Wire bed lights with cargo light and separate switch in bed

Ok I've spent days searching the forum and Google for a way to add a separate power source to my bed lights. Right now they are hooked to my cargo light which is perfect for daily use. But there's been a few times I've needed them to be able to be powered on from the bed. Mostly at night when ive been fishing or camping. I know only takes a few minutes to unlock the truck and hit the switch but it would be nice not having to find my keys to unlock the truck.

 

Prolly just be easier to run a set of led light strips under your deck rails and have it switched somewhere in bed separate from the switched bed light. I run that and love it, especially handy night fishing and camping, costs like $20...

 

I ran hot..directly to my battery with an inline fuse. Waterproof switch on the side. Love the fact I can control my bed lights anytime I want without the use of keys.

 

My apologies, I read this post late at night extremely tired and read it wrong. I thought you were looking to do away with the cargo light and looking for another option. My bad.

 

I used a relay and put a little switch in the existing hole in the bed so they work on the cargo circuit and via the switch

 

On your setup, does the cargo light have to be on for your lights to turn on?

OP- a member did a write up on doing this but adding an adjustable timer so that you can't accidentally leave them on forever. https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-led-bed-lights-w-timer.18222/

 

Nope, I ran 10 ga marine grade cable frim the battery to a blue sea fuse block behind the light so I could power the bed lights and aux reverse lights without either ignition or the cargo light on. Wanted that way for accessing gear during hunting season in the dark

 

So, they come on with the bed switch is on and anytime the cargo lights come on? How did you wire up the "or" switch with the relay? That's pretty slick.

 

I'd have to look up the wiring again, but it's just a simple double pole relay, so there are 2 diff input triggers, one is the cargo circuit, the other is the bed switch. Cargo wire was tapped under the driver door sill. I'll see if I can find a diagram but there's a bunch of threads I looked at. I have the same switch on the other side of the bed that runs the reverse lights (they also come on automatically when in reverse).

 

Just when I thought I was done wiring on my truck, you come in and COMPLETELY REDEEM yourself...... Thank you (for real).