Custom Bed Lighting

masonbid · February 19, 2009

So I wanted to get some kind of lighting in the bed. Ive seen the Putco and Recon sets but I dont want to pay $100+ for lighting.

My plan is to mount either the flexible led strip or the flexible smd flat strip underneath the rails. Then put a waterproof toggle switch somewhere just inside the tailgate high enough so it wont get hit from anything in the bed. I already got a waterproof toggle switch and was just gonna drill a hole behind the taillight, then push the toggle through to the bed. Power will be coming from a tap in the trailer wiring.

I would probably route the wire underneath the rails aswell and some underneath the bed.

Priming all exposed metal surfaces/sealing most holes to prevent any water from damaging anything. heat shrinking/looming is going to be used to protect the wire underneath the bed aswell.

It's not going to happen for a little bit since its too cold up here to work outside and the truck doesnt fit in the garage

Any suggestions or comments?

Want a how-to? Pics will be posted when I start on it too.

J-man67 · February 19, 2009

I would really be interested in a How-to. I was just thinking the other day that I need some light back there. I have a cover now so its dark. Good luck man!

masonbid · February 19, 2009

Ive got the roll-n-lock cover on mine so it needs to be all the way back just to get a bit of the cargo light. It's too dark and I want something that when I go camping I dont need to carry a flashlight and rumage through the bed.

mxz905 · February 19, 2009

Here is what I did.

1. Painted a strip the enderside of the rails silver in about the area directly above the wheel wells

2. Glued a LED strip to the inside edge of the rail do that none of the LEDs stick below the rail. Used Gorilla glue and has held perfectly fine through the summer head and fridged cold winter months.

3. Ran power and ground wire along the rail (glued to the rail so nothing will get caught on the wires) to the rear stake pocket.

4. Put a waterproof plug in the stake pocket and ran the power and ground to the rear tail lights. Sealed all wire connections when completed.

If the truck lights are on the LED's are on. Bed is always covered anyways. If I want to turn them off I can pull the plug in the stake pocket.

I only have the one side done and this is enough to see typically. I'm considering doing the same on the other side only connecting it to the backup lights so that when I hit the keyfob the light will stay on for 30 seconds or so, then I don't have to run around and turn the headlights on if I need light for longer than the 5 to 10 seconds the taillights stay on when I hit the keyfob.

What's great about this setup is there was no drilling, no long wire feeds and it's all hidden. If I didn't tell you it was there you wouldn't know the difference. Unless the light was on of course

jrrod2004 · February 19, 2009

I would look into these as consideration...

http://www.oznium.com/cathode-kit

(They would give more light output than the LEDs...)

This was what I was planning to install on my pickup: (it is a little pricy but it might get the job done)

http://www.oznium.com/single-color-underbody

I have yet to get past the planning stage since I dont know how I would mount them...

masonbid · February 19, 2009

I would look into these as consideration...
http://www.oznium.com/cathode-kit

(They would give more light output than the LEDs...)

This was what I was planning to install on my pickup: (it is a little pricy but it might get the job done)

http://www.oznium.com/single-color-underbody

I have yet to get past the planning stage since I dont know how I would mount them...

Cathodes dont last nearly as long as LEDs are are more prone to breaking. I know they give off good 360 light but how long will they last in a cargo bed?

The second link is quite expensive. Putco and Recon both have bed lighting kits but they are over $100. I wanted to do something that was fairly cheap and looking good. And I feel good knowing that I did it myself and didn't pay much to do it either.

If the truck lights are on the LED's are on. Bed is always covered anyways. If I want to turn them off I can pull the plug in the stake pocket.

I only have the one side done and this is enough to see typically. I'm considering doing the same on the other side only connecting it to the backup lights so that when I hit the keyfob the light will stay on for 30 seconds or so, then I don't have to run around and turn the headlights on if I need light for longer than the 5 to 10 seconds the taillights stay on when I hit the keyfob.

I like that idea of using the reverse lights and fob to light them for a few seconds. Maybe I will run a relay on the reverse lights in parallel to my switch and have dual control over them.

jrrod2004 · February 19, 2009

I would look into these as consideration...
http://www.oznium.com/cathode-kit

(They would give more light output than the LEDs...)

This was what I was planning to install on my pickup: (it is a little pricy but it might get the job done)

http://www.oznium.com/single-color-underbody

I have yet to get past the planning stage since I dont know how I would mount them...

Cathodes dont last nearly as long as LEDs are are more prone to breaking. I know they give off good 360 light but how long will they last in a cargo bed?

The second link is quite expensive. Putco and Recon both have bed lighting kits but they are over $100. I wanted to do something that was fairly cheap and looking good. And I feel good knowing that I did it myself and didn't pay much to do it either.

If the truck lights are on the LED's are on. Bed is always covered anyways. If I want to turn them off I can pull the plug in the stake pocket.

I only have the one side done and this is enough to see typically. I'm considering doing the same on the other side only connecting it to the backup lights so that when I hit the keyfob the light will stay on for 30 seconds or so, then I don't have to run around and turn the headlights on if I need light for longer than the 5 to 10 seconds the taillights stay on when I hit the keyfob.

I like that idea of using the reverse lights and fob to light them for a few seconds. Maybe I will run a relay on the reverse lights in parallel to my switch and have dual control over them.

That is very true of the cathodes. I would like to see what you would do.

masonbid · February 19, 2009

If I was going to use the cathodes, I think I would find something to protect them a bit. Something like stiff mess that covers the cathode while in the rail, I don't know really... I'm stumped on that one.

With the roll-n-lock, I may even place the smd strip with 3M tape on the back onto the lip of the box so I would have 3 sides with lights.

I think I may start making plans this with pictures this weekend or even tonight.

PICS PICS PICS!!!

jrrod2004 · February 19, 2009

If I was going to use the cathodes, I think I would find something to protect them a bit. Something like stiff mess that covers the cathode while in the rail, I don't know really... I'm stumped on that one.
With the roll-n-lock, I may even place the smd strip with 3M tape on the back onto the lip of the box so I would have 3 sides with lights.

I think I may start making plans this with pictures this weekend or even tonight.

PICS PICS PICS!!!

we will be waiting

mfennema · February 19, 2009

I like the idea of having lighting under the rails, and I believe I am going to try this as well. I am looking at using LED strips and having a dedicated wire from somewhere up in the front of the truck that is always powered running through the switch to the lights (any ideas on the best place to get this power from are welcome!!). I want to be able to turn my lights on and off whenever I open my tailgate whether the truck is running (lights on) or not (lights off). I also, want to be able to turn these off while the truck is on because if I am ever hauling something that doesn't allow my bed cover to be covering the bed, I don't want light emitting out of the bed showing everything that I have in there. I will be very interested to see how your install turns out. Could you please tell me what type of waterproof switch you will be using? I am a retard because I should have seen the link to start with I am looking for a switch which is semi flat to put into the stake pocket, as mine are covered by bed rail caps and I don't use them for tying anything down anyways. Thanks!

GMCSierraSLE1500 · February 19, 2009

I had purchased the Recon led lights for the bed and it looks and works great, with the tonneau cover the bed light on the 3rd brake light is useless but these lights totally change that.

masonbid · February 19, 2009

I bought my waterproof toogle switch at an automotive parts store close to my place. I searched and searched and made tones of phone calls. The only places I didn't call were marine shops I have ordered some other switchs off ebay that arent toggle. http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...em=380100653026

My plan may be to use them for something else in the future. They have different illuminated bars too.

I did find some toggles but they had over priced shipping to Canada... so I wasn't paying $50 for a switch.

If you are putting it in the stake pocket, that ebay link may help you out alot, just make sure to buy the mounting bracket too. I think it would look sweet if done correctly.

As for a dedicated power, buy a ring terminal and put it on the battery or even a fuse extender and run some wire to the back of the truck. I am going to try to use the trailer harness but as of right now there is no power there so I think I need to move some fuses and test some stuff. Ring terminals are probably the easiest IMHO.

So I have almost finished the mental design of my lighting. I will try to put everything into pictures in a few hours when I get home!!

EDIT: I found a cheap waterproof toggle on EBay that I didn't find before. http://cgi.ebay.ca/Waterproof-ON-OFF-Heavy...tem120337073715

jasonashby · February 20, 2009

I had purchased the Recon led lights for the bed and it looks and works great, with the tonneau cover the bed light on the 3rd brake light is useless but these lights totally change that.

I would love to see a picture of that.

ryan_hermanutz · February 20, 2009

What about a switch that is engaged when you open your tailgate? Something like your dome light switch on your door?

masonbid · February 20, 2009

What about a switch that is engaged when you open your tailgate? Something like your dome light switch on your door?

You would need a normally closed momentary switch for that. I dont know where to find a waterproof one of those.

Thought of that too but what if you didnt want to open the gate say you have gravel/dirt in the back and didnt want to lose it all.

Now for my VERY rough drawings of how I would like to lay out the led strips and wiring.

2 options of placement of the strip. If I can get either the zip-tie mounts to hold at an angle or some sort of glue OR just place them facing downwards. I want the angle so the light is spread out more.

This is where I want to place the switch. So I would drill from behind the taillight straight into the bed towards the cab. I want it out of the way but still accessible and less likely to get broken. The green is where i would potentially route the wire in behind.

This is how I want the power wires to go. I would use T-Taps off the red wire OR just run a dedicated wire from the fuse box under the hood and follow the existing wire looming.

This is a possibility depending on how blinding the smd leds really are when placed at an angle. There could already be enough light in the bed and then I wouldn't have to do this. If I did, the power wire would just run underneath the rail.