Bed lights

[Chief20]

New Bighorn. HOW do i know if my Ram 1500 is pre wired for bed lights?

 

[markabby]

are there lights in there now?

 

[Chief20]

No there are currently no lights just covers for them, but I've read that their be plugs available underneath the bed?

 

[etbrown4]

If you have no wiring inside those covers then it's not prewired period.

There's an easy solution. Pick up a $20 set on Amazon, and you can pick up the hot wire for the cargo light etc, in a wire bundle under the driver side rear floor. It's white with tan tracer. Pick up a good ground anywhere and you are all set. Use a 12v test light to verify you have the right wire.

You need no switches and no relays, and no harnesses. The bedlights will come on when the doors or tailgate opens, and back off accordingly.

 

[RamDiver]

The OE bedlights on my Warlock don't come on when I open the tailgate without hitting the switch in the bed or opening a door.

Then, if triggered by a door opening, they shutoff sooner than I'd like, if I spend any time back there.

I often use the switch when loading at night because opening the door wouldn't be convenient.

I'd splurge and install a switch back there too.

YMMV

.

 

[Wild one]

Instead of messing with the trucks wiring and maybe screwing something up,i'd run a hot feed from the battery and mount one of these switches so when the tailgate is opened,the bed lights come on. They're rated at 20 amps,so no need for a relay to run a set of bed lights,just need one wire off the batteries positive to the lights with an inline fuse holder with a 3 or 5 amp fuse,then run the ground wire off the lights to the switch.The switch can be cut to the length you need

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[diymirage]

Instead of messing with the trucks wiring and maybe screwing something up,i'd run a hot feed from the battery and mount one of these switches so when the tailgate is opened,the bed lights come on. They're rated at 20 amps,so no need for a relay to run a set of bed lights,just need one wire off the batteries positive to the lights with an inline fuse holder with a 3 or 5 amp fuse,then run the ground wire off the lights to the switch.The switch can be cut to the length you need

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That's why I did, only I drew from a hot in the 7 pin wiring harness

 

[Wild one]

That's why I did, only I drew from a hot in the 7 pin wiring harness

I'm not a fan of tapping into Dodges factory wiring,it's basically as light duty as they can get away with to save weight and money If possible i run my own wire feeds to things,but then again,i'm one of the few guys who run a relocated battery in a Ram Big ole 75 lb AGM battery sitting in the back box,the front box is the fuel cell for the nitrous,lol.It's even NHRA legal with a master disconnect switch,that shuts the truck down when flipped off,the switch on the side of the battery box,kills the whole electrical system,while the bumper switch kills the fuse box,and shuts the truck off With both switches off the truck is pretty safe from the joy rider style thief,or the ones that can clone the fob,won't stop the hardcore thief that shows up with a tow truck or flatbed,but they're not as common,as the joyrider/cloning thief

 

[diymirage]

I'm not a fan of tapping into Dodges factory wiring,it's basically as light duty as they can get away with to save weight and money If possible i run my own wire feeds to things,but then again,i'm one of the few guys who run a relocated battery in a Ram Big ole 75 lb AGM battery sitting in the back box,the front box is the fuel cell for the nitrous,lol.It's even NHRA legal with a master disconnect switch,that shuts the truck down when flipped off,the switch on the side of the battery box,kills the whole electrical system,while the bumper switch kills the fuse box,and shuts the truck off

Most of my stuff I do run fresh wires from the battery to a relay and so on, but LED bed lights just weren't worth the hassle


I'll have to see if I can add a second battery to the ram for plowing, I used to have a back blade on the superdookie and kinda miss it on the ram, but they suck juice like a fat kid at a birthday party


That disconnect is cool, but not as slick as my all time favorite...

 

[Wild one]

Most of my stuff I do run fresh wires from the battery to a relay and so on, but LED bed lights just weren't worth the hassle


I'll have to see if I can add a second battery to the ram for plowing, I used to have a back blade on the superdookie and kinda miss it on the ram, but they suck juice like a fat kid at a birthday party


That disconnect is cool, but not as slick as my all time favorite...

That is cool,but i'm not sure if every tech inspector would pass it,they should,but catch one on a bad day he might not pass it,as it blends into the plate to much.The whole idea is,it has to be easily found,and easily accessed,and trying to blend it into a licence plate might be an issue with some tech inspectors.
It is a neat idea though.
I run my airbag lines to the licence plate bolts,lol.

 

[GTyankee]

I do not have pix, but i recall on my first 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, there was a wiring junction.
It was located along the Driver's side Frame near the Rear Axle.

It was found by a Line-X Store.
( A tech there had to remove the Tailgate to apply the coating.
That truck year did not come with a Tailgate Camera
In 2010, the Dodge Ram 1500 came with the Tailgate Camera.
In 2010 i went to a dealership to have the Tailgate Camera installed ).

In the 2009, the camera kit wiring junctions were
1 ) was at the Camera, inside of the tailgate
2 ) i believe was behind the License Plate
3 ) was at the Drivers side Frame/Axle area

One of the Techs at Line-X disconnected the wiring at #3
another Tech disconnected the #2 connection
....................................................................

Back when FCA was running things,
we could go to the BodyBuilders Site & anyone could look at the FREE Wiring Schematics for each vehicle.
When Stellantis took over they removed the Bodybuilders site

The FCA Body Builders site showed another connection at that #3 location ...

Some, if not all 4th Gen Dodge Ram or Ram models were Wired for a Topper, Shell or Cap

This video shows that connection using a 3rd brake light
He mentions 2 locations that the connection could be found

How Do You Hook Up a Camper Shell Brake Light?

Tips and tricks how-to wire a 3rd high mount brake light from your truck to your shell topper or camper.Product links:Brake light → https://amzn.to/3hGaz8eRe...

www.youtube.com

 

[diymirage]

That is cool,but i'm not sure if every tech inspector would pass it,they should,but catch one on a bad day he might not pass it,as it blends into the plate to much.The whole idea is,it has to be easily found,and easily accessed,and trying to blend it into a licence plate might be an issue with some tech inspectors.
It is a neat idea though.
I run my airbag lines to the licence plate bolts,lol.

So the story goes his local tech guy was a real stickler and kept giving him grief for not having the switch clearly marked

Getting the license plate was his response to the tech guy...kinda hard to miss



I agree, license plates are a great place to hide suspension valves, and I must admit, I'm impressed to see you got one line for each shock
Most people T them together ( only to have terrible body roll when they hit a curve and the inside shock 'unloads' dropping the body even more)

Takes a special kind of genius to simply run two lines

 

[Wild one]

So the story goes his local tech guy was a real stickler and kept giving him grief for not having the switch clearly marked

Getting the license plate was his response to the tech guy...kinda hard to miss



I agree, license plates are a great place to hide suspension valves, and I must admit, I'm impressed to see you got one line for each shock
Most people T them together ( only to have terrible body roll when they hit a curve and the inside shock 'unloads' dropping the body even more)

Takes a special kind of genius to simply run two lines

Common sense goes along ways,but sadly it seems to be going by the wayside more and more.

 

[diymirage]

Common sense goes along ways,but sadly it seems to be going by the wayside more and more.

common sense is a curse because those of us who have it have to deal with those of us who dont

 

[Wild one]

So the story goes his local tech guy was a real stickler and kept giving him grief for not having the switch clearly marked

Getting the license plate was his response to the tech guy...kinda hard to miss



I agree, license plates are a great place to hide suspension valves, and I must admit, I'm impressed to see you got one line for each shock
Most people T them together ( only to have terrible body roll when they hit a curve and the inside shock 'unloads' dropping the body even more)

Takes a special kind of genius to simply run two lines

I don't run the airbags for handling loads,i run them to help plant the tires at the track,torque always lifts the pass side tire,so i usually run with about 9 or 10 psi in the pass bag,and between 5 and 7 psi in the drivers bag,to offset the torque twist on the diff.

 

[diymirage]

I don't run the airbags for handling loads,i run them to help plant the tires at the track,torque always lifts the pass side tire,so i usually run with about 9 or 10 psi in the pass bag,and between 5 and 7 psi in the drivers bag,to offset the torque twist on the diff.

I run mine for looks, to make sure the duster has that ubercool 70s rake

Plus, I got a set of N50s I throw on for fun sometimes (not sure it's fun, it's like having the back end on rollerskates)

Those things stick out about 2-3 inches so if I run them i put a few extra pounds to keep the fenders off the wheels (this is before I aired em up further, of course)

 

[blackbetty14]

I did factory Bed lights on my 24 BTS. Mine did not come and the factory kit the pin out is under the dash and requires a computer reflash with sales codes. I wired mine up to the trailer power (using a harness for my reverse light so didn't touch factory wiring). I then removed the push button momentary switch in the factory driver side light and put a sealed rocker switch. Now I have full control over my bed lights with a manual switch and they work good. not as bright as the aftermarket but fit/finish is factory and works well.

 

[RamDiver]

One more consideration for bed lighting, I upgraded the CHMSL cargo light bulbs to LED and WOW!

You could read a book back there now. I had contemplated adding more bed lighting, but not after the improved cargo lighting upgrade.

Changing the bulbs only takes a few minutes, even with careful cleaning before and after lens removal.

Plus, when I come home after dark, the cargo light illuminates the front door sufficiently to find the keyhole from 40' away.

.

 

[Ondgas]

I bought a set of LED bed liner lights with a switch. I tied into the Hotwire on the trailer plug in. It’s always hot and it’s right there under the bed. Eazee Peazee!!!! Switchable when you need them.

 

[Chief20]

I'm not an electrical guru, nor have I done a ton of work on vehicles. Does anyone have a simple video on how to tie in the bed lights to the tow package?