Bed Lights

There are many ways to do bed lights. Here are mine.



They are rather inexpensive AuxBeam LED light strips from Amazon. They're tucked up under the tie down rail on each side, out of harms way. I did not use the harness that came with them. Instead I came up with my own, using a CH4x4 switch, a relay, fuse, etc. attached directly to the battery. I did not want or need to tie into the trucks OE wiring.

All connections are soldered and covered with shrink tubing.

Total cost approx $65, total. I couldn't justify to myself spending a lot of money on something that I will seldom use. BTW, they are incredibly BRIGHT !

Edit: They are not connected directly to the battery now. See below for explanation.

 

OK, I learned a valuable lesson, and thought that I should share it...
It is stupid easy to leave the bed lights turned on. Them being hidden under a tonneau makes them being on unnoticeable.
Even though they're LEDS, they'll kill the battery in just a few hours.

I need to rethink how I've got them powered.

 

Simple fix would be to wire in a pin switch, so they're only on when the tailgate is open.

 

I moved the power connection to an add-a-fuse. I chose the A/C fuse. Its only powered when the ignition switch is on. That will prevent me from killing the battery by forgetting to turn the lights off. I won't be using the lights very often anyway.

I have an Extang Encore tonneau which can be opened from the front or rear, so the tailgate pin switch idea isn't ideal.

 

Another option if you want to be able to power them on with the truck off is to use a time delay relay which is hooked up to a constant power source. That way they will turn off after a set time duration. I’ve seen some from Hella and Wolstentech. I used the one from Wolstentech for my heated mirror install.

 

That's an interesting idea. Thanks !

 

I didn't exactly use a kit. I bought the items separately. Below are the details. NOTE: I have since changed from connecting directly to the battery. It's now powered by an add-a-fuse in the A/C position of the main under hood fuse panel. This keeps me from leaving them on over night and having a dead battery the next morning.
Also, the LEDs in the switch are connected so that they both come on when the switch is on. (And ignition on, with fan running.) I may change this again in the future.

Here's the parts I used:
Switch

$24 CH4X4 Push Switch for Toyota Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, Fortuner, Hilux, 4Runner, Prado 12V 3Amp - Bed Lights Symbol - Amber LED

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSJ1WVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lights:

Auxbeam Truck Bed Light 60" White Strip LED Lights Waterproof Bed Lights with On-Off Switch Fuse 2-Way Splitter Cable for Jeep Pickup RV SUV（2Pcs）

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H857NLH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Relay Kit: (included 2 sets... I only used 1)

$20 ARLSPACK2

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0SATHE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here's how I wired mine:

Here's the pigtail/relay socket details:


Let me know if I can help.

Tullie D.

 

I did something different.

 

Looks good!

One of the reasons that I ran my wiring all the way to the back of the truck and made up my connections to the LED strips back there (as opposed to doing it at the front of the bed) was so it would be simpler to change over to something similar to what you did, if the el cheapo LED strips didn't work out like I wanted.

So far, they have been fine.

For future reference, what lights did you use?

 

I was going to go with the light strips too but just wanted to try something different. I did have to cut into the bed thou, not to much people would want to do that .The light are from fcklightbars and the spacer is from rigid industries.

 

Awesome idea
https://m.delcity.net/store/Time-De...MI5ZOQxtS24gIV0VuGCh2WYQAHEAQYASABEgKjL_D_BwE

 

Thank you for making this post,,,, I learned a bunch from it

 

BD interior light on the bedside, addafuse to the interior panel constant 12v.
I liked this one because it has a switch right on the light.

 

I plan on doing the same exact thing so thanks for the idea. Did you follow a how to I am not the best and figuring it out on my own haha. Just curious if there was a thread and or video you used as reference to do these. Maybe it was just that simple and im overthinking but thanks!

 

I just made it up as I went along. It IS pretty simple, at least the way I did it was.

 

@ ANYONE I need help. I must be the worst DIY guy on this forum. I put the bed LED strip lights in my truck bed. I am not sure how to wire them. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do not want to wire them into my cab. I am fine with leaving the button in the back of the bed and wiring them there. https://www.amazon.com/Auxbeam-Ligh...Auxbeam+Truck+bed+light&qid=1588809542&sr=8-1
These are the strips I bought hand have on my Truck.

 

Follow the directions that came with your lights.

 

Probably some useful info here.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-waterproof-under-bed-rail-led-lights-3rd-gen.391380/

 

Do you have any pictures of the wiring?

 

Everything that I've got has been previouly covered.