Dirt Cheap DIY Bed Lights

[SuperDaveAPK]

I consider myself to be frugal to borderline cheapskate.

Had an idea and it works fine if you don’t mind pushing a button a couple times.

$1.80 magnetic lights from Harbor Freight. Been driving around town for a couple days and they haven’t fallen off.

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[Hunters Edge]

Works for me. It also sounds like it works for you and your happy with it so far Now I just got to remember next time I'm out shopping, thanks

 

[notfast]

I did the exact same thing as an interim/stop gap measure before I got the time to wire up the dome lights on the inside of my topper.

Don't forget to stock up on the Thunderbolt Edge (blue) batteries while you still can. $3.69 for 18 batteries. They last close to Energizer and Duracell but a lot cheaper. My experience is basically the same as this guy's. Work great in things with motors (like Harbor Freight's D-cell powered transfer pumps) and about the same as the other brands in lights.


I'd avoid the Magnum alkalines (orange) or Magnum zinc-chlorides (yellow) for anything other than an 8-digit calculator.

 

[tellyouwhat]

been using these for awhile and they work great. I just hang it from the tie down. sometimes Harbor Freight just gives these away.

 

[CajunMick]

Good idea! I got a bunch of these. Every once in while, HF has coupon flyers, and these are free with a purchase. For a guy who has most every tool, not need other, I usually hit the “reduced price” bin, get something cheap, then grab one of free light to check out.

 

[notfast]

Good idea! I got a bunch of these. Every once in while, HF has coupon flyers, and these are free with a purchase. For a guy who has most every tool, not need other, I usually hit the “reduced price” bin, get something cheap, then grab one of free light to check out.

My go-tos are those snap razor knifes ($0.49 by the register), 10' carabiner tape measures ($0.99 by the register), pack of 10 utility knife blades ($1.99), cable ties (varies), or the red flush cutters ($2.99).

 

[sva50233]

only works if you don't have a bedliner or spray in bedliner, but genius move if you don't. i guess they would also work with some velcro on a drop-in bedliner

 

[notfast]

only works if you don't have a bedliner or spray in bedliner, but genius move if you don't. i guess they would also work with some velcro on a drop-in bedliner

My Nissan Frontier has an OEM spray-in bedliner. I sanded a couple smooth spots in the bed liner (just enough to get rid of the texture) and mounted mine with 3M indoor/outdoor mounting tape from Home Depot. Suffice it to say, when it came time to remove them after I finished wiring up the dome lights, the tape ripped off the flashlights before the bedliner.

 

[tellyouwhat]

decided to upgrade just a little. From $1.80 to $7.99. 4x times the cost, what was I thinking? but I was finding myself wanting a little bit more light than the $1.80 LED

previous vs updated

 

[SuperDaveAPK]

decided to upgrade just a little. From $1.80 to $7.99. 4x times the cost, what was I thinking? but I was finding myself wanting a little bit more light than the $1.80 LED

previous vs updated

Rechargeable?

 

[tellyouwhat]

Rechargeable?

no, but for some reason I hadn’t thought about that. this thing takes 3 AA. I actually like that idea of rechargeable. going to look into that

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