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Tailgate lights recommendation?

Xbert

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Hey all

Anyone have any experience and or recommendations for adding tailgate lights.
Have a 26 xlt and would like to add them. There seems to be a lot on the market.
Thanks
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Sticks

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I don't have any specific product recommendations, but you should be aware of electrical quirks on these trucks.

If you plug anything into the 4-pin trailer connector, the truck will think a trailer is connected. It will disable blind spot monitoring. You'll probably also get a warning on the dash that the trailer lights are out because the LEDs will be drawing less current than the truck expects.

Whatever product you get, it should be powered by a different source. If you tap directly off the tail lights, you should thoroughly test for function. Additional lights can sometimes push the total current draw of the lighting circuit above normal operating parameters, at which point the BCM will shut off power to that function on whichever lamp you tapped into. I think Putco sells a kit that draws power from an auxiliary source to bypass this issue, but their prices are absurd IMO.
 

Dad

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I don't have any specific product recommendations, but you should be aware of electrical quirks on these trucks.

If you plug anything into the 4-pin trailer connector, the truck will think a trailer is connected. It will disable blind spot monitoring. You'll probably also get a warning on the dash that the trailer lights are out because the LEDs will be drawing less current than the truck expects.

Whatever product you get, it should be powered by a different source. If you tap directly off the tail lights, you should thoroughly test for function. Additional lights can sometimes push the total current draw of the lighting circuit above normal operating parameters, at which point the BCM will shut off power to that function on whichever lamp you tapped into. I think Putco sells a kit that draws power from an auxiliary source to bypass this issue, but their prices are absurd IMO.
Sound advice.
 

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@Sticks has offered solid advice. I'd like to add that if you really need more lights for braking, you may need to run power directly from the truck's battery. Personally, I think the Maverick's brake lights are more than sufficient with the modules being oversized. Curious where you are planning to put the extra brake lights.
 

EffNo50

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B.R.E. (Before Rear-Ended) I ran the extra strip along the bottom edge of my tailgate, others have run it under, along the back edge of the bed. Now mine is along the bottom edge of the tail gate cap, right up, in their face. I had almost 3,000 miles B.R.E., and now have 15,000 A.R.E. for a total of 18,000. Oh, and also along the top edge of the rear window.
Ford Maverick Tailgate lights recommendation? 1778650794727-38


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I don't do things the easy way, so mine are tapped into the front turn signals and the Center-High-Mount Stop light for redundancy (separate circuits).
 
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OleFordGuy

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Hey all

Anyone have any experience and or recommendations for adding tailgate lights.
Have a 26 xlt and would like to add them. There seems to be a lot on the market.
Thanks
search the forum for the term tailgate light bar. you should be able to see some good info. If i recall correctly there was a change in the wiring on the MY25-MY26 so verify the compatibility with whatever you decide to purchase. The Curt wiring harness is probably the most recommended that i've seen. Putco is a solid brand choice imo but there's other brands out there. I'll just stress verify verify verify before purchase. Like already mentioned, the computer and electrical quirks/problems have been reported

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/56567

https://www.putco.com/product/red-white-blade-led-tailgate-light-bar/
 
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Xbert

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As I will continue my research as suggested.
Any Idea on how long before any issues might appear?
Would it show up immediately or long term?
 

Itsdavebr0

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I have this one. (the bar and the harness)

I’m unsure if the harness will work with the 25+ models though.

I did have an issue with it causing the driver side taillight to not work, but it swapped the bulbs in it to LEDs and used FORScan to turn off hyper flash and it’s been fine since.
 
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Xbert

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yea my my26 has very few options that have been tested for compatibility
 

Glen Baker LLC

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B.R.E. (Before Rear-Ended) I ran the extra strip along the bottom edge of my tailgate, others have run it under, along the back edge of the bed. Now mine is along the bottom edge of the tail gate cap, right up, in their face. I had almost 3,000 miles B.R.E., and now have 15,000 A.R.E. for a total of 18,000. Oh, and also along the top edge of the rear window.
1778650794727-38.webp


https://amazon.com/dp/B07VSHB4Z8

I don't do things the easy way, so mine are tapped into the front turn signals and the Center-High-Mount Stop light for redundancy (separate circuits).
Now all you have to do, is to get the drivers behind you to look up from their phone.😂
 
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EffNo50

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Now all you have to do, is to get the drivers behind you to look up from their phone.
The extra lights and the pulse I'd like to think might catch their attention out of the corner of their eye if they are thinking about the road ahead of them at all. I will damn sure be asking what they were looking at because it sure wasn't anywhere near the road. If you're driving, that should be your job. I will admit to eating and drinking, but not an alcholoic drink! I like to run with the ACC for the split seconds my eyes leave the path in front of me, usually to look over my shoulder and check the mirrors. There are occasional glances to the buttons or a sandwich bag, but they are very brief. I'm not watching a movie, or reading a book, or doom scrolling some social media site while I'm driving....not even MTC :). Now sitting at my desk at my desk at work waiting for the phone to ring, yeah I'm scrolling MTC there.
 

Dad

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B.R.E. (Before Rear-Ended) I ran the extra strip along the bottom edge of my tailgate, others have run it under, along the back edge of the bed. Now mine is along the bottom edge of the tail gate cap, right up, in their face. I had almost 3,000 miles B.R.E., and now have 15,000 A.R.E. for a total of 18,000. Oh, and also along the top edge of the rear window.
1778650794727-38.webp


https://amazon.com/dp/B07VSHB4Z8
https://amazon.com/dp/B003AT2W54
https://amazon.com/dp/B0BNCNP1D1


I don't do things the easy way, so mine are tapped into the front turn signals and the Center-High-Mount Stop light for redundancy (separate circuits).
So, this doesn't interfere with tailgate operation? I'd be curious as to how you ran your wires without pinching or obstruction.
I see that you incorporated a flashing module. Did you do this for the light strip or just the 3rd brake light on the cab? Many states have a problem with flashing brake lights for the main lights. If just for the cab light, they make a flashing bulb to replace the OEM . . . no module needed. Obviously, I'm guessing about your arrangement and would welcome any direction.
 
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EffNo50

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So, this doesn't interfere with tailgate operation? I'd be curious as to how you ran your wires without pinching or obstruction.
I see that you incorporated a flashing module. Did you do this for the light strip or just the 3rd brake light on the cab? Many states have a problem with flashing brake lights for the main lights. If just for the cab light, they make a flashing bulb to replace the OEM . . . no module needed. Obviously, I'm guessing about your arrangement and would welcome any direction.
My add-on wiring follows the rest of the factory wiring, out of the hole in the bottom of the tailgate. The pulse module is currently wired after the C.H.M.S. bulb and only runs the LED strips. When I drop the headliner down to add t-slots to the roof I will wire it in before it. I had one of those pulse 921 bulbs. My OCD didn't like the different pulse rate, even though I don't follow myself to see it:)
 
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Dad

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My add-on wiring follows the rest of the factory wiring, out of the hole in the bottom of the tailgate. The pulse module is currently wired after the C.H.M.S. bulb and only runs the LED strips. When I drop the headliner down to add t-slots to the roof I will wire it in before it. I had one of those pulse 921 bulbs. My OCD didn't like the different pulse rate, even though I don't follow myself to see it:)
Thanks.
You'll have to educate me on what C.H.M.S. abbreviates for.
I've not experienced any difficulty from the OCD regarding the pulse bulb on the cab, but then again, we have different year Mavs and that may be a factor, or just a defective bulb. (?)
* I often quote myself - seems reasonable to be able to follow myself.* :ROFLMAO:
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