Tailgate Light Bar Possible Solution

[MakinDoForNow]

This is the Curt harness. So one of these white wires? If so, how do you determine which one is for reverse (which one to splice in to)? Is there a wire schematic available? Thanks

None of the wires on the curt 4 pin setup. The backup light wire will require a fifth wire tapped into the hot wire that runs to the backup light power of the truck. If you want backup lights on a trailer using Curts 4 pin setup you can add a 4 pin to 5 pin adapter with the separate backup light wire to the fifth wire in that plug. Also if you have a trailer with surge brakes you can use the 5th wire as a cut out for when you want to turn off surge brakes. But if you want both you will need six wire connections. I would just call curt and tell them what you want as they may have other tplugs not shown on web site. Check but I believe Curts 4pin limits running lights to 3-4 amps Per side of trailer. This looks like the 12v bed circuit should handle the load if it's active at the times you need it to be.

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[CTYankee]

None of the wires on the curt 4 pin setup. The backup light wire will require a fifth wire tapped into the hot wire that runs to the backup light power of the truck. If you want backup lights on a trailer using Curts 4 pin setup you can add a 4 pin to 5 pin adapter with the separate backup light wire to the fifth wire in that plug. Also if you have a trailer with surge brakes you can use the 5th wire as a cut out for when you want to turn off surge brakes. But if you want both you will need six wire connections. I would just call curt and tell them what you want as they may have other tplugs not shown on web site. Check but I believe Curts 4pin limits running lights to 3-4 amps Per side of trailer. This looks like the 12v bed circuit should handle the load if it's active at the times you need it to be.

The Curt T-harness is strictly to provide a 4-pin connector for the tailgate light bar and is independent of the truck-side trailer wiring. The Putco Red Blade light bar already has the extra wire for reverse, as will most competing light bars. It just needs to be spliced into the reverse wire at the tail light harness.

 

[Hardening2753]

It looks like we have a way to add a tailgate light bar without losing driver assistance features or having the truck go into tow mode.

Thanks to a post on FB and a comment within that post, I ended up talking to Curt Manufacturing product support about their Maverick T-connector 4-pin harness (P/N 56477). According to them, it plugs into the taillight harness (so no cutting or splicing) and terminates in a 4-pin plug similar to the factory 4-pin but it is independent of the factory tow system.

If you already have a factory 4-pin, the Curt one can be tucked under the bumper for the light bar to use, leaving the factory one available for towing.

That's the theory at the moment anyway. I'm going to order it and a Putco Red Blade and have the guys at my old shop hook it up and make sure it works. As soon as I know the answer, I'll post here.

Fingers crossed!

Did you get it to work?

 

[OleFordGuy]

It looks like we have a way to add a tailgate light bar without losing driver assistance features or having the truck go into tow mode.

Thanks to a post on FB and a comment within that post, I ended up talking to Curt Manufacturing product support about their Maverick T-connector 4-pin harness (P/N 56477). According to them, it plugs into the taillight harness (so no cutting or splicing) and terminates in a 4-pin plug similar to the factory 4-pin but it is independent of the factory tow system.

If you already have a factory 4-pin, the Curt one can be tucked under the bumper for the light bar to use, leaving the factory one available for towing.

That's the theory at the moment anyway. I'm going to order it and a Putco Red Blade and have the guys at my old shop hook it up and make sure it works. As soon as I know the answer, I'll post here.

Fingers crossed!

Sir, when you completely wrap it all up tested and finished, could you please post a detailed install guide for all the wires and all the parts needed url's. I would love to do this but im on the elderly side of life and not a highly proficient electrical/mechanical guy but i can follow good instructions. That would be sincerely appreciated. Thank You.

 

[CTYankee]

Did you get it to work?

Yes, it is working. There is a wire that needs to be run to the battery to make everything function correctly. It took my former tech about 1.5 hours to install. I did not use the full Red Blade, however. I used the Split Blade (Red version) because I thought the full length one might interfere with the spare tire access hole. In the end, we dropped the light bar down and mounted it on the bumper flange for better visibility. If you want to use the 48" version, I recommend measuring that flange to see if the fitment works. It wasn't an issue with the Split Blade.

Sir, when you completely wrap it all up tested and finished, could you please post a detailed install guide for all the wires and all the parts needed url's. I would love to do this but im on the elderly side of life and not a highly proficient electrical/mechanical guy but i can follow good instructions. That would be sincerely appreciated. Thank You.

We did not document the installation in detail, unfortunately. However, Curt has an install guide for the T-connector (https://www.curtmfg.com/part/56477) and there are YouTube videos for the Putco light bars.

 

[JimmyJ715]

Why not just t-tap the light bar right into the trailer connector right before the plug, then it should use the power without the truck thinking it's plugged in, no?

 

[CTYankee]

Why not just t-tap the light bar right into the trailer connector right before the plug, then it should use the power without the truck thinking it's plugged in, no?

The truck still senses the change in current draw and thinks a trailer is connected. Staying independent of the tow wiring eliminates that problem.

 

[Toddman45]

I like the solution of not having to cut into the factory wiring and everything still working. But do they offer a single one piece light bar? Or is it just the two piece that works since it's connected to both tail lights?

This is the first time I've seen or heard of a light bar for the Maverick offered.

 

[CTYankee]

I like the solution of not having to cut into the factory wiring and everything still working. But do they offer a single one piece light bar? Or is it just the two piece that works since it's connected to both tail lights?

This is the first time I've seen or heard of a light bar for the Maverick offered.

I used the Putco split bar while others have used the full bar from Putco and other brands. They all are compatible with multiple truck models. Only the Curt harness is Maverick-specific.

 

[Parrotheadad]

This will definitely work, posted in another thread recently that even with the Curt harness you still need 12v from the module at least for amber light bars that don’t use the brake light for a turn signal. I went the cheaper route and got a generic power module since I had already T-tapped into my tail light harness.

As for mounting there is no need to use a split light bar, get the 48inch and mount with magnets. Metal plates attached to beveled edge on plastic bumper under tailgate and small neodymium magnets stuck onto the light bar only remove enough of the red tape back in to fit the magnet, voila! If you need to get your spare it’s a simple matter of popping it on and off. (Can’t magnet to the metal above the plastic bumper because then it sits too high, and no one can actually see the lightbar save for the reflections, definitely wouldn’t be noticeable during daytime)

Do you have any pics of your magnet setup you did?

 

[WavnAtCha]

watching this thread. I'm just about ready for the light bar. I understand that I may need the Curt T-connect harness. Does anyone have that part number or URL?

 

[Dave O]

It looks like we have a way to add a tailgate light bar without losing driver assistance features or having the truck go into tow mode.

Thanks to a post on FB and a comment within that post, I ended up talking to Curt Manufacturing product support about their Maverick T-connector 4-pin harness (P/N 56477). According to them, it plugs into the taillight harness (so no cutting or splicing) and terminates in a 4-pin plug similar to the factory 4-pin but it is independent of the factory tow system.

If you already have a factory 4-pin, the Curt one can be tucked under the bumper for the light bar to use, leaving the factory one available for towing.

That's the theory at the moment anyway. I'm going to order it and a Putco Red Blade and have the guys at my old shop hook it up and make sure it works. As soon as I know the answer, I'll post here.

Fingers crossed!

Can’t wait to see the results

 

[CTYankee]

Can’t wait to see the results

See post #16. It shows the installation and the light bar lit up. Other posts in the thread confirm success from other owners.

 

[CTYankee]

watching this thread. I'm just about ready for the light bar. I understand that I may need the Curt T-connect harness. Does anyone have that part number or URL?

From post #25 - However, Curt has an install guide for the T-connector (https://www.curtmfg.com/part/56477)

 

[Dave O]

I’ve been talking with OPT7 I am waiting on an update for the 2025 - I like their plug and play solution to eliminate any interference with the rear camera and towing software and their light bar options look amazing along with their 3M Tape or Magnetic Installation Options.

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