New Bed LED strip lighting. Cheap and easy mod!

[Dad]

Your dome lights come on in the daytime when you open the car doors. This really is not much different in that regard IMHO.

Yeah, that's true. Well, at least they're supposed to. Mine are only turning on AFTER driving and exiting the vehicle. I should probably do a BM reset. Wait, should that be BMC? I do BM resets a couple times a day. Can't be the same. LOL

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[gyro]

So I just installed mine and while I don't think I screwed anything up I had a question...

For others who have installed it, does your light turn on when pressing the switch if you just simply walk out to your car unlock it?

Mine seems to need the car to be turned on in order for the lights to work but then even after turning the car off the switch still turns the lights on. Not sure if after a certain amount of time of the car being off the system cuts the power?

 

[Barracuda340]

So I just installed mine and while I don't think I screwed anything up I had a question...

For others who have installed it, does your light turn on when pressing the switch if you just simply walk out to your car unlock it?

Mine seems to need the car to be turned on in order for the lights to work but then even after turning the car off the switch still turns the lights on. Not sure if after a certain amount of time of the car being off the system cuts the power?

Mine the system cuts power after about 45 minutes. Not sure if you can reprogram the BCM to turn it off sooner.

 

[gyro]

Mine the system cuts power after about 45 minutes. Not sure if you can reprogram the BCM to turn it off sooner.

What I meant was if the truck is off for some time, when I go out and say just want to go in the truck bed and turn the lights on they won't turn on unless I first turn the truck on. Ie there's not a constant power to the lights

 

[Deweyordeweynot]

I got around to editing and posting the video about adding a Magnetic switch to the bed lighting.

I purchased on Amazon: Amazon.com: Directed Electronics 8600 Micro Magnetic Switch : Industrial & Scientific

Here is the install video:

When I do mine, I think I'll wrap the excess portions of the LED strips around and across the back of the bed (even though they won't be long enough to meet), mostly because I can't bear the thought of 'wasting' the leftover LEDs by hiding them behind the taillights...but that's just me.
I like the idea of the magnetic switch but it's a shame that it 'toggles' the light on and off. I think I'd revert back to the mechanical switch...unless there's a fix to eliminate the toggle action.

 

[gp1200x]

I see an issue trying to get these leds to stick to a drop in bedliner. I tried it while it was fairly cold outside but I am not sure how much better these will stick when the air temp is warmer. Anyone have success sticking them to a bed liner insert? I ordered some 3m promoter to see if that makes it stick better. If not I will have to come up with another solution...not using the screws to mount these leds.

 

[gp1200x]

I see an issue trying to get these leds to stick to a drop in bedliner. I tried it while it was fairly cold outside but I am not sure how much better these will stick when the air temp is warmer. Anyone have success sticking them to a bed liner insert? I ordered some 3m promoter to see if that makes it stick better. If not I will have to come up with another solution...not using the screws to mount these leds.

Tried to get my Nilights to stick to my drop in bed liner again. Temp was 50 degrees and I cleaned the area with clorox wipes and then alcohol. I kept the bedliner in the sun to try and keep the liner warm. I then applied some of the 3M 4298UV Adhesion Promoter with a blue paper towel along the path for the led strip. I think this stuff works up to 90 seconds. I did about half of the strip each time. The 3M stuff was about $20 for the bottle and I used only a tiny amount....so I'll use it in the future for other projects.

The LED strip stuck to the bedliner as if it was welded to it. I could NOT remove the strip once it touched the bedliner so you really only get one shot. I was amazed at how well this promoter worked even at 50 degrees. Only took about a minute to do each side once I was ready to apply the promoter and strip. It would not hold if I had just used the adhesive by itself. Now it seems like it is epoxied to the bedliner! No more issues and lights up the whole inside of the bed at night.

 

[RDRahn]

Tried to get my Nilights to stick to my drop in bed liner again. Temp was 50 degrees and I cleaned the area with clorox wipes and then alcohol. I kept the bedliner in the sun to try and keep the liner warm. I then applied some of the 3M 4298UV Adhesion Promoter with a blue paper towel along the path for the led strip. I think this stuff works up to 90 seconds. I did about half of the strip each time. The 3M stuff was about $20 for the bottle and I used only a tiny amount....so I'll use it in the future for other projects.

The LED strip stuck to the bedliner as if it was welded to it. I could NOT remove the strip once it touched the bedliner so you really only get one shot. I was amazed at how well this promoter worked even at 50 degrees. Only took about a minute to do each side once I was ready to apply the promoter and strip. It would not hold if I had just used the adhesive by itself. Now it seems like it is epoxied to the bedliner! No more issues and lights up the whole inside of the bed at night.

Good to know. Thanks for posting.

 

[Hub City Hybrid]

just wanted to thank this thread and @RDRahn for his youtube videos. I did the Nilight strips and tapped into the bed light. I debated adding the magnet mechanism, but I was already reaching the limits of my electrical skills. I figured I can always go back to it. Buying the fish tape really helped out a lot.

 

[ThaNatrix]

I’ve had a Maverick for 5 days and this thread inspired me to do this mod. Ordered the full color kit from Amazon and ran to Home Depot this morning to grab the connectors and some common strips. I didn’t need to remove the tail lights as I work in networking and have a gift of pulling wires where I need. I decided to put the IR receiver that came with the kit behind the panel on the left side of the bed (used a command strip for that) and put the on/off switch under the edge of the bed top. I just leave it “on” and use the remote that came with the kit to turn it on or off and change the colors. They look great at night and that’s why I got them.

Thanks to everyone who has posted here. It gave me the confidence to do this on a Saturday lol!

 

[jayarek]

I’ve had a Maverick for 5 days and this thread inspired me to do this mod. Ordered the full color kit from Amazon and ran to Home Depot this morning to grab the connectors and some common strips. I didn’t need to remove the tail lights as I work in networking and have a gift of pulling wires where I need. I decided to put the IR receiver that came with the kit behind the panel on the left side of the bed (used a command strip for that) and put the on/off switch under the edge of the bed top. I just leave it “on” and use the remote that came with the kit to turn it on or off and change the colors. They look great at night and that’s why I got them.
…

Which item did you buy from Amazon?

 

[ThaNatrix]

These! Nilight - TL-31 2PCS 60Inch RGB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N429SKJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[Dad]

I’ve had a Maverick for 5 days and this thread inspired me to do this mod. Ordered the full color kit from Amazon and ran to Home Depot this morning to grab the connectors and some common strips. I didn’t need to remove the tail lights as I work in networking and have a gift of pulling wires where I need. I decided to put the IR receiver that came with the kit behind the panel on the left side of the bed (used a command strip for that) and put the on/off switch under the edge of the bed top. I just leave it “on” and use the remote that came with the kit to turn it on or off and change the colors. They look great at night and that’s why I got them.

Thanks to everyone who has posted here. It gave me the confidence to do this on a Saturday lol!

The entire point of being a member, right? Can't tell you how many times I picked up ideas and install help from the good people here.

 

[Toddman45]

Looks great @tcw8848. I did the same thing to 12' F-150 when new, as they didn't have any bed lighting then. Added a switch to the OEM bed extender hole, which fit perfectly.

Been debating doing the same to the maverick, as the one oem led bedlight doesn't cut it.

 

[jayarek]

These! Nilight - TL-31 2PCS 60Inch RGB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08N429SKJ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks. That is one I’m considering. Someone mentioned the white color setting was not great but okay. Your thoughts on the white color setting for brightness to see stuff at night with a cover in place?
Thanks again.

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