21 OEM Bedlights & Tailgate Power Lock

Looking for some feedback from those who have been there and have searched and read but haven't seen this question addressed directly anywhere.

I ordered a bunch of accessories since my truck came with zero and have been working through installing them. I printed up my directions and read through them all in advance to see if there were any I could combine to save effort. In short I thought that because the 2020/2021 instructions for the bed lights have them running down the drivers side I could do that and the Glass Breakage Sensor at the same time but first an easier project looked like the Tailgate Power Lock so I went ahead an installed that down the passenger side.

The installation went well and I'm really happy with it (although I have read some people think it's too loud and Dynamat that area to muffle the noise and I understand that and might consider it later). The part that was best was how clear the instructions were especially with regards to how to zip tie it and exactly where to do so when you run it back. See pages 16-18 if you aren't familiar: http://toyotaparts.sparkstoyota.com/install/PK3B6-34JS0inst.pdf with at least 10 pictures showing where about 23 wire ties should go.

Based on that success, I was excited and started next on the Glass Breakage Sensor and the driver stuff dash work on the Bedlights at the same time to only have to remove those parts once. That all went well and I thought the directions were pretty clear until I reached where to run the wire harness "along the factory wire harness on the driver side above and side the frame." which doesn't seem to exist for the entire run and only includes 1 picture with 3 circled locations for zip tying (page 11 Figure 3 c http://toyotaparts.sparkstoyota.com/install/00016-34187inst-21Tundra.pdf).

Now I'm sure a lot of people would be comfortable with that and just put the zip ties wherever they felt appropriate but I'm not so I started trying to find videos or explanations and really couldn't. What I did find was that Bed Light instructions for 2019 and prior show the wire not running down the drivers side but routed over to the passenger side and run down there.

So my question is, is there any reason I can't run that loom from the drivers side to the passenger side (like 2019 and prior), then cut the cover/loom off and thread that wire into the Tailgate loom so it runs the length of the body with that and then put the loom back on when it reached the rear of the vehicle and pops back out of the Taligate loom next to the factory wire loom and then run it to the corned of the truck from there? There seems to be more than enough extra length for whatever reason.

SORRY FOR THE LONG QUESTION but I just thought it would be easier to put all the info up front. Let me know if I'm unclear or I should put up pictures to explain or anything.

 

Welcome to the forum!
I haven’t seen instructions for a bed light kit running down the drivers side - the one I bought ran across the inside of the cabin, then out the same grommet as the tailgate lock (which is no louder than my door locks), then along the main body harness.
Good luck fishing the lines through the other loom... it’s not nearly like pulling wire through conduit. If you’re already through the cab grommet on the drivers side, I’d just follow the frame and wire tie every 8”. Shitty thing is trying to get it above the fuel tank and secured. Otherwise, if the harness is long enough, I’d just run it along side the tailgate lock one and wire tire it like the other.
You can also hit my build page in my signature - I’ve hit links to both my tailgate lock install and my bed light install off you want some additional ideas.
Good luck!

 

Thanks a bunch, I’ve actually gone to your build now a bunch of times to reference different things I’m looking at and almost every time I’ve been amazed.

Long story short I ended up doing it. Merging the two looms was actually easy but then keeping it going and having the pop out at the right locations was a pretty miserable pain..... so although I love the finished effect of how they were run I doubt I’d recommend what I did to anyone who didn’t want to spend an entire weekend on. 1-2 hour project.

However as I continue to work my way through it I’ve finally gotten to the final bit of the project and have run into a problem. I want to remove a bunch of all the extra wire that I just have zip tied in place and I’d prefer not to add another soldered location and instead would like to replace the connectors vice soder the wire or try to reuse them.

The connectors are the ones shown in my hand. I can’t find them online or at Autozone but I’m sure there’s a name for them or someone will know where to find them:

 

Sorry for not catching your question sooner... somehow missed watching your thread.

you need two of these for the right wire size (20-16AWG option)
https://www.corsa-technic.com/item.php?item_id=662

And two of these for the right OD of the wire insulation (1.4-2.0mm should work)
https://www.corsa-technic.com/item.php?item_id=668

I usually order some extras in case I screw up. These also use special double-barrel crimpers (I use

$37 Hozan P-706 Crimping Tool (For Open Barrel Contacts), Crimping Pliers, Dice Part with Steps and Thin Finish, AWG#28-#14

one of these), but you could probable get away with soldering the wire connector and then carefully crimping the insulation/seal part with pliers. Don’t over crimp or you won’t get a watertight connector.

 

THANK YOU RainMan_PNW! Ordered everything and when I'm done I'll try and post some pictures to show how it all came out.