I just wanted to say that I finally finished this mod a few weeks ago with the wires running into the door as Snooper recommended. I used the small LEDs that I posted on Feb 1st, but elected to use two on each side. I'm finding that they provide plenty of light in the back and are more discreet than some of the other options.

I haven't fully appreciated how great this mod was until I was out on the drop zone last night and digging around in the cargo area after dark and with no ambient light - these lights worked great! (Too great, because all the moths started coming in the truck).

Great mod, and I fully recommend it. For the members more timid about disassembling their vehicle, this is a great starter mod with lots of functionality.

I got my kit from Griots Garage.

Here: 8-Piece Trim Panel Removal Tools with Hammer - Griot's Garage

Okki

i know this goes against most peoples beliefs but for something with as low a draw as LED lights i wouldnt worry about running the power to the battery nor would i worry about a relay. i would just tap into the cig lighter(as long as its got power full time) and go from there. tap into that wire, run that to the switch then to the lights and ground the lights on a screw/bolt in the rear.

Just did mine this afternoon! Fishing the wire was the biggest pain in the ass, but everything else went smoothly. I mounted them parallel to the ground because I could not, for the life of me, get any kind of adhesive to stick to the upper plastic - I even used citrus cleaner and acetone(!) to clean up the plastic (I fully expect to see the plastic melted tomorrow morning). Anyway, I think I like it better the way I have it now, too. It wasn't super dark out when I took the picture, but the lights are bright! Definitely gives much more light in the cargo area than with the hatch lights.

Alcohol, my friend, alcohol.

Pics aren't working for me??

They're working for me!

All good now!

Watch out for those jet airplanes landing back there! The Boeing Dreamliner nearly landed in mine last week on a test flight...

I still love my ridiculously bright LEDs back there! They have been the most useful mod of everything I have done...

Way to go limamike!

Very nice man!

i think im going to mount it to the side window on one of the edges. dont know if it will be at the top of the side window or the side yet. i will see how it looks when i get it and see ho hard it is to run the wires. its one of the first modes im going to do

So dumb question, how hard do you have to pry the rear light plastic pieces off? I tried today but it felt like I would break it if any harder. Let me know if you have any advice or another link that would help better. Thanks

Which rear light plastic pieces? The lights in the rear hatch? You have to insert an object (like a flathead screwdriver) that can pry a small plastic latch/catch on either the inside or outside of the light (can't remember which side right now, but my gut is telling me inside) and simply apply some pressure in and down to get the light to come loose. They are in there pretty well, and I do remember having to use a bit more muscle than most other pieces, but the key is the hitting it from the correct side as they lock into place from only one side. If you hit it from the wrong side and really muscle into it you will definitely break the entire light housing.

Thanks. It's definitely from the left since that's where the indention is and what it says earlier in the post. I just really need to put some muscle into it. The other ones came out so easily I thought I was going to break the rear hatch ones. Appreciate the help and I'll see what I can break back there tomorrow.

Honestly, it's way easier to just pull off the entire hatch plastic trim since you need it off anyway. Pull it out from the passenger side (you will see the slot where you start prying) and yank all the plastic pins loose. Then you can reach in there and unplug both hatch lights. Push the panel off the window channel and you have everything off.















Easy to get to those lights now.

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