Adding Under Rail Cargo Lights...... Anybody?

loghead · November 6, 2015

I am looking to add some lights to my box since I just install a tonneau cover, unfortunately my truck didn't have that option. What I am looking to do is have it powered from the gargo light switch and a secondary light from the box. Has any of electrical wizards done this and if so any sources of lights or kits without having to go to the dealer and giving them more $.

DanY · November 6, 2015

You can get the GM kit pretty cheap on Ebay or the online GM parts dealers. Includes 2 lights that mount in the bed and the wiring harness that plugs into the harness block on drivers side in front of the rear bumper. Lights are controlled by the cargo light (3rd brake light location) switch on the dash.

Mine came with lights installed from the factory, I purchased another kit on Ebay and wired in two more lights about 1/3 of the way from the front of the bed. The factory lights are installed about 1/3 of the way from the back of the bed. With a cover on it is pretty dark near the front of the bed.

Of course you can go the much cheaper route and get aftermarket LED light pucks or strips and wire in yourself.

newdude · November 6, 2015

Just get the GM kit. It is plug and play no funky wiring, programming, nothing.

dc1515 · November 8, 2015

+1

wulfgott · November 8, 2015

Another vote for the GM kit. My truck came with them. The first kit is all plug and play. Just plugs right into the junction box under the truck and activates with the same switch you use to turn on center top bed light.

1fast ss · November 9, 2015

Anyone got pics of the lights installed?

Eddie 70 · November 9, 2015

You can get the GM kit pretty cheap on Ebay or the online GM parts dealers. Includes 2 lights that mount in the bed and the wiring harness that plugs into the harness block on drivers side in front of the rear bumper. Lights are controlled by the cargo light (3rd brake light location) switch on the dash.

Mine came with lights installed from the factory, I purchased another kit on Ebay and wired in two more lights about 1/3 of the way from the front of the bed. The factory lights are installed about 1/3 of the way from the back of the bed. With a cover on it is pretty dark near the front of the bed.

Interesting. Did you just splice the second set into the 1st set wiring or is there more room in the harness block?

SurFire · November 9, 2015

Best price I found for the OE set.

http://www.amazon.com/GM-Perimeter-Bed-Lighting-23145347/dp/B00LK2OVD4

crewl1 · November 9, 2015

I installed led strips tying into the oem plug spot under rear of bed so they turn on with the cargo light switch.

Total cost was around $20.

This thread is a good reference. http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/153192-led-under-rail-bed-lighting/page-1?hl=bed%20light

DanY · November 9, 2015

Interesting. Did you just splice the second set into the 1st set wiring or is there more room in the harness block?

There is only connector space in the terminal block for one pair of lights. I spliced the second light into the wires just before they entered the first kit light. It's all inside the corrugated wire loom and you can't event tell.

I attached the second set of lights with some very high bond (VHB) 3m double sided tape so I didn't have to drill the bed. Going on 6 months and all still in place. Also used some small tape squares to tack the wire loom in place.

loghead · November 9, 2015

Thanks everybody for the great info! Something that I really want to have is a switch in the box to turn on and off while I am back there, I'm just not sure if you can tie an extra switch into the existing cargo light switch. Would be ideal if it was on a timer "just in case" it was left on or it was tied to the cargo switch and illuminated to let you know. Any body have any ideas? I know there has to be one of you electrical brainiacs that can figure this out

crewl1 · November 9, 2015

The thread I pointed to above has posts related to adding a switch in the bed.

Most common spot to tie into is the trailer hitch wiring but it will be independent of the cargo switch and does not have a timer by default.

The cargo switch does turn itself off after 20 minutes.

There may. be a third party option that includes a timer switch.

crewl1 · November 9, 2015

This kit has a timer. http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemDescV4&item=261677545325&category=33713&pm=1&ds=0&t=1447079859815

SurFire · November 10, 2015

If you really wanted to I am sure you can wire into the relay that controls the lights. You would just splice into the wire that currently activates the relay from within the cab from another constant power source and add a diode to both wires to make sure the feed is only going to the relay.

loghead · November 10, 2015

If you really wanted to I am sure you can wire into the relay that controls the lights. You would just splice into the wire that currently activates the relay from within the cab from another constant power source and add a diode to both wires to make sure the feed is only going to the relay.

I kinda figured that there is a wire that I could splice into and I figured there would be diodes involved as well. I have just enough knowledge of the electrical end to be dangerous. That electronics 101 class in college that was about 30 years ago is just a little foggy at this stage . I am trying to dig into some info here at work to see if I can find some schematics to see if I can narrow it down as the location of it.

I do like the plug and play GM kit, it would be a nice clean install. I know the link crewl1 gave has the timer but not real impressed with the look of the switch. I wonder if the timer is built into the switch?