1. Welcome to Tundras.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tundra discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other Tundra owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Bed lights

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Xtaco16, Jun 13, 2019.

  1. Jun 13, 2019 at 3:35 PM
    #1
    Xtaco16

    Xtaco16 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2018
    Member:
    #12719
    Messages:
    60
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD sport
    Getting line x on my truck bed next week but I have yet to install the bed lights. Should they be installed before or after?
     
  2. Jun 13, 2019 at 3:44 PM
    #2
    xtyfighterx

    xtyfighterx New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2016
    Member:
    #4360
    Messages:
    2,357
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ty
    North Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2015 Black Crewmax Mid Travel
    Mid travel fox 2.5 coilovers 2.0 real shocks shims 295 70 18 trail grapplers pro accessories 32in light bar blacked out bed cover sway bar Moto metal 970 18x9
    After
     
    KnuckleHD likes this.
  3. Jun 13, 2019 at 3:49 PM
    #3
    KnuckleHD

    KnuckleHD New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2018
    Member:
    #14770
    Messages:
    1,406
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra CM Limited- Cement
    Yep, what he said. I’m guessing you are referring to the SE Toyota ones. I had my bed sprayed first, then drilled the holes and painted them to prevent rust prior to installing the lights.
     
  4. Jun 13, 2019 at 3:50 PM
    #4
    RitcheyRch

    RitcheyRch New Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2018
    Member:
    #15551
    Messages:
    1,008
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Richard
    Santa Clarita, CA
    Vehicle:
    TRD Lowered & Supercharged Crewmax
    TRD Lowered and Supercharged
    Definitely after
     
  5. Jun 13, 2019 at 3:59 PM
    #5
    Xtaco16

    Xtaco16 [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2018
    Member:
    #12719
    Messages:
    60
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra TRD sport
    Thanks yes they are the ones from Toyota xmas gift that still isn't installed. I havent read the directions I knew someone could give me a suggestion. I will install after the line x.
     
  6. Jun 13, 2019 at 4:26 PM
    #6
    danz75

    danz75 New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2018
    Member:
    #15788
    Messages:
    286
    Gender:
    Male
    Everett, WA
    Vehicle:
    18' Cement SR5
    OEM LED headlights, Rigid SAE foglights, Go Rhino RB10 running boards, ARE Classic CX
    After but I drilled out the holes and told my installer what they were for and he plugged them. Figured it was easier to locate and drill out first.
     
  7. Jun 13, 2019 at 4:28 PM
    #7
    Jim LE 1301

    Jim LE 1301 Camaro Lover, SSEM # 11,TTC#179

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2018
    Member:
    #14884
    Messages:
    27,763
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jim
    Hudson Valley, New York
    Vehicle:
    2018 MGM Tundra TRD Sport Double Cab
  8. Oct 6, 2019 at 4:59 PM
    #8
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2019
    Member:
    #36450
    Messages:
    677
    I'm looking into adding oem bed lights as well. Already have the bed lined. So someone in here mentioned rust prevention after drilling. Can someone elaborate on how to prevent rust during the install?
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  9. Oct 10, 2019 at 8:22 AM
    #9
    KnuckleHD

    KnuckleHD New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2018
    Member:
    #14770
    Messages:
    1,406
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra CM Limited- Cement
    I used some flat black rustoleum to paint the raw edges after drilling the holes. Once dried, I ran the wires through the holes and added silicone around it to keep moisture out.
     
    panicman likes this.
  10. Oct 10, 2019 at 8:49 AM
    #10
    Tundra234

    Tundra234 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2018
    Member:
    #22402
    Messages:
    16,057
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    George
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2020 Tundra DC SR5 Barcelona
    Alot of them
    How bright are the OEM bed lights? I haven't seen any of them.
     
  11. Oct 11, 2019 at 8:21 AM
    #11
    KnuckleHD

    KnuckleHD New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2018
    Member:
    #14770
    Messages:
    1,406
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tundra CM Limited- Cement
    To be honest, they aren’t the brightest. They work fine for my needs but they can’t compare to a full strip of LEDs. I have a tonneau cover and the lights allow me to see what I need. One downside is that if you have anything in the corner (near tailgate) of your bed, it basically blocks the light output all together from that light. I got mine for cheap and did the install myself so I’m still happy overall. If I had to do it again I might spend a little bit more and go with a full LED strip.
     
  12. Oct 12, 2019 at 4:16 AM
    #12
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2019
    Member:
    #36450
    Messages:
    677
    The full strip just doesn't look clean imo. There is a popular choice on the forums here but that toggle on off switch looks so cheesy. I'm not electrical savvy enough to figure out a better solution but if there was a kit that had a soft button to mount in the jam of the tailgate so it would trigger itself, that would be more ideal and more oem looking
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2019
  13. Oct 12, 2019 at 4:54 AM
    #13
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2019
    Member:
    #33915
    Messages:
    3,017
    Gender:
    Male
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze TRD Crewmax 4x4

    CEC75CAA-C2DA-497E-AD01-BEF4938D8067.jpg
     
    BravoDeltaRomeo likes this.
  14. Oct 13, 2019 at 4:52 AM
    #14
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2019
    Member:
    #36450
    Messages:
    677
    Anyone have the auer bed light kit? Seems to check all the boxes for me: no drilling, uses factory switch, durable wiring, mostly hidden. Would love to see installed pics

    tbl-016s-ta16__71112.1512684717.jpg
     
  15. Oct 13, 2019 at 6:24 AM
    #15
    Kerch71

    Kerch71 Surgical Precision

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2018
    Member:
    #14195
    Messages:
    1,712
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Mechanicsville VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 CM SC TRD Pro/ICON/Total Chaos Build
    CM TRD Pro glass panels, Icon 2.5, TC long travel UCA/LCA, Toyota supercharger, Airlift rear suspension, Warn winch, custom front and rear bumper, Coachbuilder roof rack, lengthened chassis 12", 37" Nitto Grapplers, custom graphics, Magnaflow Flowmaster 4" SS Exhaust
    Got these from Headlight Revolution. Had to drill and run wires to cargo light circuit, but easy to do and I like the results. They turn on when I open the door:
    20190929_190657.jpg
    Have the same lights on my rock rail steps:
    20190914_193043.jpg
     
    paradizecityz likes this.
  16. Oct 13, 2019 at 7:10 AM
    #16
    Burdturger

    Burdturger New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2019
    Member:
    #36450
    Messages:
    677
    Is that the auer kit that they sell? I guess I missed the drilling part in the instructions
     
  17. Oct 13, 2019 at 9:27 AM
    #17
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2019
    Member:
    #33915
    Messages:
    3,017
    Gender:
    Male
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze TRD Crewmax 4x4
    Any details on which wire you pulled power from. I’d like to be able to control them with the cargo switch as well.
     
  18. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:04 PM
    #18
    Kerch71

    Kerch71 Surgical Precision

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2018
    Member:
    #14195
    Messages:
    1,712
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Mechanicsville VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 CM SC TRD Pro/ICON/Total Chaos Build
    CM TRD Pro glass panels, Icon 2.5, TC long travel UCA/LCA, Toyota supercharger, Airlift rear suspension, Warn winch, custom front and rear bumper, Coachbuilder roof rack, lengthened chassis 12", 37" Nitto Grapplers, custom graphics, Magnaflow Flowmaster 4" SS Exhaust
    No, these are just 6" LEDs that you can mount, but you have to run your own wire. I had puddle lights already wired to the cargo light circuit. I replaced these, then spliced and ran wiring to the bed for the bed lights.
     
  19. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:07 PM
    #19
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2019
    Member:
    #33915
    Messages:
    3,017
    Gender:
    Male
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze TRD Crewmax 4x4
    Can you provide information on what wire please
     
  20. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:17 PM
    #20
    Kerch71

    Kerch71 Surgical Precision

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2018
    Member:
    #14195
    Messages:
    1,712
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Mechanicsville VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 CM SC TRD Pro/ICON/Total Chaos Build
    CM TRD Pro glass panels, Icon 2.5, TC long travel UCA/LCA, Toyota supercharger, Airlift rear suspension, Warn winch, custom front and rear bumper, Coachbuilder roof rack, lengthened chassis 12", 37" Nitto Grapplers, custom graphics, Magnaflow Flowmaster 4" SS Exhaust
    I'm not sure which color wire it would be on a 2017, I think it's light grey but don't quote me. @NewImprovedRon knows the wiring really well. Might want to PM him, or maybe someone else will chime in. Pretty sure the wire is in the bundle under the passenger side vinyl door sill cover.
     
    NewImprovedRon likes this.
  21. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:22 PM
    #21
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2019
    Member:
    #33915
    Messages:
    3,017
    Gender:
    Male
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze TRD Crewmax 4x4
    Sounds good, I started poking around. I believe the cargo light wire is on the driver side from previous reading.
    But maybe @NewImprovedRon will clarify for us.
     
  22. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:32 PM
    #22
    Kerch71

    Kerch71 Surgical Precision

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2018
    Member:
    #14195
    Messages:
    1,712
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Mechanicsville VA
    Vehicle:
    2015 CM SC TRD Pro/ICON/Total Chaos Build
    CM TRD Pro glass panels, Icon 2.5, TC long travel UCA/LCA, Toyota supercharger, Airlift rear suspension, Warn winch, custom front and rear bumper, Coachbuilder roof rack, lengthened chassis 12", 37" Nitto Grapplers, custom graphics, Magnaflow Flowmaster 4" SS Exhaust
  23. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:36 PM
    #23
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2019
    Member:
    #33915
    Messages:
    3,017
    Gender:
    Male
    PA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Sunset Bronze TRD Crewmax 4x4
    Oh that’s good. Thank you.

    Getting lights and wire for my birthday from the wife. So can’t wait to finalize the install
     
  24. Oct 13, 2019 at 5:47 PM
    #24
    ProtoJ

    ProtoJ New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2018
    Member:
    #20207
    Messages:
    363
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2018 Crewmax TRD Off-Road

Products Discussed in

To Top