Tailgate operated bedlights

I added the OEM bedlight kit to my '23 Taco. It was a super easy and cheap add on at less than $60. But time after time I discovered that the bedlights would turn off before I was ready.

I decided to add a plunger switch (door jam pin switch) that would turn on two LED strips anytime the tailgate is open(like the doors). This plunger pin switch disconnects the ground from completing the circuit when pressed in by the tailgate. I also added a switch to turn them off in case I need to leave the tailgate down for an extended period. I got everything installed yesterday and it works great. I wired these LED strips independent from the truck lights in an effort to not induce any electronic grimlins.

I used a 60" LED strip kit and a plunger and switch shown in this pic:


You can see in this next pic where I installed the override switch. In the 2nd photo below, you can see where I installed the plunger switch below the latch. I think the latch will help protect the plunger from damage.



I cut the LED strips to a length (on the cut marks) so they wouldn't be longer than the length of the tie down strips. I also mounted them facing "down" so they wouldn't be shining in my eyes. Here's the finished product, this is the LED strips only (OEM truck bedlights have timed out already):


One of my motivations for this project was so the bedlights come on when I open the tailgate. I have a Lomax bed cover that stays on most of the time.

One downfall to this set up is that if I leave the tailgate open and forget to turn the lights off with the over ride switch the battery will eventually drain. I kind of wish they would time out after 20 min like the truck cargo lights. I keep a Noco GB40 on hand though.

Here's a link to the lights I putchased:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/224533951546

Here's a rough sketch:

 

Where did you get the power? Battery?
What plunger switch

 

I edited one of the photos to show what I'm referring to. I'm also going to edit my info above to explain that a low profile switch is needed due to the clearance between the tailgate and bed being minimal.
Here's a link to a switch like I used: https://www.ebay.com/itm/165684394877

Edited to say: I tried to find a constant 12v source in the rear of the truck but was unsuccessful and ran a wire all the way to the fuse panel under the hood.

 

Nice. I could see that be handy if one does not have a cap. My Leer 180 has interior lights that are wired to the bed lights. Very handy.

 

Thanks for the edit, appreciate it

 

Wiring them to the OEM bedlights certainly crossed my mind. But I wasn't sure how well it would integrate due to the way I'm using the tailgate switch and the manual override switch.

 

Sure thing Greg.

 

constant power is in the trailer plug. just need a sacrificial addon harness like the

$38 curt 56584 replacement vehicle-side custom USCAR 5-pin trailer wiring harness

curt 56584, and modify the trailer power relay to stay closed.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the trailer power relay. I checked for power on all prongs and nothing. I'll look into how to make the power wire hot when the truck is off.... I know there are other vehicles wired this way.

 

or you can just ask nicely

this truck uses a relay under the hood to disconnect that power when the truck isn't running, to prevent parasitic trailer draw from killing the truck battery if the trailer was left connected all night.

i temp-modified my relay to stay shut all the time, providing power to the rear of the truck. absolute worst case scenario, the piece of ziptie melts/fails, and it opens the circuit.


i use the curt harness mentioned earlier as a sacrificial harness. i make all my cuts and splices in that harness, so that if there's a problem, my needs change, or i no longer need it, i can unplug it, reconnect the oem plug to the rear trailer plug, and the truck is as it left the factory without all my add-on's.

 

Good point, I started to ask. But I've got the wire ran now and will likely leave it this way but I'm glad to have an understanding of why Toyota wired it this way and a way around it without permanently modifying the vehicle. I give great thought before permanently modifying my vehicles.... might sound odd coming from a guy that just drilled several holes in the bed of his truck, LOL.

 

i'm the same way. i prefer to keep my modifications to methods that can be concealed or altogether removed.

after having 3 vehicles now that "i'm going to keep forever", i've learned better that forever is a whole lot shorter these days!

 

Haha, I understand that too. The way I ran the wire, it looks factory.... until you look behind the drivers side tail light(it's neat, just not factory); and the add a fuse of course.

 

that's pretty cool, cause the only other way to leave on the bed lights is with the cargo switch, but I like the idea of the lights staying on with the tailgate open. do you think you could do a simple drawing of how you wired everything up and maybe post it? also did you use a relay?

 

One of my motivations for this project was so the bedlights come on when I open the tailgate. I have a bed cover that stays on most of the time. I didn't use a relay.

The downfall to this set up is that if I leave the tailgate open and forget to turn the lights off with the over ride switch. I kind of wish they would time out after 20 min like the truck cargo lights.

Here's a link to the lights I putchased:
https://www.ebay.com/vod/FetchOrderDetails?orderId=04-11025-86437

Here's a rough sketch:

 

Txs Ryan. I've been thinking about doing this mod for about 6 years now....

 

Thank you for that! I also have a bed cover and i hate that the lights time out so quick. This is an awesome little mod. I dont usually leave my tailgate open very often, so i wouldn't worry too much about draining my battery. I bet there is a timer module you could wire up to time out the lights.

Also im guessing the 12v source is a constant 12v? Did you tap anywhere specific under the hood?

 

cant you just use the switch on the dash?

 

Nice work, I really like that. So, the wire you ran all the way to the fuse panel under the hood... What route did you take? Is it attached to the inside of the frame rail, somehow through the cab or some route pretty weather resistant?

 

Very nice work. I don't have patience for that. I just used one of these in addition to standard bed light. Won't drain truck battery.

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