I've been around for a while and done a ton of mod's to my truck that I always get questions about. So I'm going to start a progress thread Detailing the mods to my truck. Once I get caught up on detailing whats already done I'll give info on future mods. Some of the mods I already have that i'll be detailing in this thread are.. Aux Reverse lights wired properly and triggered by three sources (Switch, Truck in Reverse, and Dome Light Supervision) There's a link to the wiring diagram thread in my sig. Power Tailgate Lock that Keeps your Key available for use so it can't break and lock you out (under 20 bucks). Auto Spring Leveling Kit with Blocks in the rear for an inexpensive 2.5 to 3 inch lift that cuts the rake in half. Pro Comp 6032 20x9.5 rims with Dynapro AT/M 285-55-20's. Bak Flip Tonneau, Toolbox under the Tonneau, LED light in the toolbox that comes on when the lid id opened and turns off when shut, LED's under the bed rails so I can see under mu tonneau at night, Viair on Board Air Compressor, Train Horns, Phillips Bi Xenon Headlights Hi and Low beams, Phillips HID Fog lights, USB2 Mod, and there's more I'm sure i'm forgetting and more to come! What should I do a write up on first?

 

Off to the dealer today, getting my spot in line for the Power Steering Hose. When I checked with the Parts Dept on Friday there were about 400 in line in front of me. Also gonna get the Slip Yoke TSB handled while I'm there if they don't take their sweet time to do it and waste my entire afternoon.

 

So back from the dealer, 2 hours and 15 minutes later. I was told the Slip Yoke only pertains to 2 peice driveshafts but there is a TSB for the one peice and my issue they reflashed the computer. Didn't do it on the way home but we'll see over the next few days. I know one thing while it's learning my driving style it sure is peppy after the reflash. As far as the PS Hose, They ordered one and told me it'll be here Thurs. Doubting thats gonna happen but we'll see...

 

Okay was able to get out today and take some pics of some of the electrical mods on my truck. First one I'm going to get into is the Power Tailgate Lock. I had a power door lock actuator in the garage from the old days messing with alarms but they are available on ebay for 4 bucks or so with the metal mounting strip. Pretty Simple Install took me about an hour. First step is to pull the plastic tail gate cover if you have the step or the metal panel that covers the locking mech. Once thats off you can get to the locking mech and the plastic lock slider. I went a bit of a differant route than most do I made mine push/pull from behind due to limited space. I bent the mounting bar in a square and bolted from the top side of the tail gate since the plastic bed liner will cover the bolt heads. Then bent the push pull rod to fit where I needed it. I made an extra bend that kept slipping thru the actuator so I ended up leaving it where it was happy as you can see in this photo. It doesn't slide around how it's bent it just cradles in that paticular place and pushes and pulls the bar.



Here is a second photo chowing the mounting bracket a bit better.



Finally from the other side you can see how it mounts to the locking mech and pushes and pulls this plastic slider to lock and unlock the tail gate.



I ran the wires along the frame rail and into the cab via the grommet right under the wiring harness in the pass door sill. Then attached to the Purple with gray tracer and gray with brown tracer. Leaving them unattached on the other end. I tested to see if they were locking and unlocking in the correct order which they weren't the first time it's a simple fix though just swap the wires at the actuator and it reverses it. I did this before making the final connections. Wires run thru the tailgate to the drain hole wrapped in flex loom.

This set up works with my OEM keyfob on the second unlock pulse just like the passenger door. It also retains the use of my truck key to unlock it if need be. I did not want the other system that doesn't retain the key incase it screws up while locked i'll have no way to get in and fix it with that system. Total project under $20 bucks.

 

Okay lets take a look at my LED Toolbox Light This is activated with a mercury switch so it comes on when the box is opened and goes off when the box is closed like a trunk light would. It's not acutally a mercury switch anymore they figured out that stuff is dangerous and now it's just a ball bearing but it does the same thing. You bend it so the ball rolls away from the contacts when closed and rolls into them and makes a connection when open. Once again pretty simple install. Step one run a fused constant power wire from the battery to the box and connect it to the hot side of the light. Step two a self tapping screw into the body under the truck makes a great ground and run it to the mercury switch then to the light. turn the light switch on and open and shut the box and be lit. Tired of finding a tool or tow strap at night and can't see in the box? This fixes that issue. Even lights up the bed decently.

UPDATE! Now that I am importing LED Strip lights, I am selling Toolbox and Bed light kits, I can also do interior kits, boat kits, Email thisismymessage@aol.com for info and quotes. All kits made to order to your lengths... anywhere from 2 inch strips to 16 foot and everything inbetween...

Pic of the mercury switch I bought a double lined lid so I could screw into the lower portion on my box... you can use 3m double sided outdoor tape to mount this as well for single wall boxes.



Pic of the light installed



Total project $35 bucks or so can be cheaper with cheaper lights.




I also put a plug on the wiring leaving the box incase i need to remove the box to carry a larger load in the bed.

 

I like the leds in the tool box and the lock actuator on the tailgate.

 

With my Bakflip Tonneau I found myself always in the dark when packing up photography gear on the tail gate so I added some LED's under the bed rails on a toggle to shed some light in the bed when the tonneau is covering it. These are bright can't really tell in these daylight pics but i'll try to add some at night later. There is a flexable 12 inch strip under each bed rail actually mounted on my tonneau mouning rails. These are also kewl when I have one of my motorcycles in the bed of the truck so I can light them up when riding down the highway at night... Either way pretty simple install pulled power from the battery constant and fused. Run it to the rear along the frame rail, Y it off to both sides positive of the LED's. Bring both grounds over and up one side to a switch.

Pics of the lights on one side under the rail...



Pics of the switch, I love these switches they are rocker switched that mount in a round hole. with a nut on the back so simple to install... and the LED showing when it's on it Optional. If you want it the switch much be on the Positive wire and the switch needs a ground. I opt's for no LED so I just switched the ground wire from the body.



It was impossable to get to the back side of the switch to screw on the nut but I got lucks the hole right here in the bed was almost the right size, and after putting the wire from the LED's in it to exit the bed and the Linex bedliner the switch with nut already on it snapped right in and holds itself great.

 

Thanks man... Hoping these write up's help some people out with these fun mods that come in real useful... Just posted another one that put lights under the bed rails to light up the bed...

 

it's Thurs my hose was suppose to be in today, haven't gotten a call so i'm thinking they were full of $%^.... and i'll be waiting in the huge line and leaking for a while...

 

Okay last one for today, I always see people trying to figure out where to put a toggle on the dash that don't look like ****... I opt'd to hide mine where it's still easily accessable from the drivers seat. In the pocket on the pass side it's a rocker switch that just needs a hole to mount then scrwe on a plastic nut from the back side. Pulled the glove box down and could get to both sides without pulling the dash apart... Wired this one so the Blue LED lights up when on so I don't leave the Aux Reverse lights on I see the glow from inside the pocket. Here's pics... PS You can't see there's even a switch there unless you know it's there and the pocket is still available to be used..

 

So I got out and changed up the bedrail lights a bit today, Wired in a mercury switch on the ground wire and placed it inside the tailgate. So the lights come on when the tailgate is open and go off when closed. I left the toggle in place so if I leave the gate open for an extended period i can flip it off but it'll stay on in most cases. So now when I drop the tailgate let there be light!...

Here's a pic at night... it's a bit brighter in person... but you get the idea...

I am now making these kits ready to ship... email thisismymessage@aol.com for info... I import the LEDs myself and can make any length from 2 inches to 16 feet... and everything in between...

 

Well they called on Thurs, it was just a week late Thurs but the hose is in and set up to go have it replaced on Monday. While I've been waiting on the hose to come in my AC controller has gotten stuck on high right as we're having a cold snap... So that kinda sucks all the other controls work fine just the fan is on high no matter what the digitial display says.

 

Okay so busted my butt to get to the dealer by my 1pm Appt... that I was going to sit and wait for them to finish... At 2:20 the truck was still sitting in the service lane untouched... Finally pulled it in at 2:25, took 2.5 hours to replace the hose, tech pulls it out I asked did you get the AC also? cause I never saw him go in the pass side of the truck he's like what AC problem? and walks off... I walk inside and the service guy goes okay just write you up and you're outta here I'm like not so much... he missed the second half of the ticket. He looks and they hand wrote the AC problem on the ticket but never put it in the system for the tech to see... so he comes back gets the truck verifys it's the resistor and pulls truck back out and tells me they had to order parts... guess i'll be driving a half hour each way back to the dealer for the second time in two days to get a 5 minute fix done...

 

you know..hearing cases like these and some of the encounters i've had myself with dealerships and other shops, i wonder what exactly is happening to the workforce nowadays. lazy lazy lazy people. hopefully it works out for you man.

 

Yeah the power steering hose worked out they finally called and installed the new one... But then... will continue in a separate post...