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Tailgate light bar

downsc123

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For those that installed the Putco Blade and their Blade quick connector, did the 2 wires on the light bar and on the quick connector that are separate from the 4 pin connector (reverse and constant +12v) come with any connector or just bare wire that I would need to either splice or get my own connector
 

Ram Man 727

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For those that installed the Putco Blade and their Blade quick connector, did the 2 wires on the light bar and on the quick connector that are separate from the 4 pin connector (reverse and constant +12v) come with any connector or just bare wire that I would need to either splice or get my own connector
Mine came with the white (reverse) with a female quick connect and the black was just bare. The female quick connect was useless without the male of the same type. I cut it off and added my own quick connect. I didnt use the black so I just capped it.
 

downsc123

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Mine came with the white (reverse) with a female quick connect and the black was just bare. The female quick connect was useless without the male of the same type. I cut it off and added my own quick connect. I didnt use the black so I just capped it.
Sounds good. Thanks for the reply. I ordered earlier today
 

FirstRam2020

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Anyone with the multi-function tailgate mount a lightbar? There is stock wiring that will get in the way of a bar being flush.
 

Code2medic

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I mounted to the pinch weld so that the lights shine outward and down. This illuminates the running board perfectly. and they are low enough you can't see them unless you are far away or lower to the ground. I can send you a picture. I also mounted with the wiring to the back, as I connected all my wires to the trailer wiring via the CURT adaptor. I had to add an additional wire/splice to the 12V power (That is constant) to allow the lights to be illuminated for the running boards.
Why would you want constant on for running board lights vs them coming on when say you open the door and go off when you close the door
 

Le_Slacker

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Why would you want constant on for running board lights vs them coming on when say you open the door and go off when you close the door

This model has orange for running lights, white for doors
Orange also flashes for turns /hazards

I put the running lights option on a switch because I don’t want it on. But if I ever did, a flip would enable it
 

Code2medic

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This model has orange for running lights, white for doors
Orange also flashes for turns /hazards

I put the running lights option on a switch because I don’t want it on. But if I ever did, a flip would enable it
Gotcha I can’t imagine wanting orange all the time. It would be as annoying as the overly bright dash board that can’t be dimmed when the lights are off..... who ever had that idea at ram I hope lost their job cause that was a huge mistake
 

downsc123

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For those that installed the Putco Blade and their Blade quick connector, did the 2 wires on the light bar and on the quick connector that are separate from the 4 pin connector (reverse and constant +12v) come with any connector or just bare wire that I would need to either splice or get my own connector
To answer my own question, the white (reverse) wire on the blade bar came with a connector on it that matched the connector that came on the single white wire on the blade quick connector that connects into the trailer plug harness. So no additional connector needed at all. The blade bar did not have an extra black bare wire but the blade quick connector did that came with a connector on it if you want a constant +12V source for something else (not needed for the blade bar)
 

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Kilroy

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Why would you want constant on for running board lights vs them coming on when say you open the door and go off when you close the door
I used a constant 12+ leg on the trailer adaptor to power the lights, they have a switch on them that activates the light (on and off).
 

EddyB

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I used a piece of angle aluminium and mounted it to the plastic that is on the actual bumper. Then I mounted the light bar to the aluminium.
View attachment 83536
does setting it out that far help with the clearance?

Mine is currently setup with the clips and spacers, and it still is extremely tight - just wondering if this is a superior fit.

Also I assume those are rivets pictured there - has anyone tried just adhesive taping on the angle bar?

I'm just not overall happy with where mine sits right now.
 

WolfRam21

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Newbie here to the group and Ram Trucks. would not using

3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fastener​

work as a spacer and as a removable method to get to the door wire, and stand it off just enough to go over the bump outs at each end?
 

VM75

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Hey all, i am having an issue with my Opt7 3 LED light bar that i just received from amazon. i purchased the Curt 56854 (?, 5 pin harness). i plugged it inline to the factory harness and plugged the light bar into the 5 pin connector on the curt adapter, without the white reverse wire plugged in just to test. but i am not getting the amber lights? i am getting the red lights blinking sequentially for turn signal. the brake and running lights work correctly, but no amber lights. Am i connecting something wrong, or is it something wrong with the light bar? i have a 2020 ram 1500 with halogen lights (if that matters).

UPDATE EDIT: OK, I had a brain fart moment. i just realized that i accidently ordered the red blinker version. please ignore my senior moment and read on.
 
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WolfRam21

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With the light and the 5 pin I took the harness they sent and cut 1 pin off and then I use solder splice and heatshrink to the reverse wire and was able to plug that in to the 5 spot. making this plug and play.
 

WilburNJ

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Putco 60" Blade w/ Multi-Function Tail Gate.

Just wanted to make a post and put all my findings in one place to make it easier for people. I remeasured everything to make it crystal clear.

For MFTG ONLY, use smaller spacers. Link to the kit I bought is below.
- I used 3 of the 4 mounting brackets that come with the Putco blade.
- on each end I used 4 mm spacers
- in the middle I used 8 mm spacer
- screws I used stainless #8x1" middle and #8x3/4 ends

For this to clear you must mount the LED bar flush with the rear bumper. I used the supplied Putco mounting bracket as a guide. Set a bracket on top of the bumper and mark a straight point through the hole of the putco bracket. This is NOT your drill point. Drill a pilot hole 1/16 down from your mark so the blade sits flush not the bracket. The bracket should sit in line with the bumper. I placed the center spacer 2" off center to the passenger side. Each end spacer i placed 3" in so the brackets clear the bumps at the ends of the plastic shroud. Rest is self explanatory. Be ready to curse trying to snap the blade into the brackets unless you have super tiny fingers.

The putco blade is 1/2" tall and it gives you roughly 1/4 to 3/16 clearance when tailgate is folded down. I measured.

For comparison sake the OPT7 is 3/4" tall and assuming you mount it perfectly, you're looking at no clearance really so therefore in my opinion will not fit with MFTG.

Link to nylon spacers:
Has anyone had success installing the Opt7 triple and the multifunction tailgate?

I know ilian11 cautioned that it doesn’t seem like it would fit (thanks for that thorough write-up, ilian11). But, I’m curious if someone has tried anyway. I was looking at my 2020 Laramie and it does look very tight in there. But, I just prefer the sequential amber turning lights of the Opt7 over the Putco version, and it’s quite a bit less expensive to go with the Opt7 and the Curt harness.

Thanks!
 
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Bandit476

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Has anyone tried to install a tailgate lightbar on the new multi-function tailgate? Any recommendations on fit/function?
 

WilburNJ

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Has anyone tried to install a tailgate lightbar on the new multi-function tailgate? Any recommendations on fit/function?
In post #465, illian11 discusses his success with the Putco branded light bar. Just 2 posts above yours, I asked whether anyone has had success installing another brand, Opt7. No has answered yet, so maybe it won’t fit (which is what illian11 cautioned). I like the look (and price) of the Opt7 more, but may have to settle for the Putco version (which I’m sure is a quality product, given the price).
 
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Maxx102

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So after beating my head against a wall for the better part of an hour I thought I would jump online here and see if anyone could assist me.

Yesterday I purchased a 60" Putco Blade with amber turn signals and the Putco adapter. Since yesterday it was raining and rather cold, I couldn't do the install so I was going to do it today. I looked at another video of a person with a 5th gen Ram and it looked rather easy. However, apparently Ram made some minor design changes and now I am baffled and may need to return the Blade and adaptor. The video I saw had a solid smooth painted finish, but mine has a plastic shroud instead of a one piece and it's fairly irregular.

Does anyone else have a Ram with the shroud like the one I am talking about and if so, were you successful in installing a Putco Blade and what techniques did you use to install it? Like I said I was beating my head against the wall and I was looking here and I saw things mentioned about spacers but it appears that is for the MFT.
 

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