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Adding extra lights to the bed

domingjm

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Bump on this. What lights did you all use in addition to the stock cargo lights?
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Minty JL

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Here's some additional information from my path down this rabbit hole. Solution w/o pics is irrelevant right. Here you go.

I have unwrapped the center section so I can strip the wire and solder in my harness to the new bed light harness I'm building

More to follow. Hoping to finish it this weekend.

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Minty JL

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Why did I go about it this way, well the bed lights already have a switch and secondly they will activate when the truck is locked/unlocked. Finally, I can keep an eye on cargo at night while driving.

I just learned the other day you can turn on the bed lights while in motion/driving......that's handy. In my Colorado I can only turn them on while in park.

This came about yesterday while doing the fender chop on my buddies JTM. He had a extra 4 rock lights from his JKUR, so he installed 2 on his and gave me the other 2. He mounted both of his to the rear over the tailgate so he could have useful light while taking gear out of his Decked system. He also has the Maximus 3 rack.

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Minty JL

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Factory harness with a pigtail added

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Minty JL

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Harness tapped and ready.

I've since built the harness and installed. Everything works as desired; either via the switch or when the truck is locked/unlocked.

Night time pics to follow

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Minty JL

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Here's the night time pics/results. This was via just unlocking.....same effect with the OEM switch.

Desired effect was achieved for about $5 in wire and solder.

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BAT

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I have the strip lights in the bed of my truck and they come in handy. Its wired to the AUX switch but in hindsight I think it would have been better to have a switch or button in the bed to turn them on more easily.
 

JRobes

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I think it was mentioned, but just wanted to caution everyone against adding too large of an amp load to the factory wiring circuit, for a couple reasons:

1: The JL/JTs computers monitor the loads on many of the vehicles circuits, and can cut power if it senses something too out of spec for the circuit.

2: Safety. Increasing the amp draw on a circuit increase the amount of heat generation on the wires/connectors, and I don't think anyone really knows what amount is safe.

Adding a small cargo light with a few LED elements is probably such a small amp draw it wouldn't make any difference, but adding something like light strips could be dangerous. If you want full light strips, run a new power wire from one of the aux buttons or battery (with fuses for safety).
 

Yellow1098

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Anyone have a link to the in bed light strips?
 

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Minty JL

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Minty JL

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I think it was mentioned, but just wanted to caution everyone against adding too large of an amp load to the factory wiring circuit, for a couple reasons:

1: The JL/JTs computers monitor the loads on many of the vehicles circuits, and can cut power if it senses something too out of spec for the circuit.

2: Safety. Increasing the amp draw on a circuit increase the amount of heat generation on the wires/connectors, and I don't think anyone really knows what amount is safe.

Adding a small cargo light with a few LED elements is probably such a small amp draw it wouldn't make any difference, but adding something like light strips could be dangerous. If you want full light strips, run a new power wire from one of the aux buttons or battery (with fuses for safety).
All valid point you have mentioned.

Hence the reason I through my information and findings in here......help alleviate so of the question, myths or unknowns
 

notquiteflotsam

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Finally got around to wiring up some waterproof led strip lights. I ended up buying a spool and skipping the fancier options with a switch. I stuck them under the bed rails and wired them into the existing bed lights. Big difference. I wish the lights I bought came with leads about an inch longer than they were, but was able to make it work with only a little stretching ;) .

While the connections are made with those marine heat-shrink splicers, I didn't wrap the wires further inside the bed wall. Certainly not as clean as @Minty JL 's harness.

I ended up drilling 😳 a hole just big enough for the two wires tiny wires above the existing light, but right below the bed rail and sealed it with some clear silicone. Its almost invisible and pleased with the result.

Jeep Gladiator Adding extra lights to the bed IMG_8C129E1CB244-1
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