Wiring LED cubes to come on with reverse lights

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Lanny

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As others probably know, the reverse lights on these trucks are not all that bright. Im looking into adding either LED cubes or just spotlights to come on when I put the truck in reverse. I would run a relay connected to 2 lights mounted on the bottom corners of my rear bumper. I am thinking that I can run my activation wire to the relay from the fuse box? That way when it powers the reverse circuit it would send the power to the relay. Just wondering where others have ran these wires/what other setups look like.
Thanks!
 

Cokeman95

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I'm running some Amazon cheap led cubes off a relay mounted in the engine bay controlled by a switch in the center stack. I wanted to be able to control them independently of the reverse lights.
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Lanny

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I'm running some Amazon cheap led cubes off a relay mounted in the engine bay controlled by a switch in the center stack. I wanted to be able to control them independently of the reverse lights.
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I do like that look but I have a 98 pickup and I dont have either of those switches. I only have a cargo light that doesn't actually work.
 

Cokeman95

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My suburban didn't come with either of those switches. I found them at the junkyard and wired them up for my purposes. You could also drill a hole in one of blank spots and use a toggle switch. There are usually a couple of those fog light switches on ebay.

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whiteboyslo

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Have you tried just throwing some LEDs in the stock housings? I did that in both my trucks. Plenty of light when reversing.

Mike
 

Bob L

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I mounted my aux. lights in the bumper and wired to a rocker switch on the dash that lights when the lights are on. It is wired to a relay on the firewall and only gets power with key on. I launch my boats at night a lot and need lights with the truck in park.
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mountie

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I have good square LED lights in addition to my backup "useless" lights. I just tapped into the wiring.

No problems... I love the back up lights, nearly as bright as my headlights.

( Maybe my '88 is a simpler wiring set up and allows for extra lighting)
 

slowburb

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I have two "Alpena" LED cubes mounted to the underside lip of my rear bumper. They're grounded with my trailer plug, and the hot wires are tapped into the green wire that goes into the taillight housing, which is hot when my truck is in reverse. They work perfectly.
 

un4givn85

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I have two "Alpena" LED cubes mounted to the underside lip of my rear bumper. They're grounded with my trailer plug, and the hot wires are tapped into the green wire that goes into the taillight housing, which is hot when my truck is in reverse. They work perfectly.
Is that the "hot" wire for reverse?
I couldn't get anything to work for my LED strip under the tailgate that has reverse lights.
I'll have to try that one.
 

RichLo

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A relay is the best bet so you dont fry your stock wiring but just 'hot' wiring them in.
 
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