2018 Silverado Bed/Under Rail light switch in bed

[lodge307]

I am looking into wiring a switch in the bed to run the factory bed/under rail lights. I want to be able to maintain the battery save feature when the switch is used in the cab. Who has done this and how hard is it to do. Thank you. 

[jpinoy]

21 hours ago, lodge307 said:

I am looking into wiring a switch in the bed to run the factory bed/under rail lights. I want to be able to maintain the battery save feature when the switch is used in the cab. Who has done this and how hard is it to do. Thank you. 

https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/225685-add-bed-light-switch-to-truck-bed/

[lodge307]

3 hours ago, jpinoy said:

https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/225685-add-bed-light-switch-to-truck-bed/

Thank you. I have seen this but I am ignorant to some of the things it is referring to. 

[superdave160]

I had planned on doing that mod and even purchased the parts.  But before I installed the parts I learned about installing a diode between the reverse lights wire and the bed lights wire.  The bed lights come on whenever the reverse lights come on.  The reverse lights on our trucks come on when you unlock the doors and the BCM detects that it is dark outside.  They only stay on for 30 seconds or so, so there is no chance of running the battery down.  That puts the light switch on the key fob in your pocket.  If the time expires and the lights go out before you are done, then just push the unlock button again.