rear door, driver front door (daisy chaining as you go with three way splice at each light, covering wire in wire loom as you go, ziptieing to existing harness as you go)

For the passenger front bumper, connect additional wire (with butt connectors) to the other lead from where you ran across the engine and where you ran the one lead down to under the truck, wrap in wire loom, and fish the wire down to the small opening in the bumper from behind the headlights. Connect the light to the wire and then push all of the extra wire back into the bumper

For the driver front bumper, you can now use the other primary wire coming from the relay. We'll only need the long lead so you can either cut off the extra one in the middle or just cover it electrical tape. Repeat process above for fishing the wire and connecting the light

Photos

Rear Lights

Instructions

Same as rock lights with the exception of drilling into the plastic part of the rear bumper with a 1.75" hole saw for the main hole for the light and 3/16" drill bit for the mount screw holes

If you want the new reverse lights to come on with stock reverse signal in addition to physical switch

Follow this EAA guide on how to solder a diode to 2-3 ft of wire and then put wire assembly inside wire loom

Use quick splice connector to connect one end of new wire to middle white wire of trailer harness and other end of new wire to red positive wire of wire leading to the reverse lights

Photos

Footwell Lights
Coming soon

Switches

Photos

Three-switch option

1-switch option

Off:

Interior lights on:

Interior lights on, light bar on:

Relay Holder

Instructions

This is only if your relays don't have the empty tab slot on the back to install onto the relay holder

Drill three holes into relay holder tabs to mount relays with zipties. If you buy relays from an auto parts store, they'll have a slot where the relay holder tabs will slide in. Since I used premade harnesses, they didn't have this

Spray paint over the new holes to avoid rust

Mount relay holder in engine bay

Install relays on relay holder with zipties through hole in the relay and new holes in the relay holder

Click to expand...

Man.....please..........so much want for these lighting upgrades !!!!!!!!

You have the coolest dog, too. Super pics that had me laughing over this morning's coffee !!!!

I have a 32" light bar and some ditch lights that are hopefully going on my Taco today. Realized I need a couple more tools that I'm going to make a quick run over to Harbor Freight for in a few...

You've flung a craving on me for those rock lights, too. That's gonna be one of my next additions. My main interest with them is to tie into to the dome light and attach them to my faux slyders for puddle lights on entry. I also like how you ran yours with a switch and located them for super functional trail use. Nicely done.

Outstanding post all the way around @pwalnut !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3Tacos · May 11, 2018

Nice write up. Subs for future install.

pc3coyote · May 11, 2018

DubfromGA said: ↑

Man.....please..........so much want for these lighting upgrades !!!!!!!!

You have the coolest dog, too. Super pics that had me laughing over this morning's coffee !!!!

I have a 32" light bar and some ditch lights that are hopefully going on my Taco today. Realized I need a couple more tools that I'm going to make a quick run over to Harbor Freight for in a few...

You've flung a craving on me for those rock lights, too. That's gonna be one of my next additions. My main interest with them is to tie into to the dome light and attach them to my faux slyders for puddle lights on entry. I also like how you ran yours with a switch and located them for super functional trail use. Nicely done.

Outstanding post all the way around @pwalnut !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks! I appreciate it! I’m happy to help.

Our little dude is pretty great.

3Tacos said: ↑

Nice write up. Subs for future install.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions.

El Latigo · May 19, 2018

Excellent write up.. Thanks for all the information, now i need to start my lighting projects..
Thanks,

redrelyt12 · May 19, 2018

El Latigo said: ↑

Excellent write up.. Thanks for all the information, now i need to start my lighting projects..
Thanks,
Click to expand...

@pwalnut certainly helps me spend money...

HolmbyTaco · May 21, 2018

My god. . . amazingly helpful post; thank you. unbelievable.

pc3coyote · May 22, 2018

El Latigo said: ↑

Excellent write up.. Thanks for all the information, now i need to start my lighting projects..
Thanks,
Click to expand...

Thanks! I hope it is helpful!

redrelyt12 said: ↑

@pwalnut certainly helps me spend money...
Click to expand...

HolmbyTaco said: ↑

My god. . . amazingly helpful post; thank you. unbelievable.
Click to expand...

Happy to help! Let me know if you have questions. I banged my head against the wall a bunch figuring it all out so I thought I would save others the hassle and try to clearly outline the steps I did

Colorado Crawler · Jun 21, 2018

Love your lighting write ups. Was hoping you could do me a favor and tell me the exact measurement of the mounting holes on the rock light kit that you note from your install. Want to see if the existing mounting locations I have would work for the same LED kit you used. I currently have an RGB rock kit and I really want plain white. My housing looks to be about the same size so I know it is close but would really like to know for sure. How far from bolt to bolt on the mounting holes for each light?

Thanks in advance!

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Wiring LEDs in Front Light Bar, Rock Lights, Puddle Lights, Rear, Footwell, Bed, Map and Dome

#41
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#42
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#43
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#44
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#45
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

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pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#47
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#48
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#49
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#50
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#51
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

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Wiring LEDs in Front Light Bar, Rock Lights, Puddle Lights, Rear, Footwell, Bed, Map and Dome

#41 Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#42 pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#43 Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#44 pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#45 Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#46 pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#47 Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#48 pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#49 Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#50 pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#51 Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

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Products Discussed in Entire Site Forum: Lighting Thread: Wiring LEDs in Front Light Bar, Rock Lights, Puddle Lights, Rear, Footwell, Bed, Map and Dome

#41
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#42
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#43
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#44
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#45
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#46
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#47
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#48
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#49
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

#50
pc3coyote [OP] www.pc3coyote.com

#51
Blais03 Guess I'll bring a spare wheel bearing...

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