Battery powered bed lights

I know a lot of you have run hard wired powered lights to the bed of our trucks.

I'm quite handy when it comes to things, but when it comes to electronics I'm a real amateur.

Anyone running battery powered bed lights? Looking for some recommendations.

Thanks,
Mike

 

A battery separate from the one under the hood?

Some guys with expedition setups install a whole second battery.

Maybe something small like a motorcycle battery could work in your application?

 

Yea there are led strips that run off a simple 9v but if you want something a little more durable you could probably just hook up a small battery in the bed box and run them off that. and in a momentary switch on the power wire and youre all set

 

You could use a small sealed lead acid battery from like walmart for <$25.

But personally I think you would be better off running a power wire down to the bed like I did. Must easier as you wont have to waorry about the battery dying.

You could also tap into your license plate lights (which power on with the running lights) and put a switch in between. This way the power is already there but only works when your running lights are on. The nice part about doing it this way is that you wouldnt accidentally leave them on.

 

THanks guys. Yeah just to clarify I currently have a led setup that came with my softopper. It uses 3 AA batteries, but its on its way out, you are right, probably best to hard wire something for durability.

I was thinking of buying this guys set , a member on here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fs-waterproof-under-bed-rail-led-lights-3rd-gen.391380/

 

I threw up these cheap Target 2 AA powered lights as a joke for fiancé while on a trip in New Mexico. They are attached to shell of truck with zip ties and mounts. As far as jokes go they are actually a decent set up and are still in the Shell and being used haha. Not led or too bright, but a simple, cheap and effective little light set up.

Not exactly what you are looking for, but as long as covered or weather proof, it would work fine.

 

yeah @mattgecko makes a killer bed light set up.

I made flush mount ones for a little while but they took forever to make and I dont have the time for it lol

 

Thems baby making lights! I like em!

 

Practice makes perfect!

 

There's a build thread for a bussmann rtmr fuse block to do it yourself. definitely worth looking at if you want to have and add accessories in the future.