Bed Light Install w/ Interior Switch, Tailgate Trigger Pin and Override.....

What's going on guys?! One of the first mods I did on my 15 TRD Sport... Figured I'd share my install with you guys...

Parts:
Extang Bed Light Kit (http://www.4wheelparts.com/Tonneau-...tem.aspx?t_c=82&t_s=141&t_pt=9502&t_pn=XTG315)

Hood Pin Switch (http://www.ebay.com/itm/400963658762?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT)

Bed Light Switch (http://www.aironboard.com/online/pu...t-toyota-oem-replacement-bed-light-green.html)

Switch for Ground Override (Used one similar to this I already had: http://www.dx.com/p/maitech-12v-20a...yuABN-pwkz2IGyVspZvsUaAqc68P8HAQ#.VgNLa_lViko)

AddACircuit (

$17 Witonics ATO ATC Add-A-Circuit KIT with 6 Fuses (3A, 5A, 7.5A, 10A, 15A, 20A) and Add-A-Fuse Function

http://www.amazon.com/Add-A-Circuit-function-Littelfuse-FHA200BP-fuses/dp/B009K6ZH6W)


Wire
Connectors and so forth.

So I had these bed lights on my Ram and really liked them so decided they would be used on my Taco.. Took off the old 3m adhesive, and put some new stuff on. Also had to shorten the distance between wires... So made them 3 foot in total, 1 foot between LED pod.. Only the 2nd time I've soldered but didn't do too bad...


New vs Old Length...


Installed the lights, put some loom over the wire to make it look clean and run wire through a small hole I drilled into to the bed..


Both wires meet behind the driverside headlight. There the two were connected, both grounds together into one end of a butt connector, the other side had 2 wires coming out which went to 2 different ground locations... One two a hood pin switch and one to a switch inside of the side box.

The hood pin first had to be shortened...


Drilled a hole, ran the wire out and connected it..


Then put it in after I painted the hole...




Next ran the other ground wire through the box on the driverside of the bed which is also grounded. Forgot to get a pic of switch installed..


So I ran both wires along the frame rail with all the wires that run to what I assume is the camera.. I loomed it seperately so I can run additional accessories too if needed down the road.. (Maybe the Pop N Lock tailgate lock, or something.. Who knows at this point..) Anywho, power wire comes up through the grommet under the driver seat/sill area.. Under carpet and to the center console under the dash... Here it meets the AirOnBoard switch..




The switch was then ran to the fuse box under the dash to an open spot with a in line fuse temporarily... The dash light was ran from under the dash fuse box using an AddACircuit to a fuse which was powered only when lights were on.. The when the lights on the vehicle are on, the bottom section of the lights turn on, when the switch is hit the top lights up..

So it is set up that if I turn on the switch, all I need to do is to open the tailgate and magic, the lights turn on! What if I want the lights on with the tailgate up? Just hit the switch in the box there that's hidden, and it will turn on too! Switch turns it off if needed from there.








Video of operation...


Any comments or questions, let me know. Want pictures of anything else? I'll take them..

 

Ok, I am not the handiest of people when it comes to wiring and electrical. what do you need to be able to use the hood pin switch AND the switch on the dash, Im assuming that means you can turn it on via the switch in the dash, as well as simply by opening the tailgate? Is it some sort of relay orr? Appreciate it, good write up man!

 

No relays. The switch controls the power. The pin switch for the tailgate and the hidden switch both control the ground. So when switch is on the power is there and when the tailgate is open, that pin touches ground completing the circuit.

 

Oh ok. Thank you!

 

Nice post! I installed these last weekend:

Turbo 2pcs Flood 3x3 Dually Flush Mount Led Light Lamps Dually D2 Off Road Back Up Reverse lights for 4x4 4wd Jeep Truck F150 F250 F350 Toyota Tacoma Honda Dodge Ram Chevy Silverado Front /Rear Bumper

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y2CJ95O?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

And bought this wire harness to wire it all together:

mictuning LED Light Bar Wiring Harness 40Amp Relay ON-OFF Laser led work light Rocker Switch Blue(2 Lead 12ft)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QYIG6C8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00

To make the switch fit I'll have to trim the plastic just a bit, still within the larger rectangle. Eh, that's a price I'm willing to pay since the rocker switch will cover it... In the slot to the right of the USB and then to the far left I already have wires sitting there. Do you have any idea what those are?? I too suck at wiring anything besides a winch, so this should be an experience.

 

On second thought... I do like the look of the push button switches. I also have additional fog lights (spot beams) as well as an LED light bar which all need switches. It would definitely make the interior much cleaner to have these buttons.

 

Decided: Ordered factory fit buttons for my 3 sets of lights. I'll still do the wiring this weekend, but leave the rocker switches hanging so I can swap them out when the good ones come in. One other question that may be really dumb once I actually start doing this: where do you run wires from the cab to the engine bay?

Apologies again, this is my first electrical mod.

 

No idea what they are for under there. I just ran them through the factory grommet but had to slice a small hole to run them through.

 

I'm sure I'll see the factory grommet you're talking about tomorrow when I start snaking my way from the engine bay to the cabin... I just hate dealing with circuits... I'd much rather work with torque and ft./lbs than try to figure out amps/wattage.

Don't be surprised if I post on here again with a "dafuq am I doing" post, lol.


PS: Thanks for all your help. I'm saving this post, along with a few other threads/videos, for when I start my first wiring adventure ETA 17:20 EST.

 

They have a ton of vehicle specific ones for the Tacoma at AirOnBoard.com

That is a sweet idea with the flush's in there.

 

Yea I just got done wiring today and am leaving the provided MicTuning switches dangling until the vehicle specific switches come in. Holy hell are these things bright!! Now I just have to tidy things up with some tape wrap, wire conduit, and zip ties on excess wire. Two questions:

1) I hooked my "battery" feed wires onto the positive post in the engine bay fuse box. This means my LED backlights are on and the lights are operational, regardless of whether I have my keys in the ignition or not. I want it like the factory switches/lights. The switches light up when the other switches light up, and the aux lights are only operational when the key is in the second position. Do you know where I should connect my positive leads to make the lights/switches operate like factory lights?

2) Any advice on sneaking wires from engine bay to the cabin without compromising the weather seal? I found the thick bundle of wires near the steering column, but that hole was already sealed tight by the factory. Right now I'm routed between the door, fender, and A-pillar, making the wires take a brief trip outside before ducking back behind the dashboard. I'd obviously prefer to just go straight from engine bay to cabin, but I'm weary about drilling holes through the firewall unless I know water and noise won't be getting through too.

 

As far as wiring,are you running a relay? I found one constant power in engine fuse box I am using and have a fuse ran in line. I'd run a relay with a bigger light like yours.

I just went through that weatherseal/grommet by poking a small hole through it. I actually put a piece of 1/2" air line through it so I can run wires through air line so I can run a few more wires through safely and quickly.

 

Subd

 

Yea I'm running a relay. The relay power and ground are fine, it's the power and ground inside the cabin that's being finicky.

 

Installed a Bakflip G2 tonneau cover, here's what lights look like under it..

 

Hey SnowDrift, how did your finished mod work out for you. Considering doing this too, just curious how yours turned out. Thanks!