Cargo bed lighting

[Kizyle]

I have seen a bunch of videos on YouTube of people doing the 12v pigtail cargo bed lights. Wondering if anyone has figured out how to wire up a light similar to the factory bed light “luxury package”? Meaning the light would come on when the third brake light/upper cargo lights come on (also have a button by the headlights that would turn it on). Didn’t see any dummy plugs under the Mav and was wondering if a jumper harness would solve the problem or what exactly I needed to do?

Sponsored

 

[Darnon]

See this post

I got these from amazon as well. As for detailed instructions, these two videos are good to follow except I tapped into the bedlight using those T-Tap connectors and did not use the 12v accessory wire like the youtubers. Just remember to tap into the light, and not the on/off button. Your LED strips's red wire will tap into the black/white wire, black wire will tap into the black/green wire. And since you will doing that, you'll be able to utilize the existing bedlight's on/off button, so no need to bother with the LED strip's supplied button. It just looks so much cleaner and functions like it was factory. If it weren't for the the tiny bit of wire showing between the end of strips and bed rail system, you would not be able to tell it was an aftermarket addition.

 

[Grand Nat.]

Why don't you just remove the four bolts holding the light and switch in place and inspect the circuit. Most likely you can tap it to it safely. There would not be any consequences with low powered LED's.

View attachment 144205

 

[Kizyle]

I’m trying to wire up bed lights that look near oem. Yes the led strips are cool but I wanted them to work in sync with the cargo lights and also install Light actuator button as well. The XLT I have has a button that activates the rear cargo lights and when I unlock the truck those lights would come on as well. I might go the route everyone else has but was wondering if there was a post of what I was looking for

 

[IronDan]

The comment he linked to in that thread describes what you want. I did a dive on the forum trying to find a detailed write up but was not successful. I would just make sure the lights you're using don't draw too much power. Personally I think tucking the led strips up in the channel are as close to OEM as you can get. Considering they would be out of sight. Can run the wires through one of the small grommets for a clean look. Thats what I plan on doing once I decide on what tonneau cover to buy.

 

[Don806]

I took out the factory light and switch and moved the power outlet into the cubby. Then used the switch and light wiring to put lights on each side of bed. They come on with cargo light or when using either switch. This post has pic in it
www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/can-you-add-lights-to-existing-bed-light.25223/#post-476938

 

[Kizyle]

Thank you Don, pretty much what I was trying to do. I don’t have the bed light option but wanted to make it look factory and tie in the LEDs in the rails. I think I need a jumper harness to do the button actuator in the 12v spot

 

[Don806]

If you do t have the factory bed light, I’m not sure if wiring is there that is connected to the cargo light. The 12v power points in the bed are also an option for lighting in the bed

 

[Darnon]

Thank you Don, pretty much what I was trying to do. I don’t have the bed light option but wanted to make it look factory and tie in the LEDs in the rails. I think I need a jumper harness to do the button actuator in the 12v spot

If you want to tie it into the cargo light to function as the bed light then you can tap power for the LED strip to Pin 6 of the C404 connector beneath the driver's rear of the bed. Pin 5 on that same connector is for the bed light switch. It needs to have some amount of resistance for the BCM to properly register it (versus just a short to ground).

Discussion between myself and Telemachus starts here: https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/f...-aftermarket-under-rail-leds.7570/post-511782

It appears to be part of the harness that spans the rear 14405. Should be pin 6 of that connector adjacent the spare tire C404.

I found the correct connectors for the female side of the C404 connector. I picked up a pack at my local Ford parts department:

DU2Z-14474-CA

It comes as a pack of 5 terminals attached to green wire and some crimp butt connectors with heat shrink.

I Installed my wiring for the switch (pin 5), power to the bed lights (pin 6) and ground. I'll install the lights in the next few days, and the switch is on the way.

I finished up the install of my lux lighting button today.

I used a 1L2T-14K147-AA from Ebay ($10) and although it has no resistance on the button itself, my route to ground goes to the ground screw by the muffler, and it provides enough resistance traveling that far that this button works fine. If the grounding point is closer to the button, will need a 100ohm resister in line.

I designed a 3D printed bracket to hold the button where the flexbed covers are.

I bought a generic WPT-984 wiring harness off E-bay that interfaces this button.

Thanks to all for pointing me in the right direction. Lux lighting is doable on an XL, LOL.

I threw the STL for the bracket up on Thingiverse:

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5865411

The 12V light leads are ready to be wired to 12V LED lights around the perimeter of the bed. They work as they should when pushing this button or the cabin cargo button. I just haven't ran them yet.

Alternatively, a few of these installed would give plenty of light.

https://www.harborfreight.com/12v-utilityrock-white-led-light-2-pack-57205.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNzU3OTYyOTEiLCJza3UiOiI1NzIwNSIsImlzIjoiMjEuNTkyIn0=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12189148311&campaignid=12189148311&utm_content=146373659256&adsetid=146373659256&product=57205&store=380&gclid=Cj0KCQiArsefBhCbARIsAP98hXSB6cudGQuYLWpiWS1Ve4wTWXEUsLOwRja71OEOa-PRihVZcklFLeYaApx4EALw_wcB

 

[Telemachus]

Pins five and six worked on the EcoBoost model that I had.

However, somebody tried them on the hybrid, and it didn't work out.

Somewhere earlier in the thread, somebody pointed out the correct pins for the hybrid.

 

[Darnon]

Pins five and six worked on the EcoBoost model that I had.

However, somebody tried them on the hybrid, and it didn't work out.

Somewhere earlier in the thread, somebody pointed out the correct pins for the hybrid.

There were two mentioning Pin 45, but that's for the DIY power points. The manual I have is for an EcoBoost so I suppose the wiring might be different for a Hybrid, but it seems unlikely. Obviously there must be a similar circuit since Hybrids can have the bed lights as well so there ought to be a black w/ green wire for it on the C404 connector somewhere in any case.

 

[Telemachus]

There were two mentioning Pin 45, but that's for the DIY power points. The manual I have is for an EcoBoost so I suppose the wiring might be different for a Hybrid, but it seems unlikely. Obviously there must be a similar circuit since Hybrids can have the bed lights as well so there ought to be a black w/ green wire for it on the C404 connector somewhere in any case.

I thought it was somebody from Brazil that mentioned that 45 worked for them.

Or maybe it was in a PM to me.

I think the button pin is unchanged.

Sponsored