2013 Truck Bed Lighting

This isn't quite finished. It got dark before I could clean everything up and actually mount the lighting. But here is my $40 solution to clean bed lighting that comes on with the cargo lamp. I used some RGB 5050 LEDs (50 LEDs per meter). It's a 5m roll. I then used an RF controller, with redundant controls on the box. I imagine the remote will become lost or damaged. It also has a power loss memory, which is perfect for this application. Every time power is cut and then turned back on, it will power back on in the same mode it was in when it lost power.

First I made a pass-through harness for the cargo lamp. This allows me to tap its signal without cutting the factory harness:









I wrapped the second connector in foam tape, so there wouldn't be any rattling.




I thought I would be able to power the LEDs from here, but this truck is too smart. It detected a load difference and turned off the cargo lamps right away. So, I just wired up a relay and made another pass-through harness under the driver's seat, where I pulled power going to the back seat cigarette lighter.

As you can see, I haven't mounted the lights in the bed of the truck yet. But they do work and they're pretty bright. I opted for the RGB 5050 lights, since they're about the same price. But I think it will stay on white 99% of the time.

2013 Ram RGB 5050 LED Bed Lights - YouTube

That's a really cool idea! I have a bunch of 5050 rolls (I use them in my Christmas light shows). I may have to pre-wire for that when I have everything out for the cam and remote start install.

It's definitely the same tear down you'll be doing for remote start.

Nice I have a roll of all white I was planning I setting up in my bed. Just have not had time. But the multi color is nice.
In my old 98 F150 I took some fog light and tupperware and had a nice setup. Worked great for camping.





Where are you running the wire between the cab and the bed? The setup in my F150 I had 10g wire fused under the hood, then split inside the tupperware with fuse block. The 10g wire ran on the frame rail then found its way through a rubber boot in the bed. One problem was there was a 1' section where the wire jumped from the frame rail to the bed, there was no where to mount it too. Driving in a snowstorm, one year, in 18" plus of snow, for 4.5hrs (should have only taken 3hrs) I stopped for gas and noticed my wire hanging. The snow load broke it. I did have it covered in that corrugated plastic tubing too.

I like the idea for the cargo light switch! Once you used the relay you had no problem tapping off the cargo light for power? Where did you get/ how did you make the pass-through harness? Any thought about just coming off the light switch in the dash?

LOFSFIRE said:

Nice I have a roll of all white I was planning I setting up in my bed. Just have not had time. But the multi color is nice.
In my old 98 F150 I took some fog light and tupperware and had a nice setup. Worked great for camping.



Where are you running the wire between the cab and the bed? The setup in my F150 I had 10g wire fused under the hood, then split inside the tupperware with fuse block. The 10g wire ran on the frame rail then found its way through a rubber boot in the bed. One problem was there was a 1' section where the wire jumped from the frame rail to the bed, there was no where to mount it too. Driving in a snowstorm, one year, in 18" plus of snow, for 4.5hrs (should have only taken 3hrs) I stopped for gas and noticed my wire hanging. The snow load broke it. I did have it covered in that corrugated plastic tubing too.

I like the idea for the cargo light switch! Once you used the relay you had no problem tapping off the cargo light for power? Where did you get/ how did you make the pass-through harness? Any thought about just coming off the light switch in the dash?

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The wife is driving my truck now. But I'll post the finished pictures when she gets back. The module is sitting under the back left seat. I need to fab a bracket for it, and get a relay harness. Right now, I'm just using 1/4" connectors, but I think a harness will look cleaner.

I ran the wire through the body plug under the left rear seat storage area. It runs along the factory wiring, which is above the frame rail and gas tank. So hopefully nothing will drag it down. The wire I ran was some left over 9 core wire. I only need 4 cores for the light, but I want to add a tailgate ajar switch to trigger it as well. Then I'll probably add a cut-off switch, so you can turn it off.

I made the pass-through harness with some connectors I had left over in my garage from another project. I don't think you can just tap off the switch, because that is a data signal and not a +12V line. I pretty much did this entire project with stuff I had sitting around. Except the LED controller. I spent time finding the perfect controller for my needs.

Here is the bed:
2013 Ram truck bed lights 5050 RGB LEds - YouTube



How I ran the wire:




Here is my wiring in the cab. I need a relay harness and a board to mount the pieces on. I'll do that when I get back in town.



The parts you need to make your own pass-through harness are:
Female Connector
Male Connector
Female Pins
Male Pins

Looks great, I did white strips with a waterproof switch in the bed of my dads truck

I was looking at the RGB LEDs for another project though, do you have a link to what you used (sorry of its already been posted and I looked over it)

Looks good! thanks for the updates, when I get around to mine I will post some pictures. It will be a few weeks a best.

VdubBry said:

That's a really cool idea! I have a bunch of 5050 rolls (I use them in my Christmas light shows). I may have to pre-wire for that when I have everything out for the cam and remote start install.

Click to expand...

Did you ever do this? Or install the camera?

I wish! I need to make some time to get it done. I have all the parts etc just zero time. I did the complete audio overhaul and then that's it. Maybe this holiday weekend or a couple nights this week. I hope!

Another option other then split loom wire covering,if you're only running a couple single strands of wire,is to run it inside clear vinyl tubing.
I find it takes mud and snow better then the plastic split loom covering.
Only downside is fishing the wire into the tubing.
Another option is using an outdoor extension cord as your wire runs,and you can get them from 18G to 12G,so you can pretty well cover any load you'll want fed

Great information. Thanks for including the links to the parts for the harness. For someone like me, I would have no idea where to begin to find those components... very helpful.

How did you add the pass through connection? I see the pictures, but I'm not very electrically savvy. It states you didn't have to cut the factory harness, would you mind explaining how you added your extra connection without cutting the harness? Thanks.

Passt said:

How did you add the pass through connection? I see the pictures, but I'm not very electrically savvy. It states you didn't have to cut the factory harness, would you mind explaining how you added your extra connection without cutting the harness? Thanks.

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I used a matching male and female connector and in that connector the wires went straight through and to my relay.

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Thanks for the reply Where did you get the extra wire? It looks just like the stock harness, very clean install.

I was curious where you get your wire sleeve and connectors from as well

Stangshcky12 said:

I was curious where you get your wire sleeve and connectors from as well

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All of the connector links are in my post. The sleeving is called Techflex.

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Subscribed for the part numbers

rgardjr said:

Subscribed for the part numbers

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All of the part numbers are on the first page.

jeepguy_1980 said:

The parts you need to make your own pass-through harness are:
Female Connector
Male Connector
Female Pins
Male Pins

Click to expand...

very nice write up