Weekend Project: Tacoma LED Bed Lights

These still say 2015...I looked on the Toyota McDonough web site and found these...

http://d354nuoz4t18d4.cloudfront.ne...4089_TA_16_toyota_mcdonough.pdf?cb=1500598220

 

Working on my lights now...have the lights installed, and wires ran down to the spare tire. About to run the wire to the power supply! Not a difficult project at all so far. Hope I didn't just jinx myself!

 

Finished the wiring, and cleaned up the mess. Put my truck back together, and tested the lights...they work, but only when the door is open. I would like for them to work when the cargo light switch is on, and not necessarily when the door is open. Any suggestions? I'm NOT an electronics guy, so the simpler the better - and if it can't be done, I'll live with what I have.

 

You tapped the wrong circuit. If you tap into the cargo light circuit, they will come on when the cargo light is on. Sounds like you tapped into the interior light circuit.

 

Manufacturer install Video:
https://youtu.be/fbpmmI20uiA
1. Mount your lights. These are two strips of four.
2. Run wiring into cab. Do this by finding a route from the truck bed to under the driver's side of your taco. There are holes, you just need to find them underneath your trim pieces.
3. Combine the power wires between the lights. Combine the grounds or negative wires between the lights
4. Install add a circuit and connect power wire.
5. Remove harness from factory switch, and tap your combined ground wires to the blue wire in the harness as shown below.
6. Reassemble your trim pieces, and enjoy.
Cargo Light Tap: I ran the power wires from the lights to my fuse box with an add a circuit, then tapped the cargo light wire that connects to the factory switch.


Photo Credit: @caribe makaira <--- This guy is a genius. . .follow him! @caribe makaira
Power Tap (+) from the LEDs to the fuse box:

Factory Switch Tap: (Note: some people will say that you should use a relay, but i didn't need one for these little lights)
Blue Tap is me combining the grounds (-) on the two strips of LEDs, and the red tap is me tapping the (-) from the lights to the factory switch.


My personal video of lights in action: https://youtu.be/Q5ovtfsR680

You may have noticed a light bar on the back. Install video here: https://youtu.be/B3sKxN6Dv88

 

Possibly so, but I followed the directions. I'll take a look and see what I can find out.

 

Okay...I think I figured it out. There are 2 "light green" wires in that same harness. Not a lot of difference in the color, so I can see where I messed up. Now, then - I can't get the t-connector off the wire. I can go get another one (I think), but won't be able to until tomorrow. Does anyone know how to take those off without breaking a wire, or would it be better to go buy another one?

 

Don't take them off once you put them on. Those tap connections you get in the kit should not be used under any circumstances since they usually cut a few strands of wire. Posi taps are the ones to use if you don't have a professional crimp tool.

Use these


Never use these

 

Remember many of the instructions are for a Tundra not Tacoma. Look at the back of the cargo light switch for the correct wire, it's easy to get to.

 

Finished the project...finally...I found out that I didn't have the lights grounded correctly. When I grounded them, they work with the cargo light, just like they're supposed to.

 

Appreciate the link to instruction and cutout diagram! I’m installed the lights now.