Damion
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- Jul 23, 2019
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I was very disappointed my truck didn't come with the led bed lights from factory, as my '16 had them and with a tonneau cover they are a must have option.
As most people know, the factory " kit " runs over $250 ( at least up here in canada ) and requires a fairly lengthy install process. $250 for lights and a wire harness is too much money for my liking so I set out to find another way.
Talking to my awesome parts girl, we found the bed lights themselves, without the harness. Total cost for both lights $84 canadian. much cheaper. Next was the wiring.
So on the lights the pass side has 2 wires, red and black that go into a factory plug. The drivers side has 3 wires, red, black, and brown. The brown is for the switch that will turn the lights on/off and can't be used with my method, which in my case is no big deal. I probably wouldn't have used it anyway.
So here goes.....sorry I didn't take pictures.
1) Cut the factory plugs off the lights, and cap off the brown wire on the drivers side light. This will leave a red and black wire coming from each light.
2) Solder wires to the red and black on each light ( I used 2 conductor wire in a single sheave for ease ) make sure the pass side wire is long enough to run over to the drivers side and cut to length. Cut the driver side wire to length to meet the extended pass side wire.
( To run the wires, i just followed the factory harness ) Ok now our wires are ready to run into the cab.....
3) Run a wire from the drivers taillight location, following the frame to the rear of the cab, making sure it can't get burned or pinched. Once to the cab, open the back door and lift the rear seat. Pull back the rear corner of the carpet and you'll see 3 black circles on the floor, these are a sticker and will punch through easily with a screwdriver. Once punched through, the hole from outside in is in a little cubby next to the rear cab mount. When you look at it from both sides you'll see how the 2 will line up. This is where we will come into the cab.
4) once in the cab, take apart the drivers side rear door sill to expose the wire loom under it,, your looking for a white wire with a tan stripe. This is the rear cargo light signal wire. Tap into this wire with the wire you connected to the red wires of the lights ( the wire i used was already red and black so it made it easy ) and tape it to protect it. The other wire ( you did run both into the cab right ? ) gets grounded. I used the rearmost seat bolt.
5) Once everything is hooked up and taped / heat shrunk spark test time. Open either a door or tailgate and your cargo and bed lights should come on. They will also work off the dash switch.
If everything works as advertised, final zip tie wires in place and put your truck back together, and then enjoy your new cheaper factory look box lighting.
This same process can be used for other box lights too, i just prefer the factory installed look.
Hopefully this will help a few of you, take your time and go slow. Im not responsible if you mess your truck up.
Heres the parts numbers for the lights...
- 68312566AB
- 68312567AB
As most people know, the factory " kit " runs over $250 ( at least up here in canada ) and requires a fairly lengthy install process. $250 for lights and a wire harness is too much money for my liking so I set out to find another way.
Talking to my awesome parts girl, we found the bed lights themselves, without the harness. Total cost for both lights $84 canadian. much cheaper. Next was the wiring.
So on the lights the pass side has 2 wires, red and black that go into a factory plug. The drivers side has 3 wires, red, black, and brown. The brown is for the switch that will turn the lights on/off and can't be used with my method, which in my case is no big deal. I probably wouldn't have used it anyway.
So here goes.....sorry I didn't take pictures.
1) Cut the factory plugs off the lights, and cap off the brown wire on the drivers side light. This will leave a red and black wire coming from each light.
2) Solder wires to the red and black on each light ( I used 2 conductor wire in a single sheave for ease ) make sure the pass side wire is long enough to run over to the drivers side and cut to length. Cut the driver side wire to length to meet the extended pass side wire.
( To run the wires, i just followed the factory harness ) Ok now our wires are ready to run into the cab.....
3) Run a wire from the drivers taillight location, following the frame to the rear of the cab, making sure it can't get burned or pinched. Once to the cab, open the back door and lift the rear seat. Pull back the rear corner of the carpet and you'll see 3 black circles on the floor, these are a sticker and will punch through easily with a screwdriver. Once punched through, the hole from outside in is in a little cubby next to the rear cab mount. When you look at it from both sides you'll see how the 2 will line up. This is where we will come into the cab.
4) once in the cab, take apart the drivers side rear door sill to expose the wire loom under it,, your looking for a white wire with a tan stripe. This is the rear cargo light signal wire. Tap into this wire with the wire you connected to the red wires of the lights ( the wire i used was already red and black so it made it easy ) and tape it to protect it. The other wire ( you did run both into the cab right ? ) gets grounded. I used the rearmost seat bolt.
5) Once everything is hooked up and taped / heat shrunk spark test time. Open either a door or tailgate and your cargo and bed lights should come on. They will also work off the dash switch.
If everything works as advertised, final zip tie wires in place and put your truck back together, and then enjoy your new cheaper factory look box lighting.
This same process can be used for other box lights too, i just prefer the factory installed look.
Hopefully this will help a few of you, take your time and go slow. Im not responsible if you mess your truck up.
Heres the parts numbers for the lights...
- 68312566AB
- 68312567AB
