Okay, so I’ve been wanting to add some lights to my truck bed for a while now. It’s a pain in the butt trying to find stuff in there at night. I finally got around to doing it, and it turned out to be easier than I thought. Here’s how I did it:
First, I gathered my materials. I already had a pretty good idea of what I needed:
- LED light strips (I went with waterproof ones, just in case)
- Some wire
- Wire connectors
- A fuse (important for safety!)
- A switch
- Electrical tape
- Zip ties
I picked up everything at the local auto parts store. Nothing fancy, just basic stuff.
Getting Started
I started by figuring out where I wanted to mount the lights. I decided to put one strip along each side of the bed, under the rails. That way, they’d be out of the way but still provide plenty of light.
Next, I cleaned the surface where I was going to stick the lights. Just used some rubbing alcohol to make sure it was nice and clean. The adhesive on the light strips seems to stick better that way.
Then, I stuck the lights in place. I pressed down firmly to make sure they were good and secure. After that it was time to wire that bad boy.
Wiring Everything Up
This is where it got a little tricky, but not too bad. I ran the wires from the lights along the underside of the bed rails, using zip ties to keep everything neat and tidy. I don’t want wires dangling everywhere.
I connected the wires from both light strips together using wire connectors. I make sure use some electrical tape too to keep them safe.
Then, I ran a single wire from the lights up to the engine compartment. This is where I was going to connect it to the battery.
Now, the important part: the fuse! I added a fuse to the wire, close to the battery. This is super important because it protects the lights and the truck’s electrical system from any shorts or overloads. Don’t skip this step!
After the fuse, I connected the wire to the positive terminal of the battery. I made sure it was a good, solid connection. Then I connected a switch and mounted it at a position on my dash.
For the negative wire (ground), I just found a good, solid metal point on the truck’s frame and connected it there.
Testing and Finishing Up
Before I buttoned everything up, I tested the lights to make sure they worked. Flicked the switch, and boom! Let there be light! It worked perfectly.
Finally, I double-checked all the connections, made sure everything was secure, and tidied up any loose wires. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Now I can actually see what I’m doing in my truck bed at night. No more fumbling around in the dark!
