Bed Lighting

[Monty]

It would be great if we could find what wire they tap into..... Anyone ?

there is an hot when engine running, female plug about 1 foot behind the license plate, underneath. Its the pre wired power for the bed 12 volt cigarette lighter port.

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[djrobb]

I am trying these cheap LED puck lights. They did come in the mail, a couple of things to note:

• I used rechargeable AA batteries.
• These definitely are not waterproof so need to be used with a tonneau cover. Maybe they could be vacuum sealed?
• It comes with two remotes. I'll keep one in the cab and attach one just inside the bed attached to the drivers side bed wall.
• The remote allows you to dim the LEDs, change the color from warm to cool, and turn them all off/on simultaneously
• The remote remembers your dimming setting and color setting so next time you turn it on it's setup how you left it
• The remote also has timer buttons for 15min, 30min, 60 min, 120 min. However you have to press the timer after turning the lights on.
• You can manually turn on and off any single puck by pressing on it. This does not turn on/off any other puck.

So, I am going to try and get used to using the remote to click them on then click the 15mins button so the lights turn off themselves. We will see but for $20 I thought I'd give it a go before hard-wiring. I just got them so have no idea of durability. Also in playing around with them they seem kinda sensitive regarding whether the remote is pointed at them so I'll need to see if I can position everything right. They may end up needing to all be on one wall of the bed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFQ14KF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[SRAces]

I just got through communicating with F150leds.com . They are going to determine where they need to tap into "wiring wise" on the Ranger so that their lights come on when the doors are unlocked or opened like their F-150 kits do. When the doors are shut the lights would go off after about 20 seconds per the text conversation I had with them. Will update this thread as I get more info. Didn't want the Ford Touchlink system after I found out it's not tied to anything.

 

[Akshon]

Installed the Ford Touchlink LED bed lighting today. They are wired completely independent of any other lighting (basically the long harness it comes with ties to the battery). All 4 lights are switched on and off simultaneously by pressing and holding any of the 4 light lenses. I opted to find my own mounting locations up under the rail lip on the 45 degree plane. The recomended locations are too exposed and im sure they would get busted up by cargo in no time. BTW there is drilling and hole hogging involved. If your the type that cringes at the thought of drilling into your new truck then this kit is not for you.

 

[MT19RANGER]

Installed the Ford Touchlink LED bed lighting today. They are wired completely independent of any other lighting (basically the long harness it comes with ties to the battery). All 4 lights are switched on and off simultaneously by pressing and holding any of the 4 light lenses. I opted to find my own mounting locations up under the rail lip on the 45 degree plane. The recomended locations are too exposed and im sure they would get busted up by cargo in no time. BTW there is drilling and hole hogging involved. If your the type that cringes at the thought of drilling into your new truck then this kit is not for you.

Yea, I opted out of this install at my dealer. They called me about drilling all the holes and such and I decided I'd go another route w/ an LED strip or something of that nature. Actually looking the aftermarket selections are looking pretty good and less cost for sure.

 

[Akshon]

Here are a few night shots of the Touchlink installed under the rails.

 

[MT19RANGER]

Here are a few night shots of the Touchlink installed under the rails.

looks good, great job.

 

[BHunted]

Anyone that has these lights,
(TouchLink Bed Lighting by Lumen),
have a prob with them not all coming on or going off? Dealer installed but they are clueless as to why sometimes they work and sometimes not. Tried to find an american support site for Lumen but ng.
Install came out nice but what good are they if they don't always work?

 

[Snorebaby]

Anyone that has these lights,
(TouchLink Bed Lighting by Lumen),
have a prob with them not all coming on or going off? Dealer installed but they are clueless as to why sometimes they work and sometimes not. Tried to find an american support site for Lumen but ng.
Install came out nice but what good are they if they don't always work?

Are they direct wired to the battery or are they run into the trucks harness? If it is the trucks harness, the power may be cut to them after a certain amount of time by the truck for "battery management". If the power is battery direct, then your lights are faulty and need replaced under their warranty.

 

[BHunted]

Are they direct wired to the battery or are they run into the trucks harness? If it is the trucks harness, the power may be cut to them after a certain amount of time by the truck for "battery management". If the power is battery direct, then your lights are faulty and need replaced under their warranty.

Direct to the battery. Finally found a rep at the manufacturer that said dealer might have shaved the communication wire and I should check the harness for tight connections and any bare or cut wire. They will either send me or the dealer a harness and make them replace under warranty..
Good people.... Soon as this monsoon season is over, I will try to check all connections and harness for damage... thanks....

 

[Rene Michaels]

Keepin' it simple: https://www.autoanything.com/hitch-...MIuJ6ly6K-5wIVC18NCh059wxqEAQYCSABEgItXfD_BwE

 

[BHunted]

Keepin' it simple: https://www.autoanything.com/hitch-...MIuJ6ly6K-5wIVC18NCh059wxqEAQYCSABEgItXfD_BwE

Only thing I have seen that regular batteries don't last long in the heat of a hot closed truck bed. Be interesting to see how long yours holds up before change.

 

[Mach-1]

Seems like it would be easy enough to pull 12V from the bed plug if you have the factory plug that comes with the drop-in bed liner. Seems like the harness would be close still if your truck didn't have it, and you could add it.

 

[Rene Michaels]

Only thing I have seen that regular batteries don't last long in the heat of a hot closed truck bed. Be interesting to see how long yours holds up before change.

I'll find out for sure when summer comes to Texas. At worse, I'm out $30. I ended up buying this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013EGCP7M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I installed it earlier today. It works OK. If it holds up, I'll probably get another one for the other side. The sensor doesn't always "see' motion, but a swipe of my hand past it lights it up. Some of the negative reviews were about the tape not sticking well. I used the tape that came with it and it it doesn't hold up, I'll use some good 3M double sticky. Here are some pics I took tonight...

 

[Rene Michaels]

I thought about trying a solar powered light like the one's you would put on the outside of a house. The kind with a small 6" x 6" detachable solar panel. Thinking I could stick the solar panel on the back section of the retractable bed cover and run the cable down to the light in the bed. I may still try that at some point if the solution above doesn't pan out long term.

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