VLEDS Plug-and-Play Bed Light Kit

Attempted and mostly completed install this afternoon, it was alright, definitely give yourself plenty of time to complete it.

I’ll warm anyone, avoid my mistake and make sure you’re 100% ready to fish the wire up past the fuel tank. Due to the inline fuse, it’s pretty much a one way journey. I made a mistake and forgot to pass it above my brake lines, well let’s just say I spent the next hour trying to get the wires out of the frame that I assume were wedged on some brake lines near the gas tank.

Rest of the install went smoothly: completing the wiring, adding the tailgate switch, and getting everything on the switch ready. But the bed wire management was another struggle at the end for me. Not sure if anyone else has had any issues with the rubber trim not sticking to the bed rails, but that was nearly impossible. Mind you the trim has been unpackaged and in my warm house for 2 days now. I also was using a heat gun and this stuff doesn’t want to uncoil, very frustrating to work with.

I got one side 80%, but the edges are pulling down. I ordered some heavy duty 3M adhesive that I’m likely going to replace this stuff that came on it. It shows a 3 and and M but not next to each other which seems odd and may mean it’s not actual 3M tape. The light sticky pads are significantly stronger than the rubber trim so they’re definitely not the same tape.

the kit is a good quality kit, just really not a fan of that rubber trim and the adhesive on it, hopefully I can get the other side 100% finished tomorrow with some new adhesive tape. It is extremely bright and the tailgate switch is a game changer.
Pics attached.

 

Is color temperature different from the OEM bedlights?

 

Those aren’t OEM bed lights, those are cali raised LED ones in the stock locations. My truck didn’t come with them from the factory. These cali raised ones are closer to 5500k so more blue compared to the VLEDS which are probably 4500k, more pure white. It’s not an exact match, but not off by enough to bother me.

 

Yeah we noticed the wire hider doesn’t like to uncoil. If it’s not uncoiling it could be lifting up before the adhesive could set. You can roll it out in the house next to a heater and it’ll help a lot to get the memory out. The adhesive is 3M already — we are sticklers on using cheap adhesives. Try scrubbing the holy crap out of your bed rails with rubbing alcohol and make sure the rail itself is warm — not just the adhesive. Install temps are supposed to be fairly warm per 3M. When you’re ready to install make sure you apply pressure for about a minute as evenly as you can.

 

My weatherstripping been coiled up in the house (67 degrees) for a few days. Doesn't appear to be unraveling anytime soon.

 

I was able to get the rubber trim pretty much level, it really doesn’t like to uncoil but I went crazy with the heat gun today (too hot to touch the rubber with my hands) and then pressing it into place with a 2x4 piece. Pretty much as good as I’m willing to make it, but the heat gun is absolutely required as this trim won’t even try to uncoil unless it’s extremely warm. Added pics to show finished trim that is holding up at the lights. Also added a picture to show the color temp difference between my cali raised LED bed lights. Not that different and it doesn’t bother me. Overall very pleased with the quality and it works flawlessly

 

Thanks for choosing us for the bed lights, they look great!

 

I have the trail edition tacoma and it has the trail boxes in the bed, will this system work on that model?

 

The bed boxes will occlude the lights as they’re designed for the bed rail, but there isn’t anything stopping you from getting creative and putting the lights wherever suits you in the bed. You can order extensions, etc. a la carte if you find a spot you’d want a light — for example if you want a strip of 2 lights on the forward bed rail.

 

OK Thanks

 

Out of curiosity has anyone tried plugging in the VLED footwell lights into this harness? Appears to be the same type of connection and the idea of different colors is appealing.

 

If you look on the website they sell different color interior and exterior lights.
Not the same ones as the bed kit but, other colors.

 

I decided to tackle this project today. Since I had read about the wire hider not wanting to uncoil and I knew it would be a while before I would have the time to install the kit, I decided to tape the rubber trim against a baseboard in our living along a wall that’s facing the sun. Granted, living in Hawaii probably played a big part here since it rarely dips into the 60’s. I just left it there for a couple of weeks and pulled it off yesterday and it is straight.



I still have to zip tie a few spots here and there but overall I was surprised by how smooth the whole install went.
Even fishing the wire into the bed worked on the first try. I simply used some needle nose pliers to grab the white wire and pull it through.



The other tool that was really helpful fishing the wire through some tight spots under the truck was this grabber tool that I picked up for the Meso puddle light install. Something similar to this:

$12 VViViD Stainless Steel Flexible 2 Feet Magnetic Pick-Up Claw Grabber Tool W/LED Light

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FQTZ8HR?ie=UTF8&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9kZXRhaWwp13NParams

The only hiccup I had was with the tailgate switch. I didn’t realize at first that I could simple pull off the rubber cover to expose the nut below which made tightening the washer to the point it cut into the painted surface easy peasy.
But I am also not super experienced when it comes to electrical stuff and feel like this every time I have a successful install. LOL

 

Going to have to do this one clean set up and looks easy to install

 

So….. why can’t I get the bed switch to switch?

 

Double check your wire connection to the switch behind the tail light. Also, the rubber grommet pops off the switch from inside the bed. Take off that grommet and make sure the nut is completely tight. Other than that, check to make sure the dome light switch in the cab is activated.

 

Did all that. The lights will come on, just not with that switch. Even employed a little sandpaper. I really like the lights though.

 

Check that the purple wire in your purple/blue bundle coming up through the floorboard isn’t damaged. Check the pin and ensure it is fully seated into the 2-position connector.

 

I def squished a pin, on the way through the grommet, just trying to keep it as small as possible. I have a dashcam always on running through there as well. It was a little f-ed but I thought it made connection. I will look at it later. Thanks.

 

Couldn’t do the wire hiders quite yet, it’s been a little stormy.