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The little LED mounted low and toward the back of the bed just wasn't cutting it for me, so I added three angled LED rigid bar lights to beef it up.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/led...ount-aluminum-led-light-bar-fixture-300-lm-ft
I also did the modification that member YDS did (see below) that relocated the light switch.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...bed-cubby-with-ac-outlet-on-the-inside.16955/
I bought the 39 inch version (in natural) of the light bar. It is has a LED strip inside an angled rigid aluminum bar. Each light comes with two mounting clips and they plug into each other to string them together so, wiring wasn't hard. I covered the white wires with shrink wrap to hide them but the company does offer a black aluminum bar light but it is not angled down.
After test fitting the bars I thought the best way to mount them would be to use the tracks of the aluminum tie down bar because it would get them high in the bed. I bought some 90 degree aluminum angle stock, a tap and drill bit for #6-32 screws, #6-32 1/2" long stainless steel screws and nuts plus small washers for spacers.
Remove the aluminum tie down bar (three Torx screws). Mark the top of the bar because it does have a top and bottom and you will need to mount the light on the top. It's easier to work with the tie down bar if you also remove the sliding handle. Carefully remove the plastic cap from either end and slide the handle out.
Cut the 90 degree aluminum stock to be shorter than the light to hide it's edge from view. Using a flat surface, position it at the top of the aluminum tie down bar so the corner is facing toward the inside of the bed and the opposite edge is flat and at the same level as the back of the tie down bar. Before drilling a #6 hole through the 90 degree stock and the tie down, be sure the hole is centered on the tie down. The hole will probably be off somewhat off center through the 90 degree stock.
Drill one hole and tap the hole in the tie down. Enlarge the hole in the 90 degree stock so the #6 screw can pass through easily. Reassemble the tie down and the 90 degree stock and screw in a #6 screw. If it comes through the interior of the tie down, take it out and use a washer as a spacer so it does not protrude into the center. The sliding tie down handle fits rather tightly and even burrs can effect it's travel along the length.
Place the light mounting clips flush to the 90 degree stock and the tie down bar. Drill holes and secure them to the 90 degree stock, making sure they remain square and flat on the tie down bar.
If you don't have any obstructions, you can probably just clip the light on and screw the tie down bar back into position. I have a tri-fold hard tonneau cover and there are mounting clamps I had to remove or loosen and slide around in order to reinstall the tie down bar. Lather rinse repeat for the other side.
If you want to use three bars like I did, I used 3M Command brand large picture hanging strips (16 pound rating) and stuck the light under the tonneau cover. The wires connecting the second and third light are zip tied to tonneau cover mountings.
https://www.command.com/3M/en_US/co...trips/?n=5924736+3294529207+3294737318&rt=rud
To wire it, I cut off the first plug and inserted the wire through a hole in the bed above the tie down rack on the drivers side toward the back of the bed. I wired it into the re-located light switch from the AC outlet relocation project from member 'YDS'.
There's an odd issue . . . When using the relocated light switch, the lights will flash on and go out. If I disconnect one light from the string, the lights stay on. If while on, I reconnect the third light, they all stay on. . . . If I have all three lights connected and turn them on/off via the cargo light switch in the cab, they all work fine.
I'm going to replace the cab mounted incandescent cargo light bulbs with LED bulbs and see if there is a wattage issue when using the relocated bed light switch.
Have fun. Thanks for reading.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/led...ount-aluminum-led-light-bar-fixture-300-lm-ft
I also did the modification that member YDS did (see below) that relocated the light switch.
https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...bed-cubby-with-ac-outlet-on-the-inside.16955/
I bought the 39 inch version (in natural) of the light bar. It is has a LED strip inside an angled rigid aluminum bar. Each light comes with two mounting clips and they plug into each other to string them together so, wiring wasn't hard. I covered the white wires with shrink wrap to hide them but the company does offer a black aluminum bar light but it is not angled down.
After test fitting the bars I thought the best way to mount them would be to use the tracks of the aluminum tie down bar because it would get them high in the bed. I bought some 90 degree aluminum angle stock, a tap and drill bit for #6-32 screws, #6-32 1/2" long stainless steel screws and nuts plus small washers for spacers.
Remove the aluminum tie down bar (three Torx screws). Mark the top of the bar because it does have a top and bottom and you will need to mount the light on the top. It's easier to work with the tie down bar if you also remove the sliding handle. Carefully remove the plastic cap from either end and slide the handle out.
Cut the 90 degree aluminum stock to be shorter than the light to hide it's edge from view. Using a flat surface, position it at the top of the aluminum tie down bar so the corner is facing toward the inside of the bed and the opposite edge is flat and at the same level as the back of the tie down bar. Before drilling a #6 hole through the 90 degree stock and the tie down, be sure the hole is centered on the tie down. The hole will probably be off somewhat off center through the 90 degree stock.
Drill one hole and tap the hole in the tie down. Enlarge the hole in the 90 degree stock so the #6 screw can pass through easily. Reassemble the tie down and the 90 degree stock and screw in a #6 screw. If it comes through the interior of the tie down, take it out and use a washer as a spacer so it does not protrude into the center. The sliding tie down handle fits rather tightly and even burrs can effect it's travel along the length.
Place the light mounting clips flush to the 90 degree stock and the tie down bar. Drill holes and secure them to the 90 degree stock, making sure they remain square and flat on the tie down bar.
If you don't have any obstructions, you can probably just clip the light on and screw the tie down bar back into position. I have a tri-fold hard tonneau cover and there are mounting clamps I had to remove or loosen and slide around in order to reinstall the tie down bar. Lather rinse repeat for the other side.
If you want to use three bars like I did, I used 3M Command brand large picture hanging strips (16 pound rating) and stuck the light under the tonneau cover. The wires connecting the second and third light are zip tied to tonneau cover mountings.
https://www.command.com/3M/en_US/co...trips/?n=5924736+3294529207+3294737318&rt=rud
To wire it, I cut off the first plug and inserted the wire through a hole in the bed above the tie down rack on the drivers side toward the back of the bed. I wired it into the re-located light switch from the AC outlet relocation project from member 'YDS'.
There's an odd issue . . . When using the relocated light switch, the lights will flash on and go out. If I disconnect one light from the string, the lights stay on. If while on, I reconnect the third light, they all stay on. . . . If I have all three lights connected and turn them on/off via the cargo light switch in the cab, they all work fine.
I'm going to replace the cab mounted incandescent cargo light bulbs with LED bulbs and see if there is a wattage issue when using the relocated bed light switch.
Have fun. Thanks for reading.
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