Tailgate Hitch Lights

[asilverblazer]

I hate trying to hitch a trailer in the dark... added some lights, that turned out really well. They are connected to the bed/cargo lights so they work with the switch in the cab. Wires follow the camera wire through the tailgate and under the bed. I tapped the bed lights where they connect in the junction on the drivers side frame rail at the rear behind the spare tire. Drilling through the tailgate bezel was easy, there is plenty of room on the backside too. Torx bits for the access panel and 10mm socket to remove the handle assembly.

 

They work great and they are pretty discreet during the day, they don't stick out very far at all, the yellow lens is more obnoxious in the pictures than in person.

 

LED lights were from Amazon:

Amazon link

11mm in cool white, these are more expensive than others, I tried several though and these were the best combination of discreet mounting vs. light output.

Before:

 

After:

 

Daytime (ignore finger):

 

Up close:

 

[Linecapt]

Impressive.  They look good and perform well.  A picture of the rearview cam on with the lights would help to see how the glare is (or isn't).

 

[slj2008]

Look's good, Nice write up

[asilverblazer]

On 9/9/2022 at 7:23 PM, Linecapt said:

Impressive.  They look good and perform well.  A picture of the rearview cam on with the lights would help to see how the glare is (or isn't).

 

I'll try to remember... I did test it, the additional light isn't as noticeable on the camera because the actual back up lights are on too, it helps and there isn't any additional glare in the camera so its still an improvement just not as big.

[Dangelo]

On 9/9/2022 at 10:30 AM, asilverblazer said:

I hate trying to hitch a trailer in the dark... added some lights, that turned out really well. They are connected to the bed/cargo lights so they work with the switch in the cab. Wires follow the camera wire through the tailgate and under the bed. I tapped the bed lights where they connect in the junction on the drivers side frame rail at the rear behind the spare tire. Drilling through the tailgate bezel was easy, there is plenty of room on the backside too. Torx bits for the access panel and 10mm socket to remove the handle assembly.

 

They work great and they are pretty discreet during the day, they don't stick out very far at all, the yellow lens is more obnoxious in the pictures than in person.

 

LED lights were from Amazon:

Amazon link

11mm in cool white, these are more expensive than others, I tried several though and these were the best combination of discreet mounting vs. light output.

Before:

 

After:

 

Daytime (ignore finger):

 

Up close:

 

Dude that’s smart, never would have thought of pigging back off the bed lights and your not having to install the switch cause it’s all ready there.