Tap into the 7pin harness. Super easy. No wires needed to be ran up to the front of the truck.

Tap into power to switch, hook lights to switch, install relay jumper for 7pin fuse under hood. Same effect. I'm able to turn them on without my truck being on.

 

Morris, you are a genius. I don't know why I didn't think about taping into the 12v charging wire. I have all of the fuses already so that will be a less than 5 minute fix. Now just to decide if i want to run a relay to have them turn on with the cargo lights and be able to turn them on with a switch. Either way that will be later.

Edit* The previous owner did tap into the 12v wire, I just did the jumper wire and all is good now.

 

Morris did you go with a specific brand? Or doesn't make much of a difference? thanks!

 

No timbit, I just grabbed a pack at Canadian Tire that was $30ish. I did look for something attractive. I didn't want a strip style, I bought cubes. Eight 4 led cubes. They're in the "best mod for $50" thread and a dedicated bed LED thread.


Jdunk I made a jumper outta two male connectors and a small section of wire. Someone else gave me the idea and used it. I can't take all the credit.

 

You don't have to go to the battery. Of course I completely forgot to look.
I think I tapped my trailer wires.

I was wrong. I ran a positive along the frame to battery.
I guess I was in a good mood and really tucked it up out of sight. I couldn't see it till I looked I side my engine compartment.

 

The only downside to tapping into that and jumping the fuse is if you have a trailer which is using power off the battery it'll drain your battery. You will need to remember to pull that jumper and install the fuse.

 

Edit: Accidentally replied to a wrong thread so please just ignore...

 

3 things:
This thread hasn't been updated in 2 years
This is the 2009-2014 sub section.

I would also suggest using a 12v relay when tapping any wire. Use that wire as a turn on but not as the main power source. You don't want to over draw on the fuses. The relay will fix that issue.

 

This is wired... I supposed to reply another thread in 2015+ section but don’t why it goes here... maybe I should delete it and repost to the correct thread again.

Edit: I think this could be related to the forum setting that it automatic load the relevant threads when you scroll down to the end of previous thread.

 

Probably this.