gofishn
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2014
- Posts
- 5,082
- Reaction score
- 10,146
- Location
- Iowa
- Ram Year
- 2022 Ram 1500 5th Gen, Big Horn, 4X4, Crew Cab, 6'4" Box
- Engine
- hemi 5.7L, 345 cu in
Installed an 60" LEDGLOW Tailgate Light Bar.
Got it here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BL1H0M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Because I am basically lazy and figured it would be much easier to buy a T-connector than wiring everything up, I also bought this handy dandy, highly recommended piece of ease and contentment :
Got it here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009FJ38Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Remove the tailgate, as directed by the Owners manual.
Once tailgate is removed, might be a good idea to lug the light bar 'in', make sure the light bar works, has no dead LED's and figure out which side is left blinker, which is Right Blinker.
ALRIGHT!! Everything works and I now know which side is which.
Time to grab a few CD jewel cases, lay those down on the rear bumper, for a level spot to work from. Laid the light bar on the cd cases. Found the exact center of the light bar AND the the opening, below tailgate area.
RUT ROH!
Light bar goes over the very very top of the spare tire opening, which has a plastic cover, that is pushing my light bar up, and away, from the trucks metal.
That ain't going to cut it.
Pop off the cover, for light bar installation. Can tell, there will be no interference, from the light bar, once mounted, in place.
NOTE: once light bar was installed, and everything back together, I still had PLENTY of access to the spare tire winching mechanism. Simply sawed down the cover, to fit in place below light bar, and re-installed it, using weatherstrip adhesive. Could have left it off, completely but figured the the bar, when winching spare up and down, would rub off the trucks paint, form within the opening, and that would not be good.
Put the foam tape on back of light bar, press light bar into place, gently, then drill out holes for screw mounting.
Light bar now in place, time to get under the truck and hide my wiring.
Locate the 7 pin connector. Press down on the clip retainer and slide it out, and away from, the permanently mounted connection.
Here is another pic , of the part that needed removed, shows the plug clip which needs to be pressed down, for removal.
Grab the CURT pigtail connector and hook it up.
Plug the long end, of the Curt connector, to the plug that was removed. Plug the short end, of the Curt connector, to the permanently mounted 7 pin plug.
Plug your light bar into the 4 pronged connection, behind the bumper and out of sight.
Zip tie, in place.
Grab a Torx, remove 2 torx screws, from the side of the drivers rear tail light assembly.
Pull the rear tail light assembly, firmly but gently, straight back from the truck.
There are two "slide Over" plastic posts/clips that hold the assembly, in place.
Find the white wire, with thin brown strip.
Splice in the white wire from the Curt harness.
Use Liquid tape or some such, for a water tight seal and wrap everything up.
Re-install the tail light assembly and the tailgate, then play with your new light bar.
Worst part, about all of this, is when I drive, I cannot see how cool it looks.
Dang it!
EDIT:
Someone asked how I got the light bar to fit, with that plastic piece, which goes around the access port for the spare tire winch mechanism.
I did not go around the hole.
I removed that plastic piece. With it , in place, the light bar was pushed out. So, I took the plastic trim piece off of the spare tire winch access opening.
Placed the tailgate light bar, where I wanted it. Double checked to insure that there was still enough room to use the opening. then installed the light bar, permanently.
When I went to raise my spare tire, which I had lowered for ease of access for the wiring part of the light bar install, I realized that raising the tire would cause the paint to be rubbed of the metal, around the opening. To prevent that form happening, I needed to re-place that little trim piece.
I measured the distance, from the bottom of the light bar, to the very bottom of the access hole, then trimmed the plastic trim piece to fit.
Used Weatherstripping adhesive to hold it in place. Weatherstripping adhesive is what every one used in the 1970's to hold body side molding on, before 3m came out with their double sided super tape. Worked like a charm. IF I ever need to remove that plastic piece again, for whatever reason, it can come off (Be a Pain the butt ... BUT it can come off) and some mineral spirits or goo be gone will clean up the residue.
Hope this helps
Got it here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BL1H0M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Because I am basically lazy and figured it would be much easier to buy a T-connector than wiring everything up, I also bought this handy dandy, highly recommended piece of ease and contentment :
Got it here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009FJ38Q/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Remove the tailgate, as directed by the Owners manual.
Once tailgate is removed, might be a good idea to lug the light bar 'in', make sure the light bar works, has no dead LED's and figure out which side is left blinker, which is Right Blinker.
ALRIGHT!! Everything works and I now know which side is which.
Time to grab a few CD jewel cases, lay those down on the rear bumper, for a level spot to work from. Laid the light bar on the cd cases. Found the exact center of the light bar AND the the opening, below tailgate area.
RUT ROH!
Light bar goes over the very very top of the spare tire opening, which has a plastic cover, that is pushing my light bar up, and away, from the trucks metal.
That ain't going to cut it.
Pop off the cover, for light bar installation. Can tell, there will be no interference, from the light bar, once mounted, in place.
NOTE: once light bar was installed, and everything back together, I still had PLENTY of access to the spare tire winching mechanism. Simply sawed down the cover, to fit in place below light bar, and re-installed it, using weatherstrip adhesive. Could have left it off, completely but figured the the bar, when winching spare up and down, would rub off the trucks paint, form within the opening, and that would not be good.
Put the foam tape on back of light bar, press light bar into place, gently, then drill out holes for screw mounting.
Light bar now in place, time to get under the truck and hide my wiring.
Locate the 7 pin connector. Press down on the clip retainer and slide it out, and away from, the permanently mounted connection.
Here is another pic , of the part that needed removed, shows the plug clip which needs to be pressed down, for removal.
Grab the CURT pigtail connector and hook it up.
Plug the long end, of the Curt connector, to the plug that was removed. Plug the short end, of the Curt connector, to the permanently mounted 7 pin plug.
Plug your light bar into the 4 pronged connection, behind the bumper and out of sight.
Zip tie, in place.
Grab a Torx, remove 2 torx screws, from the side of the drivers rear tail light assembly.
Pull the rear tail light assembly, firmly but gently, straight back from the truck.
There are two "slide Over" plastic posts/clips that hold the assembly, in place.
Find the white wire, with thin brown strip.
Splice in the white wire from the Curt harness.
Use Liquid tape or some such, for a water tight seal and wrap everything up.
Re-install the tail light assembly and the tailgate, then play with your new light bar.
Worst part, about all of this, is when I drive, I cannot see how cool it looks.
Dang it!
EDIT:
Someone asked how I got the light bar to fit, with that plastic piece, which goes around the access port for the spare tire winch mechanism.
I did not go around the hole.
I removed that plastic piece. With it , in place, the light bar was pushed out. So, I took the plastic trim piece off of the spare tire winch access opening.
Placed the tailgate light bar, where I wanted it. Double checked to insure that there was still enough room to use the opening. then installed the light bar, permanently.
When I went to raise my spare tire, which I had lowered for ease of access for the wiring part of the light bar install, I realized that raising the tire would cause the paint to be rubbed of the metal, around the opening. To prevent that form happening, I needed to re-place that little trim piece.
I measured the distance, from the bottom of the light bar, to the very bottom of the access hole, then trimmed the plastic trim piece to fit.
Used Weatherstripping adhesive to hold it in place. Weatherstripping adhesive is what every one used in the 1970's to hold body side molding on, before 3m came out with their double sided super tape. Worked like a charm. IF I ever need to remove that plastic piece again, for whatever reason, it can come off (Be a Pain the butt ... BUT it can come off) and some mineral spirits or goo be gone will clean up the residue.
Hope this helps
Last edited: