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Finally got my Area 51 XL

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FordRick

FordRick

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One more question... Looks like the switch is connected to 'C' strip which isn't being used. how did you connect the switch and where did you put it?
Thanks!
The switch has a splitter for two connections. One for A and one for C. Just use either one for A, ignore the other.
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Gotcha, buying now. I'll have an extra two strip kit/
 
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FordRick

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Gotcha, buying now. I'll have an extra two strip kit/
Too late to return it? Call Nilight and see if you can just order A🤞 Maybe for less than $7. No need for a whole nother kit.
 

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Too late to return it? Call Nilight and see if you can just order A🤞 Maybe for less than $7. No need for a whole nother kit.
Nope! I just filled out the returns, (had also bought split loom for under the truck).
I wouldn't never have thought of returning the stuff. Thanks! My kit was also a different brand.
 

altomav

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One year and one week from the order date we got my wife’s truck.
PXL_20220720_201953852.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20220720_214347236.jpg

I took two plus weeks to decide on which modifications to do and wait for parts. Wish I would have been reading this forum sooner. Thanks to all who posted and shared their ideas and diy tutorials. Too many to list, but thanks to all of you.

Here's my additions.

Items that I had the dealership add:

Truxedo Sentry hard tonneau roll cover.
PXL_20220805_235256287.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20220728_211900995.jpg

Line-X spray on bed liner.
PXL_20220803_131314346.jpg




XLT wheels – from forum member Mavlove, that the dealership swapped out for me.
PXL_20220803_131844221.jpg


My adds that I did yesterday after arrival of final parts:

Two bed cubbies modified and installed. Added locks and cubby lights in both. Works well for when I need just a little light and to see what’s deep in the cubby. Also added reed switches so the cubby lights turn off when the cover is closed. Right side cubby has the cig lighter socket, two USB C and one USB A port and the voltage display.
PXL_20220805_232749633.jpg

I added a lock to the door
PXL_20220803_133639323.jpg

It's were I store my tire pump and AC inverter.
PXL_20220805_232559636.PORTRAIT.jpg

Left side.
View attachment 62494

Side tie down rails painted black with bed liner paint.
PXL_20220805_232149347.jpg

PXL_20220805_232041988.PORTRAIT.jpg


Bed lighting. Wired it without having to take off tail lights or run wire under the truck. Much easier and super quick and clean looking install.
PXL_20220804_034535003.jpg

I installed the power switch on the cover that had the wiring harness.
PXL_20220804_160344221.jpg
I also added a pin switch so lights turn on when the tailgate is open and off when closed.

Smartliner floor mats.
PXL_20220728_212724592.PORTRAIT.jpg
PXL_20220730_025908956.PORTRAIT.jpg




Center console inserts
View attachment 62504 View attachment 62505

Hybrid emblem on driver’s side door.
PXL_20220806_003210618.PORTRAIT.jpg

Still waiting for Tailgate assist and D rings.
Nice accessories too, I bet you had a lot of them already waiting for the truck to arrive.
 

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FordRick

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Nice accessories too, I bet you had a lot of them already waiting for the truck to arrive.
I wish I did. I started reading this forum and started planning as soon as they said it was being sent to the dealership. I waited until I actually picked up the truck to place my parts orders. I was just leary about dealing with the dealership. I wanted to physically have the truck. Boy, that was a great day when my wife drove it him home. She named him Rick.
 

BDennis

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You're welcome. For anyone that wants to do this configuration just remember that you have to use the full of length of light strip "A". Since I planned to get a tonneau cover, I knew I'd want to run lights along the front of the bed. Without a tonneau you would see the strip.
Could you use a single 16 foot LED strip so that it would lie flat across the front of the bed and both sides. This would make the wiring just near the pigtail outlet only. I have a hard folding tonneau so like you the front bed lights would not show.
 

austinzone

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Sucky part is using the 12v pigtails for bed lighting.

They are only active if the truck is running or if the truck has recently been run.

I ended up running my own constant 12v from behind the backseat.
 
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FordRick

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Could you use a single 16 foot LED strip so that it would lie flat across the front of the bed and both sides. This would make the wiring just near the pigtail outlet only. I have a hard folding tonneau so like you the front bed lights would not show.
Yes, for sure, actually preferred. Just make sure that it's for outdoors/waterproof just to be safe. I didn't spend much time looking for a kit with one long strip, but would have taken that option had I easily found one.
 
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FordRick

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Sucky part is using the 12v pigtails for bed lighting.

They are only active if the truck is running or if the truck has recently been run.

I ended up running my own constant 12v from behind the backseat.
Agreed, I took the easiest route. Ford put it there and I utilized it.
Do you have any concerns of draining the battery if you accidentally leave the lights on?
 
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austinzone

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Agreed, I took the easiest route. Ford put it there and I utilized it.
Do you have any concerns of draining the battery if you accidentally leave the lights on?
the light kit i bought has an auto-shutoff after 15 minutes.

 

nicemaverick

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One year and one week from the order date we got my wife’s truck.
PXL_20220720_201953852.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20220720_214347236.jpg

I took two plus weeks to decide on which modifications to do and wait for parts. Wish I would have been reading this forum sooner. Thanks to all who posted and shared their ideas and diy tutorials. Too many to list, but thanks to all of you.

Here's my additions.

Items that I had the dealership add:

Truxedo Sentry hard tonneau roll cover.
PXL_20220805_235256287.PORTRAIT.jpg

PXL_20220728_211900995.jpg


Line-X spray on bed liner.
PXL_20220803_131314346.jpg


XLT wheels – from forum member Mavlove, that the dealership swapped out for me.
PXL_20220803_131844221.jpg


My adds that I did yesterday after arrival of final parts:

Two bed cubbies modified and installed. Added a lock and cubby lights in both. Works well for when I need just a little light and to see what’s deep in the cubby. Also added reed switches so the cubby lights turn off when the cover is closed. Right side cubby has the cig lighter socket, two USB C and one USB A port and the voltage display.
PXL_20220805_232749633.jpg


I added a lock to the door. It's were I store my tire pump and AC inverter.
PXL_20220803_133639323.jpg

PXL_20220805_232559636.PORTRAIT.jpg


Left side. I use it to store my bungees and straps.
View attachment 62916 View attachment 62917

Side adjustable tie down rails painted black with bed liner paint. $45 for parts from the hardware store.
PXL_20220803_222456390.jpg
PXL_20220805_232149347.jpg

PXL_20220805_232041988.PORTRAIT.jpg


Added two additional tie down rings above cubbies.
PXL_20220809_035635262.jpg


Bed lighting. Wired it without having to take off tail lights or run wire under the truck. Much easier and super quick and clean looking install.
PXL_20220804_034535003.jpg
PXL_20220808_194055176.jpg


I installed the power switch on the cover that had the wiring harness.
PXL_20220808_194151577.jpg

PXL_20220804_160344221.jpg
I also added a pin switch so lights turn on when the tailgate is open and off when closed.

Smartliner floor mats.
PXL_20220728_212724592.PORTRAIT.jpg
PXL_20220730_025908956.PORTRAIT.jpg


Center console inserts
View attachment 62504 View attachment 62505

Hybrid emblem on driver’s side door.
PXL_20220806_003210618.PORTRAIT.jpg


Still waiting for tailgate assist and D rings. I installed a triangle tie down in place of bottle opener tie down to prepare for install of tailgate assist.
PXL_20220809_034543052.jpg


Thanks to member FriarPop for finding them. I just think they're great. I installed them on both sides. You can also pop them out before shutting the tailgate and tie things down. View attachment 62849
PXL_20220809_034552963.jpg
I really like what you did so far. Can you provide some links for the same stuff you add to your maverick? I bet a lot of folks will appreciate it.
 
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FordRick

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I really like what you did so far. Can you provide some links for the same stuff you add to your maverick? I bet a lot of folks will appreciate it.
Original post is now updated with links.
 
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FordRick

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Ford Maverick Finally got my Area 51 XL PXL_20220902_231705607

I ordered the Maverick tailgate letters and this is what I received? They totally messed up my order. It spells AMERICA. The arrow below the “A” could also have been made better. Don’t know what that arrow is for, maybe to denote north America? Also as you can see these are too wide to fit inside the slots of the tailgate. On top of that, I ordered matte black and they sent dirty looking white.
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