Cargo Lights on with Reverse Lights

fastxr · February 23, 2015

I have an early 2015 Silverado HD and I'm trying to do the tow mirror swap with the LED cargo lights and of course my cargo lights won't activate in reverse, only park and neutral. I would like to do this mod however I don't want the cargo lights to come on every time I put the truck into reverse, is there a way to make the cargo lights come on in reverse BUT ONLY if I press the cargo light switch?

txchevy4ever · February 23, 2015

I have an early 2015 Silverado HD and I'm trying to do the tow mirror swap with the LED cargo lights and of course my cargo lights won't activate in reverse, only park and neutral. I would like to do this mod however I don't want the cargo lights to come on every time I put the truck into reverse, is there a way to make the cargo lights come on in reverse BUT ONLY if I press the cargo light switch?

That's how my 2015 behaves from the factory.

fastxr · February 23, 2015

Unfortunately for us poor suckers that got early 2015 HDs we didn't get that functionality. So now I'm stuck trying to retrofit everything to work properly.

txchevy4ever · February 23, 2015

Unfortunately for us poor suckers that got early 2015 HDs we didn't get that functionality. So now I'm stuck trying to retrofit everything to work properly.

I wasn't aware of that. Sorry man.

fastxr · February 23, 2015

No worries, thanks for chiming in. I think I'm going to do the diode mod but add a switch into the circuit so that I can turn the cargo lights off or on with the reverse lights as desired, since I've read that the new rear facing cargo LEDs in the tow mirrors can be quite bright so I don't think I would want those on every time I back up.

Chad2815 · February 23, 2015

No worries, thanks for chiming in. I think I'm going to do the diode mod but add a switch into the circuit so that I can turn the cargo lights off or on with the reverse lights as desired, since I've read that the new rear facing cargo LEDs in the tow mirrors can be quite bright so I don't think I would want those on every time I back up.

You should be able to tie the diode into the reverse lights? That's what I did but I don't have an HD.

fastxr · February 23, 2015

You should be able to tie the diode into the reverse lights? That's what I did but I don't have an HD.

Well yes I am still going to tie the diode into the reverse lights bit correct me if I'm wrong here if I just put the diode in would the cargo lights not come on every time I put the truck into reverse? I dont want that I want the choice of whether the come on in reverse or not (like when I back the trailer up at night, etc. Not when I leave to go to work in the morning, etc). So I think if I use the diode along with a toggle switch I should be able to decide whether I want cargo lights on with reverse?

Chad2815 · February 24, 2015

Well yes I am still going to tie the diode into the reverse lights bit correct me if I'm wrong here if I just put the diode in would the cargo lights not come on every time I put the truck into reverse? I dont want that I want the choice of whether the come on in reverse or not (like when I back the trailer up at night, etc. Not when I leave to go to work in the morning, etc). So I think if I use the diode along with a toggle switch I should be able to decide whether I want cargo lights on with reverse?

Yeah,

I have mine like that but I don't have the switch, I guess if you have a tall enclosed trailer the cargo light may get annoying but when I back at night it provides nice lighting. I thought it may reduce visibility but it actually helps out. I just did it so my in bed lighting would come on when I hit the unlock button so I can see with my bedcover on. I would try it without the switch first and see how you like it, it only takes about 5 min to do, just remember they only come on when it's dark, that one got me on the install haha.

fastxr · February 24, 2015

duplicate...please delete

Edited February 24, 2015 by fastxr

fastxr · February 24, 2015

Yeah,

I have mine like that but I don't have the switch, I guess if you have a tall enclosed trailer the cargo light may get annoying but when I back at night it provides nice lighting. I thought it may reduce visibility but it actually helps out. I just did it so my in bed lighting would come on when I hit the unlock button so I can see with my bedcover on. I would try it without the switch first and see how you like it, it only takes about 5 min to do, just remember they only come on when it's dark, that one got me on the install haha.

Yeah, I def. can try it out with out the switch as you said its pretty easy. I think we may be a bit crossed up here the cargo lights I'm specifically talking about are the ones on the new DQS tow mirrors (big white LEDs) that I am going to wire up to my cargo light switch. I'm not worried about the one on the back of the cab.

Can you please explain the lights only come on at night? The cargo lights themselves as normal or the cargo lights when nodded with diode?

Mike1220 · February 24, 2015

Yeah, I def. can try it out with out the switch as you said its pretty easy. I think we may be a bit crossed up here the cargo lights I'm specifically talking about are the ones on the new DQS tow mirrors (big white LEDs) that I am going to wire up to my cargo light switch. I'm not worried about the one on the back of the cab.

Can you please explain the lights only come on at night? The cargo lights themselves as normal or the cargo lights when nodded with diode?

The cargo lights will come on anytime that the reverse lights come on. I think that he meant that they will only come on at night as far as unlocking the truck goes. The cargos will still come on during the day when you are in reverse if you do the diode.

I don't think that a switch Is really necessary. You could just use T-taps and pinch the ends of the diode in quick disconnects and just unplug the diode if you ever don't want the cargos to come on when in reverse, granted a switch would be easier and quicker. But not by much. Above all the switch would just be more convenient.

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Chad2815 · February 24, 2015

Yeah what he said sorry about that. When I installed mine Inkept hitting the unlock button to see if Inhad done it correctly and they weren't coming on.....so on my second diode I put the e-brake on and verified they were in fact working with reverse. But yes, the lights will only illuminate when it's dark after pressing the unlock button on the key FOB. Reverse works all the time, I don't know anything about the HD's, was just trying to give you what I had learned through my experience sorry for the confusion.

fastxr · February 24, 2015

No worries thanks for all the help, I think my early 15 HD wiring is no different than the 14 half tons, I was just trying to figure out if there was a way I could easily get the cargo lights to function like the late 15 HD or 15 half tons that when put in reverse that cargo lights stay on if the cargo button was pressed. I guess my switch toggle deal is about my only choice, I don't like the idea of reaching under the dash to hook/unhook wires when wanting to back into a campsite at night.

Billoti · February 25, 2015

I only want the LED's to come on when I turn on the Cargo lights. I want to be able to turn them on manually which the cargo light switch when backing my trailer or when I need someone to dim their brights. So can I just hook them to the #26 spot on the pink plug? Do I still need the diode? Will the cargo light work when in drive or reverse? I have a 2014 SLT.

Mike1220 · February 25, 2015

I only want the LED's to come on when I turn on the Cargo lights. I want to be able to turn them on manually which the cargo light switch when backing my trailer or when I need someone to dim their brights. So can I just hook them to the #26 spot on the pink plug? Do I still need the diode? Will the cargo light work when in drive or reverse? I have a 2014 SLT.

Cargo lights will not activate when in drive. Only when in neutral or park (via the switch)

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