Rocker Panel Lights for Side Steps

[2019_Ram]

I added lights to the rocker panels so passengers would quit missing the side steps at night.

Parts Used:

• Lights - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XVY9V8D?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1
• Connectors - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07114RK67?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
• Connectors - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072P15279?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
• 22ga wire
• Di-electric grease for connectors
• Clear Silicone

I tapped into the driver's side and passenger's side footwell lights, the Yellow wire W/ Purple stripe to have the lights illuminate with the unlock and door open functions. The lights were shaved down on the top and bottom so they would fit into the factory holes on the rocker panel. The T-Connectors had a bit of di-electric grease smeared in them and they were attached to the wire, then fished through the rocker panel. After fishing the wire through the rocker panel, carefully pull the bottom half of the T-connector down through the holes so the lights may be attached. The rubber ring with the light will fit into the holes, then the lights can be pressed in, with a little clear silicone on the top and bottom of them to make sure they are still sealed where they were shaved down. A single hole was drilled under the door sill plastic to get the wire into the cab and a grommet inserted.

 

[2019_Ram]

I suspect it would be helpful if you were able to see what it was light in the dark.

 

[slowindown]

I like that!

 

[slvrsix7]

I wish there was a way to only have these illuminated when the respective power step is extended. Any idea which wire would have to be tapped?

 

[2019_Ram]

This was the closest wire I could find to that. If you want them to illuminate when the steps are extended, I think you would probably have to use a small switch, possibly a magnetic switch, to trigger when the steps extend.

 

[Razzman]

Nice! Others have had success by taping into the courtesy floor light circuit, on when the door opens and then off or fades off like the interior lights. I want to do this but just haven't got around to it. Someday lol

 

[jkempken]

That is sweet, wonder if they make switch back versions of those so you can have amber running lights like the roof markers then switch to white LED when the side steps open or parked and ACC is on.

 

[2019_Ram]

That is sweet, wonder if they make switch back versions of those so you can have amber running lights like the roof markers then switch to white LED when the side steps open or parked and ACC is on.

I haven't seen color changing 3/4" marker lights. I suspect you could get both clear and amber, then wire the ambers separately from the clears, installing them in every other hole. I don't know about other brands of lights, as I had to shave the clear ones down to have them fit in the factory holes. So no additional holes were put anywhere, except a very small one under the door still trim piece for a grommet and the wires to pass.

I am pleased with these lights I used because 10 of them combined only drew 3.5watts at 12.4v.

 

[Jmonty]

Are those the OEM boards? The AMP powerstep has LED lights included and they tap into the harness and operate with the other curtesy lights, wonder if the OEM has similar in the harness somewhere.

AMPIS-76239.pdf (amp-research.com)

 

[2019_Ram]

Yes, I have the OEM boards. I don't think OEM made any provisions for lights on the running boards. I haven't seen a harness like you described, but I did tap into the inside foot well courtesy lights to have similar functionality. My lights will illuminate with the unlock and anytime a door is opened. They operate identical to the courtesy lights in the exterior mirrors.

 

[Jmonty]

Worth that extra effort, I really like how they light up the ground around the truck in combination with the other courtesy lights!

 

[2019_Ram]

I originally wanted them to only illuminate when the boards were extended. However, I am slowly growing to like the extra light they provide on the ground when retracted. Each light alone is slight brighter than the factory in mirror light, but not so bright as to be annoying. And the light color is relatively close to the factory.

They were very easy to wire up and install. The hardest part was thinning down the lights themselves to fit in the factory holes. And, the price was right on these!

 

[Firebird]

I did something sort of similar, did the Big Rig Ice Lights, they are amber when running the lights, white when unlocking or opening the doors