I purchased a 2019 F150 SXT package. As you know, this is just a dressed-up base model XL. It has some of the most popular features, but it's missing many that the XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Limited have.

I have gotten a number of the things I wanted aftermarket, and I'm pretty happy with them. One thing that I see a blanked spot for is the two oval bed lights. I'm considering trying to find ones that fit the factory locations, but have a few questions

1. If your truck came with these lights, what do you think of them? Are they effective? Get in the way? Get blocked by cargo?
2. Have any of you installed them aftermarket, but in the same locations? How do they connect and switch on and off?
3. Would I do better to use rope lights under the upper lip of the bed? If any of you have done this, how do you like?
4. I'm getting a Leer truck cap. Would I be better to just make that well-illuminated?

Thanks in advance for any comments, opinions or experiences, good or bad!

-Tony

 

I'm a firm believer you can never have enough lighting. I'd put lights in the bed as well as in the cap. You can find several places that have the bed lights ready to go and basically plug and play and most are on sale with the holidays. I have a KR and really never use the bed lights but nice to have them if needed. The lights are pretty bright (the factory) and they throw the light pretty well to the front of the bed. I think you'd be better off going aftermarket as I'm sure the factory lights and switch would be a pretty penny.

 

On my STX I installed the OEM LED lights. It's a little involved but you get the original equipment lights and functionality.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/anyon...2018-a-414246/

Rob

 

My XLT has them but to be honest, I probably use them once or twice a year. I do like them though.

 

1. If your truck came with these lights, what do you think of them? Are they effective? Get in the way? Get blocked by cargo?
I added the OEM kit to my 2016 XL. They are very effective, cannot get in the way as they are flush mounted, obviously will be blocked by anything in front of them.

2. Have any of you installed them aftermarket, but in the same locations? How do they connect and switch on and off?
The OEM kit is the same as the factory installed lights and are controlled by a switch in the bed or from the headlight switch (cargo light switch).

3. Would I do better to use rope lights under the upper lip of the bed? If any of you have done this, how do you like?
Not the way I chose to go.

4. I'm getting a Leer truck cap. Would I be better to just make that well-illuminated?
I have a tonneau cover and the lights are good to see into the bed without having to lift the cover but with a cap I think a better solution would be a well lit cap.

On my 2016 the OEM kit is pretty much plug and play but the install is fairly involved. The wiring harness in the rear of the truck is replaced and that takes about a hour then the lights have to be activated in the Body Control Module either by "Forescan" or by the dealer. I think I read the the newer models had omitted some of the wiring at the headlight switch and the kit I used would not work.

 

Very happy with the OEM lights.

 

I installed an aftermarket led strip kit and very happy with it. The kit came with 2 lights, a wiring harness, a fuse block and a switch. I have a folding tonneau cover and the lights illuminate the entire bed really well. I use the lights a lot when getting out early in the morning hunting. With the kit, wire and connectors I was around $50.00.
Installation took me a few hours but it came out really clean. Wired directly to the battery, ran the wires in loom along the frame and tucked the switch up under the lip.
I really like the clean look of the oem kit but it was over $200.00 and was concerned it would not light up the bed well enough.

 

I have them on my lariat but could take them or leave them. I have considered add-ons with strip lights even with the oems

 

Thank you all for the comments and experiences. I appreciate you taking the time to help.

A nice mix of comments. Sounds like the OEM lights aren't too bad. I agree that there is never too much light, and I plan to add good light coverage to the inside of the Leer cap, but having a light that can be controlled from the driver's seat seems desirable, too. I'll have to start searching for aftermarket kits that fit the OEM locations.

What is Forescan? A programming tool? Stand alone like a scanner, or is it software? Expensive? Easy to use?
Sorry for being ignorant, but this is all very new to me.

Thanks again.

 

My XLT Sport came with the OEM lights, but I find them blocked by cargo more often than not. I recently added some additional strip lights under the bed rails ($15 from eBay) and wired them into the factory bed lights. These are a great addition and really help on those dark nights and when my tri-fold tonneau cover is closed. They are especially helpful when camping and you need to find something packed away in the bed.

PS Forscan is free software you can load on a laptop and make changes to your truck's software/firmware. You do need to purchase an OBDII adapter to interface your notebook to the truck's OBD port. More info is here:

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/forsc...-truck-348987/