Can I tap into the bed lights?

[Tacopimp]

I have a 2025 Bighorn that came with the factory bed lights. They barely light up the truck bed, so I bought some LED lights from Amazon. I would like to tap into the OEM bed lights, is that possible? Thank you

 

[markabby]

why not?

 

[Tacopimp]

why not?

Well, I don't know if they have a harness with more than a 1 hot and 1 ground wire.

 

[MD Sledhead]

I had the dealer install the Ram LED bed lights in my truck. They light it up pretty good. Wonder if you could just switch?

 

[markabby]

Well, I don't know if they have a harness with more than a 1 hot and 1 ground wire.

if you want to do a simple install, remove a factory light and tap into the wires that feed them.

what LED lights did you get from amazon? usually, LED use two wires..red is + and black is - you can attach the black to any ground and the red to the + (hot) wire at thee lights

 

[GTyankee]

5th Gen Ram 1500 bed light video

being as you already have the OEM harness
You should be able to figure out just where to tap into it

5th Gen Ram Bed Cargo Light Installation

In this video I go over the installation of Mopar's bed cargo lights for the 5th gen Ram. These are available as an option on the Rams when purchased or, as ...

www.youtube.com

 

[Tacopimp]

I had the dealer install the Ram LED bed lights in my truck. They light it up pretty good. Wonder if you could just switch?

I have the Ram LED bed lights already, they just don't light up the bed very well for me. In my 2021 Warlock I added LED lights to te bed because it didn't come with any and they were so much brighter. So I just want to add some more in my Bighorn.

if you want to do a simple install, remove a factory light and tap into the wires that feed them.

what LED lights did you get from amazon? usually, LED use two wires..red is + and black is - you can attach the black to any ground and the red to the + (hot) wire at thee lights

Ok, thank you. That was my plan, I just wasn't sure if there was anything strange going on there as far as the harness went.

5th Gen Ram 1500 bed light video

being as you already have the OEM harness
You should be able to figure out just where to tap into it

5th Gen Ram Bed Cargo Light Installation

In this video I go over the installation of Mopar's bed cargo lights for the 5th gen Ram. These are available as an option on the Rams when purchased or, as ...

www.youtube.com

Thanks for the video. From the video it looks like just 2 wires coming out of the light itself, so I think I can just tap that with no issues.

 

[RamDiver]

I have a 2025 Bighorn that came with the factory bed lights. They barely light up the truck bed, so I bought some LED lights from Amazon. I would like to tap into the OEM bed lights, is that possible? Thank you

I wasn't overly impressed with the factory bed lights in my Warlock.

I finally fixed that by replacing the cargo lights with LED bulbs, which were very inexpensive.

You could likely read a fine print book in there now. The installation was painfully simple and quick, less than 10 minutes while taking my time.

I know that doesn't help with your current approach but if it were me, doing this project again, I'd forget the labour and buy the cargo lights.


Auxito 7440

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[markabby]

i've seen some guys just add LED strip lights to the bed all the way around. They seem to light it up pretty good. I'm planning on doing that to mine this winter

 

[Tacopimp]

So I attempted adding them to the current wiring that is attached to the Mopar factory bed light. When I try and turn them on all the lights flash and then go out. Pushing the on/off button does nothing. Then if I restart the truck they will flash and then go out again. This is the new lights and the factory bed lights. I have tried eliminating the factory/mopar bed lights by not splicing them back in, but the same thing happens. Is there anywhere else I can tap into that will have the bed lights come on just like the factory/Mopar bed lights? These LEDs I am trying to add in are not pulling any type of crazy load, and it's not blowing a fuse at all or I would need to replace them. Anyone have any ideas? Maybe add a resistor? Or can I tap into a different wire? Thank you.

 

[Tacopimp]

So you definitely can't just tap into the positive & negative wires for the existing bed lights. It creates a short. So the only way to tap into those wires would be to use a relay and wire it up. So rather than do that I am just wiring the positive of the new lights to the 12v constant on the trailer hitch (red wire under the bed behind the plug I believe) putting an inline fuse there, and ground out the lights to bolt or somewhere under the bed and put a magnetic switch inline so when the truck bed opens and closes so will the switch, turning on/off the new lights.

 

[BigWhiteSnake]

I’m pretty sure the bed lights are CANBUS.

 

[Skyjockey]

You need to measure voltage at the lights. I suspect it isn't as simple as Gnd and tap the "+". They may be wired in series or switching the gnd vs + or somehow going they the damned radio lol

 

[JW2 Innovations]

On my 2016 2500 I created my own plug-in harness that tee's out the connector that goes to the factory bed lights in rear corners to add an additional plug to add my own string of LED lights. Plenty to choose from on Amazon. Mine were squared shaped at each light so I 3D printed a mount puck (not an official name) that gives a slight angle for each light to point more towards inside of bed...not that you would need on all options available out there, but worked for me. Two wires to the LEDs, pos and neg. They come on when OEM ones do, and go off at same time as well. Thought of hard wiring to constant power with its own switch/relay, but tbh for my use that was an over engineering path. I mainly created a T harness to split out power so that when I replace later...as nothing lasts forever..... it would be easier and don't have to worry about the connectors since they are in the back corner bottoms of the truck where "stuff" usually goes when driving in rain/wet. Your truck, your choice as usual.

 

[Tacopimp]

You need to measure voltage at the lights. I suspect it isn't as simple as Gnd and tap the "+". They may be wired in series or switching the gnd vs + or somehow going they the damned radio lol

Yes. The factory lights don't have enough voltage to power anything else, so tapping into those cause a short. Only way to directly tap into them would be to also use a relay. Seems like its easier to just tap into a constant 12v wire, and use a magnetic switch on the bed so they come on when the bed opens and breaks the magnetic connection.

On my 2016 2500 I created my own plug-in harness that tee's out the connector that goes to the factory bed lights in rear corners to add an additional plug to add my own string of LED lights. Plenty to choose from on Amazon. Mine were squared shaped at each light so I 3D printed a mount puck (not an official name) that gives a slight angle for each light to point more towards inside of bed...not that you would need on all options available out there, but worked for me. Two wires to the LEDs, pos and neg. They come on when OEM ones do, and go off at same time as well. Thought of hard wiring to constant power with its own switch/relay, but tbh for my use that was an over engineering path. I mainly created a T harness to split out power so that when I replace later...as nothing lasts forever..... it would be easier and don't have to worry about the connectors since they are in the back corner bottoms of the truck where "stuff" usually goes when driving in rain/wet. Your truck, your choice as usual.

Must be wired very differently in 2016. The voltage on the 2025 bed lights is not enough to power more than the Mopar Bed Lights. I am going to tapp into a regular 12v wire to get them power and use a magnetic switch.

 

[tmr91]

I had the dealer install the Ram LED bed lights in my truck. They light it up pretty good. Wonder if you could just switch?

MD Sledhead - Roughly what did the dealer charge to add the bed lights in?

 

[MD Sledhead]

MD Sledhead - Roughly what did the dealer charge to add the bed lights in?

Sorry for the delay... less than 2 hours. maybe 1.5? I think they bill $90/hr

 

[jeffreyw]

I’m pretty sure the bed lights are CANBUS.

Any update on this? i was going to do the same tie in leds by splicing

 

[RamDiver]

Any update on this? i was going to do the same tie in leds by splicing

This is an old thread, and most haven't been around in a while.




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[PdPuNOme]

I would be in interested in the relay method as I agree on my 22 the bed lights are worthless, but adding additional lighting to it would be. Adding to my list of mods to do when come warmer times.