Bed Light Wiring Options

[Frank]

I've looked through all the threads I could find here to gather as much info as possible. I'm still a little wrapped around the axle on which route to go.

I am installing an aftermarket LED light strip bed light. There is a switch on the kit, 3 linked strips, and one pigtail. My truck has factory LED's, no factory bed light.

The options I can think of are:
1. Factory bed light connector if present - would this require enabling the option?
2. Tie to 3rd brake light - would the additional draw affect anything? Where along the harness to tie in at?
3. Aux switch
4. Direct to battery

Option #2 sounds like the best answer to me. I'd like to leave the switch on and have the lights work in conjunction with the normal cargo light, and then have the ability to turn the bed lights off as needed.

Thoughts? Is #2 the best choice, and if so where is a decent spot to tie into?

 

[Brewbud]

Some info here. Could be of some help.

LED Cargo Bed Lights Wiring ?????

My 2019 2500 Power Wagon didn’t come with the LED Bed Lights and the dealer said they weren’t available as a kit from Mopar yet when I was buying it. Flash forward, the Mopar website now shows (2) kits for the bed lights that fit the 2019 and 2020 2500s. Same kit part number but different...

hdrams.com

 

[Frank]

Some info here. Could be of some help.

LED Cargo Bed Lights Wiring ?????

My 2019 2500 Power Wagon didn’t come with the LED Bed Lights and the dealer said they weren’t available as a kit from Mopar yet when I was buying it. Flash forward, the Mopar website now shows (2) kits for the bed lights that fit the 2019 and 2020 2500s. Same kit part number but different...

hdrams.com

Yeah I read that one. Sounded like OP went factory route which when I researched for my previous truck required the code to be turned on. And the rest of it wandered between the different Ram PN's. Would the same route as factory be required to have it come on with cargo light but not when in reverse? I'd like to avoid changing codes if possible.

 

[Frank]

I may say screw it and use the factory bed light infrastructure. My hang up there is dealing with my local dealership but may try a different one on the other side of town.