NiLight 60” LED bed light kit installed with tailgate magnetic switch

So installed the 60” NiLight LED bed light kit in my Lariat. I chose to mount the lights to the bottom of the tie down locking rails. I don’t like seeing LEDs in installs and the light level is more than sufficient. Also the flat surface of the rail bottoms will provide long term adhesion compared to trying to attach them to the rough surface of the spray in bedliner. I used a Directed Electronics 8600 Micro Magnetic Switch that allowed me to have the lights come on when you open the tailgate then turn off when you close the tailgate. I used the Ford provided 12 volt accessory harness for power. I haven’t timed yet but have seen it stay powered over 20 minutes so far. I also added a manual override switch in case I wanted to turn them off when the tailgate is open. They came with their own inline switch but I was looking for a cleaner look. Really happy with the results.

Looks good.

I did the same button in the same spot as well. I centred my magnetic switch by the hole middle and below the bed and fed the wires out of sight through the hole.

I purchased some additional 130 lb magnets on Amazon and placed one inside of the opening in the tailgate as I felt over time the other half of the magnetic switch might get knocked off loading and unloading stuff.

https://a.co/d/hwGM5Su

Works very well.

I used Forscan to change the 12v shutoff to 36,000 seconds giving me 10 hours before shutoff. Something I’d read Pastor_Zatx had done.

[UPDATE] Forscan Mod: Enable 12v Outlets Always Hot or Change Delay Variable

Thanks. I like your idea about the magnetic switch location. Nice.

Looks great, where did you purchase the “button” switch you put on the 12 volt outlet! Really like the mag switch as well!

On Amazon
19mm Latching Push Button Switches SPDT ON/Off Waterproof Black Metal 12V Ring LED with Wire Plug (White) https://a.co/d/fTT0oo4

Also I got the idea about the magnetic switch setup from this Chris Fix video

Parrotheadad said:

Thanks. I like your idea about the magnetic switch location. Nice.

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Thanks. I also wired the light on the switch to be on when open to locate in the dark if the bed lights were to be left off accidentally.

Both the bed lights and switch light go off when the tailgate is closed.

Just a little trial and error with the instructions.

I installed my lights on my hard bed cover rails and connected them to the bed light switch. Instead of tapping into the OEM wiring harness I bought connectors and made a plug and play pigtail. My bed lights all come on and off at the same time.

h20mxracer222 said:

I installed my lights on my hard bed cover rails and connected them to the bed light switch. Instead of tapping into the OEM wiring harness I bought connectors and made a plug and play pigtail. My bed lights all come on and off at the same time.

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Do you have some photos of this pigtail you made? (Not trying to hijack the thread.)

Lights look great, But they look 48" to me not 60". The bed is 54" long, and they are shorter than the bed.

I like it!

mag switch and wiring might need a guard or relocation depending on what you haul. Just be careful closing the tailgate as "stuff" can lodge in that location.

Looks pretty good!

LSchicago said:

Lights look great, But they look 48" to me not 60". The bed is 54" long, and they are shorter than the bed.

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Yes they are a bit shorter to be the length of the tie down rails. The strips are connected to the bottom of those rails and are out sight. I opted for a cleaner look and there is plenty of light. Also adhesion to any part of the spray in bed liner is not going to hold up long term. Installs where you see the strip exposed look cheap and nasty in my opinion.

Parrotheadad said:

Yes they are a bit shorter to be the length of the tie down rails. The strips are connected to the bottom of those rails and are out sight. I opted for a cleaner look and there is plenty of light. Also adhesion to any part of the spray in bed liner is not going to hold up long term. Installs where you see the strip exposed look cheap and nasty in my opinion.

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Yes, indirect non exposed looks best. Did you cut these to length?

I installed LED lights in the Bed light (by the third brake light) and they do an excellent job lighting up the bed and surrounding area.

LSchicago said:

Yes, indirect non exposed looks best. Did you cut these to length?

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Yes I did about 12” so they would fit the tie down rails. Plenty of light though.