Im going to add some Recon LED lights to my bed for extra light. Im thinking of adding a door jamb switch so when I open the tailgate they automaticaly turn on and another switch to the circuit so I can switch them off(i.e.-if Im sitting on the tailgate during the day and want them off) or turn them on when the tailgate is up.

BUT....my question is where do you recommend grabbing the +12V? Any help would be appreciated!!

 

Tail lamp circuit? This would only require your parking lamps to be active, which you would probably have on if you needed extra light back there anyway.

 

No, not the taillight circuit...I was possibly thinking wiring into the 7 pin trailer harness if there is a constant 12V. Does anyone know if there is a constant in the 7 pin?

Or I was thinking about throwing a add a fuse into the fuse block and just running a dedicated wire back but Im not sure where I should go into the fuse block...

Again, any advice would be appreciated!

 

If you tap into the trailer harness, I think you'll need to have the key on in order to be "hot". I don't believe there is a constant. You'll have to run a dedicated wire.

I'm getting ready to order some of these bed lights as well. I was looking at 4Z Products

 

I ran mine into the drivers side sill plate of the cab and tapped into the cargo light wires. This way they turn on when the cargo light switch is turned on.

 

The issue with this is that I'll want my bed lights to come on by dropping the tailgate. The way you ran them above will require a door to be open to activate the cargo lights, will it not?

 

Right, the only way mine will turn on is if the driver's door is opened or I go into the cab and flip the switch for the cargo lights.

 

What switch is this? Is it the "roller" style switch to the right of the headlight switch? The one that when in the all the way up position all the lights in the cab turn on??

IF so, this wouldnt be a horrible option, but I really would like for it to turn on autmaticaly when the tailgate is opened.


I tried calling the 4z products number because I would like to see some better pics of the LEDs,wiring and the switches. The pics they have on the size are minature and you have no idea of what your getting. Im also not sure about just having 2 lights.....

 

What switch is this? Is it the "roller" style switch to the right of the headlight switch? The one that when in the all the way up position all the lights in the cab turn on??

IF so, this wouldnt be a horrible option, but I really would like for it to turn on autmaticaly when the tailgate is opened. But just for sh*ts and grins what is the color of the wire you tapped into? Also, is it hard to route the wire up into there?


I tried calling the 4z products number because I would like to see some better pics of the LEDs,wiring and the switches. The pics they have on the size are minature and you have no idea of what your getting. Im also not sure about just having 2 lights.....

 

You could wire into your switch. So when doors are open or the roller switch is up they were on. Then if you wanted to get fancy you could add a door jamb switch to the tailgate on the same circut. That way if your tailgate is down but your doors and switch are not open/on your lights will come on also. Just a thought.

 

Do you know what color wire this is? Do you know if it is the same as a crew cab?

 

Adding lights to interior circuit
https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...t-circuit.html

 

Thanks for that subcooled.

I heard of people taking 12V off of there amps(would eliminate running another line to the battery)

I have an amp in the back and this would be convenient if I decide to run a door jamb switch but do you think this would be a bad idea??

Sorry for all the questions just not sure what I want to do yet...

 

no, you have your answer, put a fuse block in, run the wire from the battery to the block, the block splits 1 way to the amp, with a 15/20/30 amp fuse for your amp, then run a second (smaller gauge) wire out through the grommets in the door sill or out through the vents behind the seat under the box somehow and up to your lights.

a fuse block like this

on the left side is your larger gauge from the battery, then it splits off to 4 different circuits on the right side. (you obviously only need two.)

 

When the dealer wired up the dome light for my shell, he ran a heavy guage wire (it looked like 12 or 10 guage) from the shell, under the truck, into the engine compartment, and tapped directly to the battery terminal with an inline fuse. Simple and sanitary (I was watching him to make sure he didn't do a Mickey Mouse job). If you go that route, avoid sharp edges and use plenty of zip ties to secure the wire.

If you buy a kit, it should include an old style door jamb type switch switch for the tailgate. If you make your own setup, just get a nongrounding switch like they used to use on door jambs and drill a hole for it where you can get at the backside and the tailgate will press against it when up. Get a SPDT center off toggle switch and drill a mounting hole where you want to mount it (again, make sure you can reach the backside). Wire the 12v hot lead to the center terminal of the toggle switch. Run both wires from the jamb switch to the toggle switch and connect each one to an outside terminal of the toggle switch. Connect the bed lamps to one of the outside terminals of the toggle switch.

When the toggle switch is in the center off position, the lights will be off whether the tail gate is up or down. In one of the on positions, the lights will come on only when the tail gate is down. In the other on position, the lights will come on no matter where the tailgate is.