Bed Light AUX Harness

This started as a simple T harness, intended as a complement to @Puppypunter 's Brake Light T Harness.

There wasn't too much interest so I'm making something a bit more useful by including a relay and a line to the battery.



This would only work on 2020 and newer Tacomas which have a bed light connector inside the rear taillight cavity.

To order, please see post #2

If your 2020+ did not come with OEM bed lights and you wish to add them, here are the the installation instructions which also contains the part number. They should be easy to find from various online dealerships.

I will also sell simple bed light T taps via my storefront.



Last, I offer a conversion harness if you have the OEM bed lights for 2016-2019 Tacoma and want to convert to the 2020+ flush mount OEM bed lights. You would remove the wedge shaped surface mount lights, cut the composite bed for the flush mount lights, and employ the conversion harness to connect things.




What would you do with this? Add aux lights on your roof, in your bed, under your truck or inside your soft or hard shell which match the behavior of the bed lights. That means the cargo rocker controls them and they can come on / go off automatically when in auto mode.
For access to the same circuit from inside the cab, refer to @kmorgan3 ’s cargo light switch T harness thread.

For a more comprehensive rock light solution, see DSIM's plug and play rock light harness thread.

 

Bed Light T harness

If you plan to run more than 1 amp off this circuit and you need help adding a relay, please DM me to discuss.

 

Possible uses

1. Tap for a dome light for your soft topper or hard shell
2. Use with a relay to power scene lights around your truck for camping out in the wild.
3. Trigger rock lights without needing to run wire into the cab.
4. Supply bed lighting / dome lighting to your trailer.
5. Use with a relay to cut the parking brake signal to your taillights so you can signal a thank you, semi-trucker style.

 

I think these would be awesome bed lights for anyone out there with a 20-21. Just something to consider
Pod Lights - Shop Products (vleds.com)

You could do white, amber, red, or even blue.

EDIT: I recently found out that Hotshot Offroad can get VLED stuff too, so hit up @memario1214 and do it up!

 

You guys are kicking ass and taking names!!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-added-lamps-to-cargo-sw.587660/

 

Added a link to Kyle’s thread in the first post.

The idea with these is a little different, I think mostly it’d be for the easy way to get bed lighting on a 2020+ for someone who doesn’t want the OEM lights (can’t fathom why) and instead wants strip lights. Or maybe wants both for max lighting? I forget what the OEM lights cost. I sure wish I could have them but not only do I not have the harness connector, my bedside molle would block the lights if I had them. And I’m rather fond of my bedside molle.

I think it’d possibly pair well with a Matt Gecko bed lighting kit, assuming current draw would be within spec.

I also genuinely dislike running wire into / out of the cab. It’s a royal pain. I quite like the option to do waterproof electrical mods entirely outside the cab. I’m sure I’m a strange bird on that part.

 

Hey Dave . Is that we were talking about ?

 

Sorry. It was with @Puppypunter

 

That was going to be my guess. He's the good looking one.

 

Also if someone wants to employ a relay to provide a higher current output, we could do something custom with a sealed relay. The only really sad part there is the very long run to the battery and no clean/easy way to tap the 7 pin trailer connector (no intercept on 3rd gens) for power.

But if, for example, you already have fused +12v from the battery somewhere close to a taillight, or you're fine doing that part yourself, or you want 15' power lead...

 

still available? if yes i need one. Paypal, zell or cash app

 

Yes, I’ll set up a form right now, I just realized I haven’t done that.
Oh, no, I did the order form already, post #2

 

The OEM bed lights were $49.05 from BAM Wholesale. Very straight forward plug n play install. Pulling the tail light assembly out of the clips was the scariest part of the whole thing. They are awesome lights.

 

Fund School Shop Class now...

 

I’m going to convert this product to a T tap plus sealed relay plus battery lead. Target price of $60. Relay would mount in the taillight cavity. Short T for the relay coil. Then it can be used for higher output needs. Output will be dual AMP connectors with 16 gauge and some pigtails to hook up for any lights you want.

 

got mine thanks