Has anyone used the new LED light strips in the bed area? If so, did you run the power straight from the battery? And did you position an on/off switch near the tailgate?

 

I wouldn't run it from the battery, I'd find a closer, already fused source, Switch location would be a preference thing.

 

Thanks for your input. I'm thinking of adding some upfitter switches on the console and running them from there. Solves the issue of placing a switch in the bed area, too.

 

You could tap into your existing cargo lights, and use your existing switch. Cargo lights and bed lights would operate at the same time. Getting to the cargo lights is pretty easy, I've got step courtesy lights wired to mine.

 

Excellent suggestion! Thank you!

 

The cargo light switch is also my recommendation, but for the sake of options, you could get the OEM bed light switch that goes in the bed and wire it yourself so it would operate like factory bed lights.

 

Do trucks without bed lighting have the wires to enable it behind the cutouts? Just wondering, as it's an option, and I wonder if the wiring harness has to change (or not).

 

Many truck top guys in the day just tapped the running light circuit at the rear tail light. Yes, you had to pull the light switch on to turn the light on in the bed, but you knew if you left the light on if your running lights stayed illuminated. Also, with today’s technology, unlocking the truck automatically turns on the parking lights for several seconds... enough to maybe put your purchase in the back. Plus, you could always reactivate the light with your key fob, if needed. Wire to the rear tail light is a lot shorter and much easier than trying to pull from the rear cargo light.

 

I did not want to pull anymore wires so I cheated and installed battery powered puck lights with a remote. I used the Velcro hook side on the pucks and then stuck them to the carpet that lines the inside of my shell. The third puck got double-sided tape and was stuck on top of the dog’s kennel. I then velcroed the remote just above the driver’s side puck and set them to red to protect my night vision.

 

The OEM lights and harness are around $160-170. It plugs into the harness under the truck. Then you have to have the truck reflashed, and install the switch.

With cheap LED stick-on light, flashlights, etc being given away at Harbor Freight, it hardly makes sense to spend $300 for the OEM light.

JMO, I looked into it because my XL is really, really dark in the bed at night. Except for that Harbor Freight LED POS that I got FOC.