LED Under Rail Bed Lighting

duncrunner · September 17, 2014

Hey guys wanting to install a set of LED strips but don't want to tap into the cargo light for power since I want to use them without getting into the cab or having the aux power on. Read on some other forums that there is a hot wire running to the trailer harness.

Anyone tap into this for their lights? If so, did you have to hook up any wires/fuses in the fuse box?

ls2gto · September 18, 2014

I just started doing that ^^^ Tonight. Found the red/white wire going to the 7 pin trailer plug to be live. Spliced into it with an in line fuse and went to a toggle switch in the box and am also wiring in a door pin switch for the tailgate. Will be finishing up tomorrow and hopefully everything works as planned.

2017SierraSLT · September 19, 2014

I wired my 4 LED under rail bed lights through the live 12V in the 7 prong trailer harness, and added a 5 amp inline blade fuse. I used a GM door jamb pin switch in the tailgate jamb. Others have used a mercury switch inside the tailgate.

jsrx05 · October 4, 2014

For those that have installed a second OEM set of bed lights, are you willing to part with the plug end that you are not using?

Ex-Ford Guy · October 11, 2014

For those that have installed a second OEM set of bed lights, are you willing to part with the plug end that you are not using?

I assume that you are referring to the one that plugs into the box by the spare tire, not the ones that connect into the lights themselves? I ordered a second set from the dealership and just completed adding one of them to the inside of my toolbox (works very well I might add) and i don't know that I have a reason to keep the other end and could possibly part with it

Picture of the added light for those who may want to know what it looks like

Trailbreaker77 · October 21, 2014

I've seen posts where people have gotten this for around $50 shipped. Are those deals still around?

Just brought home a 2015 - 2500 Silverado and the dealer told me to do this myself and it would be easy as the holes for the installation are already there.

Is that true?

Mike1220 · October 21, 2014

I've seen posts where people have gotten this for around $50 shipped. Are those deals still around?

Just brought home a 2015 - 2500 Silverado and the dealer told me to do this myself and it would be easy as the holes for the installation are already there.

Is that true?

Yes. Installation is very easy. You will have to search around for a deal. Some ppl found them for very cheap on eBay/Amazon. All about how much you are willing to look for it.

As I said, install is very easy. You will take off the tail lights to have access to wear you will run the wires and then plug in under the bed behind spare wheel. Install should only take about 1-1.5 hours.

Trailbreaker77 · October 21, 2014

Yes. Installation is very easy. You will have to search around for a deal. Some ppl found them for very cheap on eBay/Amazon. All about how much you are willing to look for it.

As I said, install is very easy. You will take off the tail lights to have access to wear you will run the wires and then plug in under the bed behind spare wheel. Install should only take about 1-1.5 hours.

Well the dealer told me if I had ordered it and had the factory install it, it would have only cost me $60. I was hoping to get it at that price or less.

Civerus · October 25, 2014

Alright, I've installed hundreds of these on the trucks (yay PDI's). I'm not going to read through all 13 pages to see if this has been solved so here it is.

The kit comes with the harness, two lights, the push-square deals and the screws. Should take about 20-30 minutes to do this.

1. - First lower your gate and take the tail-lights off by loosening the two screws on each one and pull them out (may take a little effort due to retaining clips)

2. - Next go under your bed, under the truck. Look at your spare tire. LOOK AT IT. Now look above it, to the driver side of the truck, about mid-way down the spare tire (no need to remove it), you should see a wiring BUS system, likely with quite a few things plugged into it. Look for a white dummy plug on the very driver-side of the BUS system. Remove this dummy-plug, this is where your harness will connect to.

3. - Goto the harness. Pick it up. Observe it, and its plastic...ey? goodness. It will be labeled DRIVER and PASSENGER side on the ends. Make sure you get this right. Go under the truck again, and plug this into the spot that you removed the dummy-plug from.

4. - Now take the wiring, and run the DRIVER side, as high as possible against the bottom of the bed, through all the little holes and areas to keep it held up, and run it up to a little hole that is located below the driver side tail-light. Fish this wire out of the hole and then do the PASSENGER side, the same way, above the spare tire, the crank bar, all of it, to the hole, and fish it out.

5. - Alright, you are done down there until the end. Now go up top and take the wire (either side) that you fished up through the tail-light hole, and now (small hands help) fish it even higher through the side of the top of the bed. This can be hard, but do-able. Do this for both sides.

6. - You will see some square open holes on the bed side near the side rail right below it, about a foot or two in from the back. Push the metal tabs into those two squares on each side.

7. - Get the LED light and place it up to the squares, facing so they would shine down preferably. Now -start- the screws through the LED light and begin screwing them in. About 4 turns in, take the wire on the driver side only, and run it ABOVE the light, BEFORE you tighten it down all the way. Finish tightening. The PASSENGER side does not have this issue.

8. - Once done with mounting and plugging in the LED lights, test them with the bed light switch on the dash. Works? yay +1 and get a beer. Now take the push-tabs that came on the harness and find the closest spot they push into, and do this, especially in the tail-light area.

9. - Reinstall tail-lights.

2017SierraSLT · November 1, 2014

I've seen posts where people have gotten this for around $50 shipped. Are those deals still around?

Just brought home a 2015 - 2500 Silverado and the dealer told me to do this myself and it would be easy as the holes for the installation are already there.

Is that true?

Yup. Here's one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cargo-lamp-kit-for-a-GMC-Chevrolet-Brand-new-in-box-Part-20979073-/251693433454?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a9a19026e&vxp=mtr#ht_22wt_1362

rmart · November 1, 2014

How is that part number different from GM part# 23145347?

Mike1220 · November 1, 2014

How is that part number different from GM part# 23145347?

I think there are slight color variations.

2017SierraSLT · November 1, 2014

If there are variations between the part numbers, it shouldn't be an issue if one is running only the rear pair. If you want 4 total lights, then I would purchase two kits with the same part number. The kits appear identical when it comes to what hardware and harness are included and the external appearance of the light assemblies.

Trailbreaker77 · November 1, 2014

Yup. Here's one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cargo-lamp-kit-for-a-GMC-Chevrolet-Brand-new-in-box-Part-20979073-/251693433454?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a9a19026e&vxp=mtr#ht_22wt_1362

Thanks, I found that one myself and I've been watching it.