Relays or no

so, I am preparing to wire in several things on my 96 and am trying to figure out if I should make it complicated and relay things.

1. Cab lights (using less). Can I just tie into the wire at the headlight switch (anyone know what color) and ground somewhere?

2. Tow mirrors (K2XX style). Plan is to tie into parking wires in the door panels (brown wire I think) and then tap into the reverse wire under the dash. For the heated mirror I was gonna tap into the rear defrost wire under the dash or at the hvac unit. For the signals I was gonna find the wires under the dash.

3. Gm style light bar (used on dually) under tailgate. Plan is to tap into the trailer harness.

4. Auto dim mirror with comp and temp. Plan is to find a keyed on source and just tap into that.

Any advice would be appreciated. When I say tap I mean strip back and poke a hole in the braided wire and wrap the new wire tight then use electrical tape. It would be simpler to not run relays, but i don't want to overload anything and cause a fire or short.

check out my build, did pretty much everything you are looking to do.

Please do not do that to your wires! you will regret it. solder and heat shrink, if you cant do that, get some strippers and get heat shrink butt end connectors.....look up some videos, doing electrical connections properly is very easy and will last forever if done right.

X2 on soldering connections. Personally, I would run relays for most of those. Do not tap into the head light switch for power. Use a relay for those cab lights.

X2, I'd use relays for everything except MAYBE the comp/temp mirror. And definitely make sure you make solid connections, whether you choose to crimp or solder.

Jorge6.5 said:

X2 on soldering connections. Personally, I would run relays for most of those. Do not tap into the head light switch for power. Use a relay for those cab lights.

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X2 on the relays, and soldering, then heat shrink.

Relays are easy and there is a reason your under hood fuse panel is full of them. Temp and compass mirror doesn't need one I plugged mine into the panel on the firewall left of brake pedal. The center dually lamp shouldn't need one either. I think they are actually led's at most 3 194 bulbs. Cap lights yes, heat circuit in mirrors too. I solder all wire connections and heat shrink too. Wiring done correctly is done. Wiring done incorrectly is a nightmare in the future. Rosin core solder for wiring

Bob L said:

Relays are easy and there is a reason your under hood fuse panel is full of them. Temp and compass mirror doesn't need one I plugged mine into the panel on the firewall left of brake pedal. The center dually lamp shouldn't need one either. I think they are actually led's at most 3 194 bulbs. Cap lights yes, heat circuit in mirrors too. I solder all wire connections and heat shrink too. Wiring done correctly is done. Wiring done incorrectly is a nightmare in the future. Rosin core solder for wiring

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Any thoughts on the turn signals/parking lights in the mirrors?

I'm not trying to over complicate things if I don't have to. Right now I have two relays for the headlight direct wire mod, I'll add a third for the 4- hi mod.

Then I'll need one relay for the cab lights, one relay for the Mirror heat. So I'm already up to five relays. Turn signals and marker lights in the mirrors would add two more relays (I think). I'm starting to think seven relays might me a bit much. If anyone is bored and likes drawing up wiring diagrams...id sure appreciate it.

Also, does anyone have a brand / part number for the male and female pins in the 96 mirror plugs, and the male/ female plugs for the headlight harness plug on the firewall? I'm trying to use my factory connections but would like to run new wiring instead of splicing.

I believe the mirror lights are led's also but not sure. If they are I wouldn't bother with a relay there. What you are doing is basically complicating things for very little gain in the long run. I know I am old and have driven many years without any of the things you are trying to add except for the temp compass mirror. I added aux. lights in my rear bumper to help launch and retrieve my boats at night but otherwise I find simple is better and less problems later. I think we either get spoiled by using a car with all the gadgets or just try to have what all the new cars have.
I started driving in 1969 I have had two cars with power windows. The truck I have now is a basic W/T with manual everything but it is the first vehicle I ever owned with working A/C. Never had cruise control or power locks in anything so I am at the never had it don't miss it mentality. I have thought of adding power locks so I could push a button to get in but then I really only lock the truck about once a week so why bother.
Nothing wrong with adding stuff but can't help but say all the add on stuff is the first thing to give trouble in a car as they age. Including factory installed options.

You can find plenty of relay wiring schematics online with google. Have fun and think about any wiring that will be near or in anything that moves. Chafed wires become grounded shorts and sometimes melted wires including wires bundled with them.