Bed Lights w/pics

Nice job! I have thought about the courtesy and possibly under dash lights
that come on with the dome light. I looked the other day and I can't find the wire going to the dome light. I was going to tap into it.

 

I'm not one to mess with dome lights that might. I completely trashed the one in my Corolla trying to do stuff, so I avoid them now. Keep in mine the dome lights fade out. That might be a problem. Then again, maybe you could read through the "Cheap/Free" mod thread for the map and dome light mod to get an idea what to do. That makes the map lights come on and fade out with the dome light...
Cheap/free mods

 

After several attempts to load & unload my rather expensive R6 in the dark on a black bed on moonless nights, I determined I needed a cargo light. I initially used some cheap fog lamps that I had laying around, hoping that cheap meant no so bright. It didn't matter. I used some left over 3M window film tape. The double sided, sticky, but not that sticky that it will never come off sticky tape to temporarily locate them in the pockets. They were bright, but I could never get them to illuminate the whole bed without moving them or having them stick out of the pockets. Also they were too wickedly bright.
So I went this route. I didn't know what exact type of lights Pierced Tiger has, but I got these off eBay for 36.98 to my door. They are protected by a 3/4" plastic tube with rubber isolation grommets every 12" or so. I can still use the factory tie-downs. They give a great glow that isn't obtrusive yet can still see clearly. It's even great for tailgating! I ran the wires through the rear access cab plug holes which are about 8" above the rear seat. I just drilled a 1/16" hold through the grommet and used a piece of bale wire to pull the wiring through. a dap of silicone and it's watertight. I then used a factory fog light switch and used the wires from the empty plug behind the dash (Probably the VSCS connector) to illuminate it. It looks so stock that a guy at work who has a 05, walked by and saw them one day and went to the dealer to see if the new 08 cargo lights retrofit into the 05's! He then told me the story a few days later and was mad because I made him feel like a butt at the dealer!

 

They look good! These are what I used:
http://vminnovations.com/product/id/1166/Undercar_4_Piece_Car_LED_Neon_Kit_WHITE_%2b_REMOTE.aspx

A little bit more than your's cost, but I couldn't find anything else that cheap. It came with 4 tubes so I just used the other 2 as rock lights. Didn't really need them, but since 4 was cheaper than any 2 I could find I rolled with it. They come in handy working at my buddy's house since he doesn't have much outdoor lighting.

 

If I had the need for the extra 2 I'd be pissed that I didn't just spend the extra $10 bucks and get the 4 pack. I like the under frame mount lights, but I just never thought I'd need them. They could be one of those "can't miss what you never had" ideas. Also, if I did have the extra set and installed them, I'd be pissed with every vehicle that didn't have step-down lights!
That is by far the best deal for a 4 pack.

 

question for the OP:


will a single remote turn on all 4 strips? or does each one only control 2..?

 

All 4 tubes are connected to a distribution block so the all come on together. They just give 2 remotes for a spare or second set of keys.

 

I know this is an old thread but I love the remote aspect of these lights as I will be using them from within my truck bedz sport tent III. I want to use one with a separate switch as a light under my front bumper from inside my cab.

Has anyone figured out how to get one to turn on separately or is there another kit with a remote out there that can be used?

 

The kit comes with a distribution box for power and receiving signal from the remotes. I don't know if it it works with only 3 plugged it. I never tried. If it does then you'd need to figure out the voltage, etc pushed out to one section of the box and rewire the one tube.

 

oh man, i got a set of those for free from my cousin who works at autozone because somebody returned them claiming they didnt work (blown fuse). i threw them in this instead...



haha what a waste, but the blue would have been too much for the bed im thinking.

Awesome idea and I am certainly going to borrow it once i get my hands on a set of white lights, great job!

 

hey OP, i'm in the middle of doing this mod (i'm at work right now with no rear seats

did you have to run a longer wire to reach the battery from the control box? the wires they supply with the kit are ridiculously short.

 

Nice set up i have been wanting to hook up bed lights for a wile now i might just have to steel this idea i like the idea of having the under carriage lights for night wheelin.

 

Yes. I already had 3 wires run through the firewall to the storage bin to the left of the steering wheel for a magnetic mounted roof light bar that didn't work out. I had left the wires there for future use, so I just grabbed one for this. And grounded under the center console near the gear shift.

The under body lights were nice, but after a year one died, and the other had water in it (but still worked ). I'd suggest maybe running a bead of silicon or hot melt glue around the black ends, where the wire goes in, and any other seam water might get in. Also, the plastic mounts they came with broke eventually so I just zip tied them on.

 

sounds good, thanks. I'll work on this as soon as I get home. it's a pain taking everything apart to lay wires

 

I did something similar with cheap LEDs from harbor freight. Not sure how long they'll hold up, but there's pics of how/where I ran my wires if it helps at all. See the links in my signature for my bed lights and running board lights.

 

Yeah I know. Straightened coat hanging shoved through the big grommet most of the wires are run through. I did 3 wires at once, all fused, so when I didn't need them I still left them in place. Just so I didn't need to go through that crap again!

 

has anyone skipped the controller, cut the wires, and hooked it all up to a switch and a ground?

im hoping i can run direct 12vdc to these things without the controller?

there seem to be 8 wires per tube, im assuming one ground and 7 hot wires for the different led sections?

i think the connectors, controll box and remotes are all chincy crap in this kit. i do think some silicone around the tubes will go a long way, but they look decent. Gen 1 LED's that when lit show a Red Green and Blue together mixing into a "white" light.

dont confuse this kit with the fancy stuff the guys are getting for more money... but i think it will more than do the job at hand

 

did some cut and paste on the VM innovation lights...

tear the connectors open and you will find 4 +12v wires, and 3 Ground side wires. the system works by sending 12v all the time down the four (green black red yellow) and controls the patterns by switching among the three grounds (blue grey white)

Chop into all of them and send constant power and ground you will get all lights on all the time. i plan on ditching the control box, remotes and what not to allow a single switched power in, and a single ground, that way i can flip the switch whenever i want lights in the bed without much dicking around.

 

so now that the link to the lights the OP used is dead, anyone know where this kit can now be found?

 

Yeah I got mine from vminnovations also and they quit carrying them.

On Ebay just look for undercar led kit. Any of those (go with a good seller) will work.

This kit is what I have under my truck. It will work in the bed.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WIRELESS-WH...Parts_Accessories&hash=item416b59e219&vxp=mtr


In the bed of my truck i used the led strips: