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Bed light install help?!

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Old May 29, 2016 | 09:34 AM
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F1502010ford's Avatar
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Have a 2016 screw xlt 6.5' bed there is what I believe to be a bed light button by the head light switch. And there are two plugs In The corner of the bed. Are these for bed lights? How hard is the install? Is the truck pre wired ?
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Old May 29, 2016 | 09:50 AM
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the switch for the bed lights is not in the cab. it's in the bed - pull the tail light and see if the wiring is there, you'll be able to tell pretty quick. even if it's not, the wiring would be fairly simple. run a fused hot wire from the battery and ground inside the tail light housing once you pull it. i'm sure you could even run to a factory switch and lights for an OEM look.

here's what the factory ones look like. note the switch below.

Last edited by j.digiacomo; May 29, 2016 at 10:08 AM.
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Old May 29, 2016 | 10:24 AM
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I tapped into the hot wire on the trailer harness and ran that up to the tail light area. It turns out the hole on the top left of that picture, closer to the tailgate, is a perfect fit for a rocker switch from RadioShack. I then ran LEDs along the rails and hooked them up to the switch, adding a ground during the process. It was a super easy job and it was absolutely worth it. Food for thought: consider whether you want to use an "always on" power source or an auto shutoff source. I deliberately chose the trailer circuit because it prevents me from leaving the lights on and draining the battery.
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Old May 29, 2016 | 11:56 AM
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When I installed mine I put in a 3 position switch - On - Off - On. One of the positions is always on, the other goes to a mercury switch in the tailgate that obtains the ground when the tailgate is opened. I normally leave the switch in the Off position. If I am using it a lot at night I put it in the tailgate position and it turns on every time I open the tailgate. If I need it on at other times I flip the switch to the other On position. I setup power from the battery on a fused line.
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