Okay, folks, let’s talk about putting some sweet LED lights on your pickup truck. I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and I finally took the plunge. Here’s how it all went down, step-by-step, with all the bumps along the way.
Planning and Buying
First, I spent a good chunk of time just looking at pictures online. I wanted to get a feel for what other people were doing, what looked good, and what didn’t. I figured out I wanted something subtle, not those crazy blinding setups you sometimes see.
Then came the shopping. Oh boy. There are SO many options. I ended up going with a set of under-glow lights and some extra strips for the bed. I made sure to get ones that were waterproof, because, you know, it rains sometimes. I also picked up a wiring harness with a switch – didn’t want to mess with splicing wires if I didn’t have to.
The Install (the fun part…sort of)
Okay, time to get dirty. First thing, I disconnected the truck’s battery. Safety first, people! I don’t want to get zapped.
Next, I crawled under the truck and started figuring out where to mount the lights. I used some zip ties and some adhesive strips that came with the kit. It was a bit of a pain to get them positioned just right, but I took my time. No rush.
- Front: I mounted a strip along the front frame, tucked up nice and neat.
- Sides: I ran the strips along the rocker panels, making sure they were evenly spaced.
- Rear: Another strip went under the rear bumper.
- Bed: A couple strips and placed them on the side.
Now for the wiring. This is where that harness came in handy. I connected everything up, following the instructions (mostly). I mounted the switch in the cab, in a spot that was easy to reach but not too obvious. I chose a little spot for the on/off switch.
Testing and Tweaking
Battery reconnected! I flipped the switch… and… LIGHT! It worked! But, of course, one of the strips wasn’t quite aligned right. So, back under the truck I went, adjusted it a bit, and tightened everything down.
I waited until it got dark, and then I took the truck for a spin. Gotta say, it looked pretty cool. The under-glow gives it a nice, subtle effect, and the bed lights are super useful for finding stuff in the dark.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It was a bit of a project, but definitely doable for a weekend afternoon. Just take your time, double-check your wiring, and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty. Now my truck looks awesome, and I can actually see what I’m doing when I’m loading stuff in the bed at night. Win-win!
