Tailgate light bar

[NotBudule2]

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

I have no clue as to why its that damn much, but that's crazy to me...

Sponsored

 

[CTYankee]

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

I'm not familiar with the Freedom Blade. The one I've always used is just called the Putco Blade. The red and white one was the only one that worked properly wth late-model Fords when I sold my business back in 2021, but maybe Putco solved that problem since then. In any case, this one (while still expensive) is a lot more affordable than that Freedom Blade and there's one even more expensive than that. Neither of those existed when I was selling these bars.

 

[fob63]

Putco blade only works with halogen taillight.
I'm wondering if that is why some work and the LEDs don't.

 

[CTYankee]

Putco blade only works with halogen taillight.
I'm wondering if that is why some work and the LEDs don't.

OEM LED Taillights is an optional configuration for the Putco Blade. It's P/N 9203048-07.

 

[JohnnyO]

Yes. I plugged it into the 4-pin trailer plug. Popped out the left license plate light and ran the plug through that and replaced the light. It’s not real noticeable. Used a couple zip ties to secure it to other wires under the bumper. Side benefit, the truck thinks it’s towing a trailer and disables the auto stop/start. I don’t know what brand, just some generic piece the wife got on Amazon for Christmas but it’s held up fine for 3+ years.

 

[Big Blue]

Yes. I plugged it into the 4-pin trailer plug. Popped out the left license plate light and ran the plug through that and replaced the light. It’s not real noticeable. Used a couple zip ties to secure it to other wires under the bumper. Side benefit, the truck thinks it’s towing a trailer and disables the auto stop/start. I don’t know what brand, just some generic piece the wife got on Amazon for Christmas but it’s held up fine for 3+ years.

OK, I'm assuming, I know a dangerous thing, your STX has the halgen taillights. So no blind spot detection or cross traffic detection. Those two things, if you have them, are turned off, or modified, when a trailer is detected. Also, rear parking sensors, again if you have them, are turned off. These will generate a pop up on your dash which requires an acknowledgement to dismiss each time you start the truck. So yes with higher trim levels having something plugged into the trailer light plug can be quit annoying, besides affecting some safety features.

 

[JohnnyO]

OK, I'm assuming, I know a dangerous thing, your STX has the halgen taillights. So no blind spot detection or cross traffic detection.

I purposely got an STX because I did not want the extra electronic crap on the XLT or Lariat since it's just more stuff to break, or $1500 headlights since I live where deer are a major collision hazard.

 

[NotBudule2]

When you install the factory sport bar (EGR brand) it has you go through a grommet in the right rear of the cab and behind the trim to tap into the 3rd brake light, although a long run, I assume it would be good for a tailgate bar or in my case a hitch step/light without the annoyance of the trailer plug...
And while thinking about it if possible you could also tap into the cargo lights and extend them back there if needed...

Sponsored