Leer Shell Wiring Options

Hello Tacoma World!

So I have been searching for advice on this and have yet to see anything that is helping...I know there are other threads on wiring advice for Leer shells (many of which that are helpful) but I have a specific question that I have not seen anyone ask yet.

I recently purchased a Leer shell for my 05 short bed Tacoma and I need to wire the brake light and interior dome light. I have seen other threads talk about using the taillight and tapping in to the battery for the dome but I had another idea.

My truck has the 7 wire harness for the trailer hitch and I was thinking of just tying in to that harness for everything. It has a diagram on it for which wire goes to what including a dedicated hot and ground that should work for the interior light of the shell (I am also planning on running LED light strips down the bed rails later on and tapping in to the dome light wiring for the switch...but that is a post for later).

I was just wondering if anyone else had ever used the trailer harness for power and if there are any reasons why I should not use it...seems to me like a simple solution but it could just be me.

 

The dedicated hot wire in the 7 way connector is only hot when the key is on. That is for charging your trailer batteries while driving, and disconnected when you're camping so it doesn't run the truck battery dead while you're camping. There is no constant 12V at the back of the truck. You have to run a fused circuit from the battery. Also, the brake lights and turn signals are combined in the 7 way connector so you can't use that for a 3rd brake light. The brake circuit in the 7 way connector comes out of the trailer brake controller(If you have one) and shouldn't be used for a 3rd brake light.

 

Yup. The 7 pin only gets power when the key is in the on position. Have you checked to see if the dome light is battery powered? The dome light that came in my Leer is powered by 2 AA batteries.

 

It has a separate harness for the light...pretty sure it is hard wired. I did not know about the key thing so that may change things. Other than that though it would be fine for the brake light?

 

What are you asking would be fine for the brake light? The 7 way connector? I told you why it won't work.

 

I guess I was just thinking the key issue would not be a big deal for the brake light since the only time I would need that light would be if I am driving. I see your point though and will probably just tap in to the tail light like everyone else is saying.

 

Tap into the brake light and add connectors to your wiring harness that are inside the truck bed so you can unplug it if you want to remove the cap.