Tailgate light bar

[highway]

Will the tailgate light bar work with our trucks ?

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[Msfitoy]

Depends on the brand...if it say it fits 5GRanger, then probably likely...

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

Will the tailgate light bar work with our trucks ?

They’ll work but I’m pretty sure it’s not plug ‘n’ play if the instructions say to use the trailer wiring. The search tool will result in a few threads that should be helpful.

 

[PltFX4]

Tailgate light bar is very general term... what specifically you asking about???
This:

If so, given the number of people selling them I am guessing they will work well... I've been thinking about doing this as well.

 

[NotBudule2]

Seems like everyone i get behind that has one also has parts of it that don't light up anymore, and last time I checked the plug and play one for our Rangers was CRAZY expensive...

 

[Figarou]

Seems like everyone i get behind that has one also has parts of it that don't light up anymore, and last time I checked the plug and play one for our Rangers was CRAZY expensive...

I've seen that as well.

Some light bars has a light show going on. Is that for drawing attention? Making yourself be seen? It's cool and all, but I think it's more like a distraction. Not sure how each state addresses that.

Might as well go all out and do this.............

 

[Muscleford]

The only I know that works from Putco and is crazy expensive....$500 neighborhood

 

[NotBudule2]

The only I know that works from Putco and is crazy expensive....$500 neighborhood

And then some...

 

[airline tech]

I recall there being threads about lights flickering etc with these, brake light circuit issues as well.
As far as 1/2 of bar not working, a F150 in my employee lot - has this issue

 

[Josh Stretch]

Yes, they will all work, but most of them use your trailer wiring which will make your truck think a trailer is connected all the time. Not the end of the world but potentially annoying. The Putco is so expensive because it has plugs preinstalled so it connects to the taillights through the connectors and it has a computer attached to it to do all kinds of crazy patterns. But you could connect any cheap light bar at the taillights with $20 of wire and connectors, but you’ll be on your own as far as instructions. Should be pretty easy but also a little time consuming. Good luck!

 

[got3fords]

I recall there being threads about lights flickering etc with these, brake light circuit issues as well.
As far as 1/2 of bar not working, a F150 in my employee lot - has this issue

This! About half the ones I see on the road have all LED's functional. Maybe the other half is actually good quality? I dunno, but when the lights start to fail it starts to look really stupid and cheap. I wonder how many people even know their light bar is failing. Unless you look back there often.

 

[Chris M]

This! About half the ones I see on the road have all LED's functional. Maybe the other half is actually good quality? I dunno, but when the lights start to fail it starts to look really stupid and cheap. I wonder how many people even know their light bar is failing. Unless you look back there often.

Yep.
If you're gonna dress it all up with them fancy chicken lights, they all need to be the same and they all need to work or you run the risk of being a wanna-be.

 

[CTYankee]

I haven't done this on the Ranger yet, but did it on my 2022 Maverick XLT Lux when I had it.

Putco is not the only one that will work, but the trick is to use a harness that T-connects the light bar into the tail light wiring instead of the trailer wiring. After I did mine, a number of other Maverick owners did the same successfully.

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/56431 - this is a Curt harness similar to what I used except that my Curt harness provided a 4-way flat for the light bar and then wired into the battery to power the Putco control unit. I didn't see a comparable harness for the Ranger, so I called Curt. They don't make a 4-pin version of this harness for the Ranger but suggested using a converter (57004 or 57240).

The Putco version is a bit different in that it appears to plug into the towing harness, but not quite as expensive as mentioned above.
https://www.putco.com/product/blade-tailgate-light-bar-plug-n-play/v/Ford/Ranger/2020/

 

[NotBudule2]

How annoying is it to have one plugged into the trailer socket? Ive seen a few hitch steps with the brake light that look pretty good but not if its gonna be a pain...

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

And then some...

How on earth does a tailgate assembly cost less than this thing?

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