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Best route to get power wire from cab

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Pot Hole, Aug 15, 2020.

  1. Aug 15, 2020 at 12:29 PM
    #1
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    I'm in the process of adding bed lights to my 2020 Limited and I need to get a power wire from the cab to the bed. Kind of a hard topic to do a search for on here, so I thought I would just ask the question: What is the best (OK easiest) route to get a hot wire from the fuse box under the dash to the bed of the truck? I can go back that way fishing a wire underneath the door sill, but I don't know if there is an access hole in the back of the cab. Other option would be to go through the firewall all the way to the back. I know this has been done a bunch, so I figured by now there would be a common route that everyone used to get their wires to the back. If there is a DIY thread on here, can someone share the link? What say ye?
     
  2. Aug 16, 2020 at 1:25 AM
    #2
    preacher35

    preacher35 RIGHTEOUS MEMBER

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    When I hooked up my hot wires for my amps, LED lighting and auxiliary USB charging ports, I ran 0/1, 8 and 14 gauge wires through the large, driver side rubber grommet on the firewall, that sits behind the hydraulic plumbing. I will try to post a pic of it later. Anyway, you can easily access said grommet from the inside of the cab, just underneath the dash and carpet. It takes some earnest work with a sharp, strong Xacto blade to cut through it.

    Behind the back seat, at the back wall, under the carpet, there are four rubber plug type grommets that lead to underneath the cab. the two inner grommets are are sort of rectangular/oval (about 3"x1.5") and the two outer grommets are round (about 2.5" in diameter).



    So, yes, you can run a line through the firewall, down the door sills and out/underneath the back of the cab to the bed (which has rubber drain plugs that can also be accessible). I'm not going to lie though. The larger split rear bench seat is a heavy son of a bitch to get out by yourself, so be careful!.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2020
    Pot Hole[OP] likes this.
  3. Aug 16, 2020 at 4:52 AM
    #3
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    Thank you for your comments. Accessing those cab grommets should be a good way to go. I've got Wet Okole seat covers coming in the next couple of days and I may have to remove the rear seat to get them installed correctly. That would be a great time to get my access holes cut. Thanks again!
     
  4. Aug 16, 2020 at 6:43 AM
    #4
    rockmup

    rockmup New Member

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    You don't have LED's in the bed on a Limited ?
     
  5. Aug 16, 2020 at 7:01 AM
    #5
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    Nope. I got the spray in liner and the track system, but no LEDs. I'm in the process of re-doing the track system and installing LED strips lights underneath the rails. Need a hot wire as my switch will be mounted in the bed. I'm going to post a write-up once I get done
     
    saybng likes this.
  6. Aug 16, 2020 at 7:07 AM
    #6
    rockmup

    rockmup New Member

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    Take a look, I'd be surprised if the wires aren't there anyway.
     
  7. Aug 16, 2020 at 7:09 AM
    #7
    yamabob

    yamabob New Member

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    Subscribed. I'll be doing this soon also.
     
  8. Aug 16, 2020 at 9:50 AM
    #8
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    I've been under the bed a couple of times, but didn't see anything. Any particular place I should focus my search?
     
  9. Aug 17, 2020 at 2:45 AM
    #9
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    doesn't the trailer wiring harness include an aux 12V back there?
     
  10. Aug 17, 2020 at 3:55 AM
    #10
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    That's what I thought and supposedly it was the black wire in the harness, but when I tried to tap into it there was no power. Someone in another group told me the only hot wire back there was when the engine was on and that won't work for what I plan to do
     
  11. Aug 17, 2020 at 1:46 PM
    #11
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    are you going to use a switch to turn the bed lights on? You would think the trailer wiring harness should have power when the parking lights are on (with the engine off). If it does, you can then add a switch also to have the bed lights off when driving.
     
  12. Aug 17, 2020 at 2:53 PM
    #12
    Grendel

    Grendel New Member

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    There is a large easy accessible grommet on the center line of the truck under the center console. I just used a drill and drilled through. All you need to remove is center console. 363455C9-55DD-470E-A79C-DF069B604A84.jpg
     
    Pot Hole[OP] likes this.
  13. Aug 17, 2020 at 2:56 PM
    #13
    timsp8

    timsp8 Former Tundra owner for 13 years

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    I did what I think you are doing on my old truck. But I put the switch in the bed so I could turn it on back there and only had to run a power wire from the battery under the truck. Would that work for what you’re doing?
     
  14. Aug 17, 2020 at 4:12 PM
    #14
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    Yes. I've already got the switch mounted in the 1/2" hole on the side of the bed near the back of the truck. Lights are already mounted underneath my rails. My intent is to be able to switch my bed lights off and on without the truck being on - just need a power source and I am good to go. I've gotten some great suggestions on here, appreciate it :thumbsup:
     
  15. Aug 17, 2020 at 4:13 PM
    #15
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    Absolutely.
     
  16. Aug 17, 2020 at 4:32 PM
    #16
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    I was thinking the parking lights can be turned on even without the key in the ignition. Same as Hazard lights.

    For safety purposes , if any trailer was attached you would think the trailer wiring harness should have power to turn the parking lights of the trailer on or the hazard in case of emergency.

    If that's the case, you can get power from the trailer wiring and use the switch to have the bed lights on or off.
    The only draw back is that you would have to have the parking lights ON to turn the bed lights on but it would be much easier to get access to 12V. Also for safety reasons, it's not a bad idea to have parking lights on at night where you also need the bed lights.

    Anyway, that's what I want to do when I have some free time.
    I'm going to check if wiring harness have power with engine off and then check to see if it has power with parking lights on.
     
  17. Aug 17, 2020 at 4:51 PM
    #17
    AggiePhil

    AggiePhil Texas Chapter President

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    Is there not a factory kit with wiring to add bed lights to a non-equipped vehicle?
     
  18. Aug 17, 2020 at 4:59 PM
    #18
    saybng

    saybng Just a member.

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  19. Aug 18, 2020 at 4:36 AM
    #19
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    Sure I can get power back there with the parking lights on, but my preference is to be able to turn the bed lights on whenever without having to reach into the cab and turn the parking lights on. I ran a hot wire from the in-cab fuse box on my old Nissan Titan and did this, but now I'm trying to find the simplest way to get full-time power back there for my Tundra
     
  20. Aug 18, 2020 at 4:37 AM
    #20
    Pot Hole

    Pot Hole [OP] New Member

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    There may be, I'll look around
     
  21. Aug 18, 2020 at 4:42 AM
    #21
    BlueRibbon4x4

    BlueRibbon4x4 Let’s color match it

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    In front of your back seats, on both sides, there is a grommet in the floor, about 8 inches from the door sill. I used these for my rock lights. The wire can zip tie to the existing wires along your frame.
     
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