This is how I added my LED lights to the roof of my Leer 180XL bed cap. It was downright simple.

First off, how to wire it? Well, those clever little truck bed lights, that's how. They give you a button in the bed, and a button in the dashboard, to turn em on separately from your trailer wiring or brake light assembly. So this does not require even touching the brake lights or their wiring. I hate the concept of turning on my running lights, just to turn on my cap lights. reaching up to find that silly dome light's goofy button never works the first time you reach for it. So it's Tim Allen time.

To remove these lights, all you gotta do is reach up behind your wheel well, and press up on the little tab at the bottom of the light. The bottom of the light will tilt forward and out, and the top just has a notch that catches the sheet metal to hold on. I should have taken a picture of some sort, but even with a flashlight, head lamp, and camera flash, it was just a cluttered mess of confusion. Sorry. You'll easily discern which wiring harness is leading to the bed wall, and see the light assembly.





Once it's popped out, you'll find some plastic rigidflex, a plastic push clip anchored to the light assembly's anchor point, and some electrical tape.




You can see the little plastic tab that compresses when you push up on it. This you can reach with one finger. If you can't, a stick will. Or your antenna. Or a hobbit. Or maybe Chucky the doll. Whatever. Go find a trained squirrel, I don't know. Use the Force. Your neighbor's kid. RC quadcopter. Loch Ness monster. Shaddap.






I did not bother removing the wiring from the light assembly's anchor point. There's plenty excess wire available after it. Just razor blade the electrical tape, unwrap, and trim off the rigidflex, and you're ready.




I simply used these little plastic clip-on electrical splice connectors. Used these throughout my trailer when doing these LED light strips. Just super-wrap em with electrical tape afterwards, or blob on the Liquid Electric Tape.




Here's a link to the type of connectors I used.
Amazon.com Scotch Connectors

However, if you want to add the splice but be able to change things in the future, they do make these connectors. You add the branch-off wire with a blade terminal connector, pushed on from the side. I like this. I'll try these next time.

Amazon.com Electrical Splice Connector With Blade Terminals



Anyway, everything back to normal, and Bedrug stuck back in place. Have I mentioned I love my Bedrug? My knee caps are so happy. The whole interior of my bed is fuzzy and velcro sticks anywhere. Which, BY THE WAY, is a wonderful way to stick LED wiring in its place!




There are four 12" strips stuck to the roof with Velcro hooks adhered to the backs of the LED strips. The wiring runs were simply covered with long runs of Velcro One-Wrap. I'm telling you guys.... buying this One-Wrap in bulk, is an easy way to corrupt all your future DIY projects. I now consider how I can use One-Wrap in a design, before I finish thinking out my ideas. So easy, removable and replaceable, and lets you wiggle things around enough until you're happy.

Here's the stuff I used. It comes 3/4" wide and 12 feet long.

They also make it This is when you're truly addicted. Oh yes. OOOOOOH yes.





Took another shot without the camera flash. It's hard to tell just how much the bed is lit up, cuz this just looks like the camera's getting washed out by the direct light. But I now have a well-lit bed, with light from all angles. No more shadows. The single dome light at the gate opening is no longer blocked by the back of my head once I crawl inside. So at the end of a gig, when it's time to pack all the band gear back in darkness at 3am, I can see everything just peachy keen.



You have my expressed written consent to steal my ideas and go make your bed as bright as you can.

 

Almost forgot... There happens to be some very convenient 5/8" holes at the top corners, right at the tailgate. You can drop your wiring right down through it, and have a clear shot at the bed lights. I would recommend rubber wiring grommets, or as I did, a couple rubber cork stoppers and drilling a hole down them. Protect that wire from rubbing.