DIY Bed Lights.

This whole mod costs less than $25. All it took was a 15' roll of LED strip, and a switch. I attached the LED's to the underside of my tonneau cover rails, but you can stick them anywhere... They come with 3m tape on the backside. You can run these to a switch, or tie directly into the parking light circuit, via the running light hot wire. I used a Dremal to cut the switch into the bed side, and tapped the black hot wire in the trailer harness for my source.

 

Hey cool mod. I'm assuming you tapped into the wiring leading to your trailer plug. Can you tell me what wire (color and description) is the hot wire?

Thanks.

 

That's exactly what I did. Its the solid black wire coming out of the back of the trailer plug.

 

Nice job! Are these pretty solid being water proof? I dont have a tonneau cover and would just mount them underneath the upperside of the bed and kind of hidden. Think this would be ok?

 

Thanks. This is something I wanna do. It would be very convenient for camping. Is the aforementioned black wire always hot? Or, does it run through an ignition switch position. I'd like to be able to walk up to the truck and turn the light on without having to enter the cab and turn the ignition switch. Again, thanks for posting this mod.

 

The black wire's power is controlled by the ignition. The key does have to be on for it to be hot. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a constant hot back there, and as of now, I don't plan on running a wire up to the front... yet

 

These are completely waterproof. the electronics are encased in silicone.

 

I like it!

Any chance you have links to the parts you bought?

 

Same here, great job.

 

Do you have a link to the strip lighting you used, brother?

 

I ordered some myself off Amazon for $8.50 - https://goo.gl/jdhpNX They seem to be the same cheapo Chinese light strips everyone is selling.. they work just fine.. On nice thing is.. connection wires are installed at both ends of the reel.. so if you run a strip down one side of the bed, you can cut it, then unreel the rest of the lights and use the tail end of the reel for the other side. It saves you from having to put your own connectors onto the strips.

The strip works great.. it seems fine.. I am a little worried that the strip might drop down during the 100+ degree days of Texas.. but if that happens I will likely apply a little clear silicone adhesive to stick them back. On one end of one strip, I over-handled the strip and the adhesive didnt stick that well.. A little silicone took care of it..

As you can see my implementation is essentially the exact thing that 1badTundra did.. I used this switch - https://goo.gl/ytG4cK Its not the greatest quality switch.. but for now its fine. It has a waterproof boot.. I might find a better quality one and replace it.. I wanted to use the existing hole in the sidewall for the switch (where the post holes are close to the tailgate) so I wanted something small.. I could have gone bigger and used a a more durable switch I think.. There are lots of them made for marine applications. It needs to be a switch that the tightening nut is installed from the front not the back..

If there is one thing I would like to change is to have a full time hot wire for it.. I dont like having to have the ignition switch on to see the bedlights. I gather I will have to run a wire to the battery for that.. I just havent addressed that issue.. Maybe later I will.

 

Thank you for the explanation and links!!

 

Great job!

 

Can't wait to do this on mine. I've already got some always hot wires run to the bed. Previous owner probably had a tonneau cover with lights and removed them before selling it.

 

I used these lights on my Taco and wired to door switch. They came on with interior lights. First problem was the adhesive did not hold up. Texas heat? I had to use 3M tape. Second problem was the lights quit working after 1 year. When they did I replaced with 8" Shoreline Marine submersibles.

 

How does the ignition switch turn on power for the bed? Don't the running lights or headlights need to be turned on also? Just curious, contemplating this mod. Thanks!

 

Well done. I’m doing the same thing, but wiring it to the bed lights at the top of the cab.

 

That's cool, next on my list.

 

There is a full time hot wire that is located under the step cover on the driver’s side that leads to the outside cab light. I believe it’s purple, but test them to be sure.

 

For 2018 it's pink.
I did this wired to the bed light.

 

I should have come here first to check out all the mods before starting my own projects... anyway, I ran wire all the way to the front so its a constant hot.

 

I wired hot as well. Wanted to be able to turn the lights on without the key. My next mod for the spring will be installing a damn pop and lock. Started the truck numerous times only to realize I had to get something out of the back. Had to shut the truck off so I can unlock the tailgate with my......key.

 

looks good and please let me know how the install goes for the lock. I've been wanting to do the same

 

I need to do this to mine.

 

I had them on my Tacoma. First the adhesive that came with lights failed. I used some double sided tape and it worked well until the lights shorted out from moisture. After that I went with some submersible 8" marine lights and never had another problem. I wired mine to the door switch. I preferred that because when I closed the door I knew they would go off. I put LEDs in my cargo lights in the Tundra and have no need for anything else. I can even skin and butcher deer in the dark with the cargo lights on.

 

I am interested in doing the same thing. where did you tap the Lights at? and what colors are the wires?

 

Usually found in the driver side door sill. Color depends on yr.

 

So I recently got a new tonneau cover. The LED strips were attached to the bottom side of that frame. Now I have a pair of Rock lights mounted in there aimed toward the back of the bed.