Led bed lighting

[jaycabral27]

This is my fourth led bed install and I finally got around to doing mine. This is a very easy and cheap install to do.

Parts required.
Led strip 5 meters (300 smd 3258) 8$
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B005EHHLD8/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Automotive 3M tape 60$ can use for approximately 5 trucks on one roll.
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B001JT3A3K/ref=mp_s_a_1_24?qid=1445516538&sr=1-24&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=tape+3m&dpPl=1&dpID=31LJH7TUJUL&ref=plSrch


Install
Install the automotive 3m tape around the bed where you want your lights to go.
After you have installed the tape you can then stick the led strip to them. Make sure you start at the back of the truck cause you will be running the wire from there.
There are two wires to hook up and you will need about3 feet of a pair of wire.
I ran my wire through the back of taillight and pulled it through under the truck to the license plate light. I stripped back the license plate light wires and hooked into it.
License plate light wiring
White wire is +12v
Black is ground
I soldered my connections and used some black flexible tabbing to run the wires through for protection.

 

[Graygoose]

Looks great!

 

[xrsman]

Very clean man! Nice!

 

[EagleChief]

I'm guessing your lights will be constant on being hooked into the license plate light, correct... As long as your parking lights are on?

Looks good! I still want to do this.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[jaycabral27]

Yah exactly I didn't want to have to install a switch like I did on my friends f150. I felt as long as my license plate lights are on its good enough since there pretty much always on at night when parking lights are on.

 

[apepe0738]

I thought about doing this, thanks for the write-up! What do you guys think of using a hood switch like this?



I figured if I installed the switch the lights would come on when the tailgate is opened. Thoughts?

 

[adrianp89]

I thought about a hoodpin or if I could find a place to stealth mount a mercury switch to turn on the lights when the tailgate drops.

 

[apepe0738]

I thought about a hoodpin or if I could find a place to stealth mount a mercury switch to turn on the lights when the tailgate drops.

Mercury switch is a good idea as well!

 

[jaycabral27]

Just thought I'd update you guys with some issues. With my truck being a 2015 and the canbus being very finicky I had to review my power source. I am no longer tapping into power at the license plate light. I am instead tapping into my 7 pin trailer harness which is right beside it anyways. I'm using the white/brown wire which is the taillight wire. This does the exact same as license plate lights however does not give any issues with canbus as the trailer harness allows for the extra amperage.
So when my taillightt's are on my LEDs are on which is basically only at night so it works out good. I ran into this issue when trying to install my after market Backup camera into the rear view mirror I purchased and I couldn't use my reverse light at the taillights I had to use them at the 7 pin trailer harness. I will do a write up on that when I get a chance for anyone looking for a budget rear view camera it works awesome by the way I've had it over 6 months now with no issues.