Anyone tapped factory bed light to power aftermarket under-rail LEDs?

[csmith9058]

I havent gotten my truck yet, but I plan on using cool white waterproof peel and stick 5630 LED light strips on both sides under the bed side lips. I have some nice insulated 2 conductor wire I will run down, across and back up to power the strip on the RH side.

I will also be adding this switch panel to the LH side stowage box lid and powering it with the wire tap coming in that ford graciously supplied. As far as lighting the bed up, once I get the truck I will be looking at where I can position a standard dome light pin switch so when I open the tailgate they automatically come on.

5630 peel n stick is the brightest most uniform color your going to get in this type of application. A 5 meter roll in many different colors is available all over evil bay for about $12.

I plan on adding additional LED lighting inside this truck too. White Under dash floor lighting tied to dome light circuit. I may mount some for rear floor lighting, and will definitely put one or 2 switched lights in the under rear seat cargo storage area.

Hope this helps

Yes. Was super easy.

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[wyouger]

I havent gotten my truck yet, but I plan on using cool white waterproof peel and stick 5630 LED light strips on both sides under the bed side lips. I have some nice insulated 2 conductor wire I will run down, across and back up to power the strip on the RH side.

I will also be adding this switch panel to the LH side stowage box lid and powering it with the wire tap coming in that ford graciously supplied. As far as lighting the bed up, once I get the truck I will be looking at where I can position a standard dome light pin switch so when I open the tailgate they automatically come on.

5630 peel n stick is the brightest most uniform color your going to get in this type of application. A 5 meter roll in many different colors is available all over evil bay for about $12.

I plan on adding additional LED lighting inside this truck too. White Under dash floor lighting tied to dome light circuit. I may mount some for rear floor lighting, and will definitely put one or 2 switched lights in the under rear seat cargo storage area.

Hope this helps

Please provide a link for the switch panel

 

[Decayed]

Please provide a link for the switch panel

There are dozens like this on amazon

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=marine+u...=marine+usb,aps,89&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_10

 

[MikeInFla]

Looks pretty easy to do:

 

[BB0]

Yes. Was super easy.

So you were able to simply splice the extra lights into the existing bed lighting circuit so that they are powered when the factory switch is turned on? Where did you perform the splice?

EDIT: to clarify, I am ONLY talking about people who have the lumens bed lighting kit and simply want more output. I am not talking about adding a completely new circuit in using the supplied pigtails to make a second switch present.

 

[yds]

I havent gotten my truck yet, but I plan on using cool white waterproof peel and stick 5630 LED light strips on both sides under the bed side lips. I have some nice insulated 2 conductor wire I will run down, across and back up to power the strip on the RH side.

Nilight TL-31 2PCS 60Inch RGB Truck Bed Light Strip Kit 180 LED RF Remote Control with On Off Switch Blade Fuse 2Way Splitter Extension Cable for Cargo Pickup Truck is discounted to $28.35 at the moment. got a set delivered today. descent kit for the price. remote control is RF with its own on/off buttons. the rubberised waterproof housing looks good, but needs some time to flatten out. these use 5050 SMD LEDs which have a dedicated white diode as well as RGB. the control box with the splitter has a 12v 5.5mm barrel connector. shouldn't be that difficult to tap into that bed lighting switch to power these.

 

[BDennis]

If you watch the Ford DIY bed lighting they recommend LED lights with an IP68 all weather rating. The kits shown on most posts are using lower rated IP67 rating. Worth paying attention to, especially if you don’t have a tonneau cover.

 

[Barracuda340]

If you watch the Ford DIY bed lighting they recommend LED lights with an IP68 all weather rating. The kits shown on most posts are using lower rated IP67 rating. Worth paying attention to, especially if you don’t have a tonneau cover.

I got a bed cover, no worries for me lol

 

[Mymaverick2021]

Has anyone tapped into the factory bed light to run aftermarket under rail LEDs so the bed lights and under rail lights all turn on and off with the inside and in-bed switches? Is it possible to tap into the factory bed light and still hide the wires? Or is it a bad idea to run the lights that way? I have zero experience with running aftermarket lights. I do have a toggle to mount in the bed, but having everything wired into the factory switches would be more convenient.
Now that I'm looking at it, maybe newer models could utilize the 2 auxiliary 12v hookups and a separate hookup that taps the factory switches for aftermarket lights. Just plug the lights in and use the existing factory switches. Would be way easier.

You can use the posi-tap connectors so you don't have to cut the factory wiring to tie-in your leds with the factory switch

 

[Barracuda340]

Yeah. Probably. Back in the day we called em scotch lock connectors. Me personally, I would solder and shrink tube it.

 

[WesternFunk]

I wired my LEDs into the bed light switch. It was super easy. Pop off the cover the switch and light are on with 4 bolts run the wire down the channel to the left of it that has the 12v accessory plug and there is opening that is at the bottom right where you need it. I plugged into the wires that go to the bed light. Works perfect.

 

[WBPS_Ralphie]

I wired my LEDs into the bed light switch. It was super easy. Pop off the cover the switch and light are on with 4 bolts run the wire down the channel to the left of it that has the 12v accessory plug and there is opening that is at the bottom right where you need it. I plugged into the wires that go to the bed light. Works perfect.

Any way you could post a picture of what you're talking about please? Just showing how you did connect / which wires you connected to?

 

[WBPS_Ralphie]

@WesternFunk -- any way you could please post a picture of how you spliced it into the factory switch?

 

[Hdang1980]

@WesternFunk -- any way you could please post a picture of how you spliced it into the factory switch?

Bought these to tap into the existing bed light.

Nilight - 50004R 120 Pcs/60 Pairs Quick Splice Wire Terminals T-Tap Self-stripping with Nylon Fully Insulated Male Quick Disconnects Kit, 2 Years Warranty
Black/white is your hot wire. Black/green is your neutral.

 

[TRUCKHEF]

do the lumen bed lights come on with the cargo light? (the top mount cargo light that comes on with button next to drivers left knee.)

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