Hi guys,
I just purchased a shell for my 04 SD and the interior light is 'battery' operated (4 AA). The light is wimpy and doesn't light anything up. Any ideas about a better battery light or even running a 12 volt light.

thanks

 

I run a battery lamp in mine, but it has 2 'C' cell batteries. Seems to light up enough to not step on anything, but not bright enough to read or find a missing needle. To supplement the battery light, I turn my interior lights on and that lights the outside one above the rear window. Helps.

For 12 volts, your options are quite extensive. Any auto supply store will have a number of models, and its as easy as finding a place to mount them and then powering them up.

 

I added 12v lighting in my cap pretty easily. My cap has a thickened sound deadener/reinforcment panel built into the roof with enough thickness to allow me to attach (using short screws) an off the shelf utility light. On another truck that had only a thin fiberglass roof, I expoxied a small block of plywood to the roof for the light base. I ran constant power directly from the battery to the rear of the truck using 3 conductor SJ wire with grommets where it passed through holes and terminated in the the fender cavity behind the tail light. I ran 16 gauge lampcord over and down the inside of the cap from the light (with a single pole switch installed in a conventient location) and down through a rear corner stake hole. You're gonna have to drill to get through the fiberglass. Fish the wire out of the back of the stake hole and make your connection. My feeder circuit is fused at the battery and the light connection is fused to the feeder wire.

 

I have a 12v light in my shell. My truck had wires for the third brake light and camper shell light already there. I don't know if the previous owner did this or if it came as part of the camper package my truck has.