Let there be light! (in the bed of your truck)

[Rich69shortfleet]

After the successful install of fancy bed rails not actually made for my truck I was eager to solve the problem of the bed of the truck being so dark and it being hard to tell what you are doing at night when loading or unloading. It seems whenever I actually use my truck to travel or haul something, I end up doing a lot of work in the bed at night.

While Christmas shopping at Tractor Supply I ran across some inexpensive LED lights made for lighting up a truck bed or cargo area. I got a set for my sister and one for myself. They are pretty bright. The first picture shows the brand and contents. It comes with two strings of 4 lights, a switch, a bezel and 3M mounting tape. This set cost $25.

The other major component was a 12v lead/acid AGM battery (sealed, can't spill and is rechargeable). The light set came with two little 12v cells used to demonstrate the lights in the package and I thought about using them to power the lights but figured the dry cells, about half the size of a AA battery, wouldn't likely last too long. You can also wire the lights to the truck's 12v system, but with no power in the bed and no quick and easy way to get it there without running lots of wire and drilling holes, I chose to use a small but stout rechargeable battery. I figure the LEDs can run on this battery for days before discharging it since LEDs draw such small amounts of power. The battery cost $10.50.

The next chore was to house the battery securely and to build in a switch. A switch and bezel came with the light set so I used those. I had a nice little stout plastic box on hand so I placed the battery in the box and wired things together with soldered joints and shrink tubing. This picture shows pinch connectors, but I went back and replaced them with soldered joints later. I mounted the switch on the box.

As you can see, the lights themselves are pretty bright.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Next, I knew I wanted to mount the lights so the light would be angled toward the bed so I made a set of 45 degree cut little blocks of wood and primed and painted them to match the color of the truck. I then used double sided mounting tabs like the stuff to mount modern car emblems and attached the blocks to the underside of the lips of the bed of the truck and then stuck the lights to the blocks. They are all nicely aimed to the bed and tucked up out of the way of cargo.

I mounted the battery and switch box to the side of my retractable tonneau cover housing and secured the wires with some semi-permanent tape so it wouldn't get snagged by cargo. I did the same with the wires running to the lights, tucking them up into the bed lips and out of harms way.

And, let there be light!

[Rufas]

Great insrall and looks like plenty of light. One question, why not tap into the parking light and still use the switch you have?

[yuccales]

Very cool!

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by Rufas

Great insrall and looks like plenty of light. One question, why not tap into the parking light and still use the switch you have?

I'd have to go through the side or the bed of the truck to get a wire from the wiring harness regardless of where I tap off of. Also, if for some reason the lights get left on for an extended period of time only the independent battery will be drained, not the battery that starts the truck. This way the lighting and power system is entirely contained within the bed of the truck. I should probably consider swapping in a switch that lights up when the power is on. As bright as the LEDs are, it is hard to tell if they are on in broad daylight unless you are looking straight at them since they are mostly tucked away out of sight.

[bill3rail]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

After the successful install of fancy bed rails not actually made for my truck I was eager to solve the problem of the bed of the truck being so dark and it being hard to tell what you are doing at night when loading or unloading. It seems whenever I actually use my truck to travel or haul something, I end up doing a lot of work in the bed at night.

Nice Job! I need a set of those lights so I can light up under my Tonneau cover. Your truck looks like the same color as mine.



Bill

[bill3rail]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

Also, if for some reason the lights get left on for an extended period of time only the independent battery will be drained, not the battery that starts the truck.

I changed everything over to LED, and have left the interior light on for three days and still was able to start up.

Bill

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by bill3rail

I changed everything over to LED, and have left the interior light on for three days and still was able to start up.

Bill

I too have switched everything to LED inside and out (except the instrument lights). But my truck can sit unused for weeks or months at a time.

Maroon trucks rule!

[bill3rail]

Originally Posted by Rich69shortfleet

I too have switched everything to LED inside and out (except the instrument lights). But my truck can sit unused for weeks or months at a time.

Maroon trucks rule!

I even installed LED into the instrument panel. The brightness is ten times better than incandescent.

Bill

[bill3rail]

I ordered a set today, but not sure if I will run a separate battery or just wire them into the running lights.

I did not order the same brand as you so hopefully mine are screaming bright LED's!

Bill

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by bill3rail

I even installed LED into the instrument panel. The brightness is ten times better than incandescent.

Bill

I bet they are. Anything would have to be better than those weak little bulbs. And it wouldn't hurt my peace of mind to know LEDs weren't pulling as much juice through that flimsy printed circuit. About the only reason I haven't upgraded the instrument lights is I am still looking for a good set of LED bulbs that I can trust (don't want super cheap ebay stuff) and that won't break the bank either.

How well do the LEDs light up the shift indicator on the column? That is lit by one of the bulbs in the cluster connected to a string of fiber optic. With an LED predominantly putting light straight out, I have to wonder if much light makes it into the fiber optic cable since it is attached to the side of the bulb it gets light from.

[El Dorado Jim]

good job, looks good

[Don Quixote]

That does look amazing! I will keep this in mind for mine. I would likely run them into the auxiliary wire on my 7- blade.

[notsolo]

Nice upgrade, I have seen some solar trickle chargers that might keep a small battery like that charged.

[Rich69shortfleet]

Originally Posted by notsolo

Nice upgrade, I have seen some solar trickle chargers that might keep a small battery like that charged.

That's not a bad idea, could even mount it semi-permanently to the tonneau cover housing lid so it would charge all the time. However, the truck spends a lot of time in the garage so wouldn't charge when not in use.