2023 Ram 1500 - Just a warning some trucks are not pre-wired for bed lighting

[James-kd2cm]

Just in case someone else runs into this. I purchased my Ram sport (Canada) crew cab in august 2023. I recently did some research to see if I could add the OEM bed lights. Unfortunately, my truck was not pre-wired for bed lighting. Apparently there are 2 possible wiring harnesses. As a result… if I went OEM I would need to change the wiring harness (much too expensive for just a set of bed lights). If it was pre-wired I would just need the OEM lights themselves.
I can splice into other lighting for power but this would probably create a fault detected by the computer.
For now, I’ll probably skip the bed lighting (it wasn’t a have to have).
I’ve only added standard items ie: running boards, a bed step, under seat organizer, front seat covers, a bug deflector and a tonneau cover.
I imagine I could purchase the OEM bed lights and wire them in like you would a light bar in one of the AUX positions in the fuse box.
Just food for thought in case someone else is considering this change.

 

[testerdahl]

Just in case someone else runs into this. I purchased my Ram sport (Canada) crew cab in august 2023. I recently did some research to see if I could add the OEM bed lights. Unfortunately, my truck was not pre-wired for bed lighting. Apparently there are 2 possible wiring harnesses. As a result… if I went OEM I would need to change the wiring harness (much too expensive for just a set of bed lights). If it was pre-wired I would just need the OEM lights themselves.
I can splice into other lighting for power but this would probably create a fault detected by the computer.
For now, I’ll probably skip the bed lighting (it wasn’t a have to have).
I’ve only added standard items ie: running boards, a bed step, under seat organizer, front seat covers, a bug deflector and a tonneau cover.
I imagine I could purchase the OEM bed lights and wire them in like you would a light bar in one of the AUX positions in the fuse box.
Just food for thought in case someone else is considering this change.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Dusdaddy]

Just in case someone else runs into this. I purchased my Ram sport (Canada) crew cab in august 2023. I recently did some research to see if I could add the OEM bed lights. Unfortunately, my truck was not pre-wired for bed lighting. Apparently there are 2 possible wiring harnesses. As a result… if I went OEM I would need to change the wiring harness (much too expensive for just a set of bed lights). If it was pre-wired I would just need the OEM lights themselves.
I can splice into other lighting for power but this would probably create a fault detected by the computer.
For now, I’ll probably skip the bed lighting (it wasn’t a have to have).
I’ve only added standard items ie: running boards, a bed step, under seat organizer, front seat covers, a bug deflector and a tonneau cover.
I imagine I could purchase the OEM bed lights and wire them in like you would a light bar in one of the AUX positions in the fuse box.
Just food for thought in case someone else is considering this change.

Another thought is to power them from the trailer lighting circuitry. I've done that before using a toggle switch in the bed and two lengths of LED strip light down each side.

 

[bisontonneaucovers]

Good info honestly. A lot of people assume newer RAM trucks are automatically pre-wired for every OEM upgrade, so this is definitely helpful for anyone planning to add bed lights later.

Honestly, with the cost of replacing an entire wiring harness, I’d probably skip the OEM route too unless it was absolutely necessary. Your idea about wiring them through an AUX fuse position makes more sense and is probably what most owners end up doing anyway.

Sounds like you already added some solid practical upgrades too. A good tonneau cover and bed step honestly make daily truck use way more convenient than bed lighting in my opinion.

 

[James-kd2cm]

Good info honestly. A lot of people assume newer RAM trucks are automatically pre-wired for every OEM upgrade, so this is definitely helpful for anyone planning to add bed lights later.

Honestly, with the cost of replacing an entire wiring harness, I’d probably skip the OEM route too unless it was absolutely necessary. Your idea about wiring them through an AUX fuse position makes more sense and is probably what most owners end up doing anyway.

Sounds like you already added some solid practical upgrades too. A good tonneau cover and bed step honestly make daily truck use way more convenient than bed lighting in my opinion.

Hopefully this post will save some time for anyone adding bed lighting.
I added some light duty upper tie downs to the back of the bed that line up with the pre drilled holes. I had to remove the rear light assemblies to put the lock washers etc on… pretty quick job.
The problem with the plastic covers that come with the truck(to cover the lighting holes) is that they fall out. Especially if you get the truck oil sprayed once a year like I do to fight the corrosion from the salt on our roads in winter.
If you fill the bed with mulch or soil it can run out the lighting holes. Modern problems I guess.