DIY: Rear hatch LED light strip

[American Adventurist]

I looked at other pre-made light strips... wrong for me in so many ways. I even contacted some outfits with my concerns and specs but there seemed to be no interest in making what I wanted.

So I made my own. Seems simple right?

Nothing I do is simple. It had to be white and red LED’s, and the white light needed to be pleasant. Not the damn bluish 6K interrogation light like some are selling as a “kit” for the JL with a hokey remote control.

I wanted something with RGB (deleting the G and B) at about 3.5K to 4K. And a simple 3 way switch.

Off to Super Bright LED’s I went...

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[American Adventurist]

Here’s the lights I ordered. I have some left over for future projects

I also ordered a nice extrusion from them to mount the light for a finished look. And a small 3 position switch. These lights are triggered off the ground so that made wiring them a snap.

Here are the parts and PN’s from superbrightLEDs.com

This was also a good time to add an extra skookum USB port in the cargo area, a Blue Sea 4.8 amp dual USB right next to the Blue Sea power port that runs the Engel. Charging a tablet on a 1 amp USB sucks, so this should fix that

12 ga wiring (after I took this photo I realized I wasn’t happy with 16 ga so I rebuilt it in 12 ga), copious heat shrink and marine grade terminals.

On the lighting, I hid the switch where it will be out of the way, with no chance of inadvertent activation or dead battery. No LED light on the switch itself, just a basic on/off switch. Total parasitic draw of the two Blue Sea ports and this switch is around 2 mA. Acceptable given the huge benefits.

Back inside the rear driver’s side panel, wiring is 100% squared away. I added spade terminals inline in case I ever want to take the top off. Several colors of heat shrink tubing denote the LED strip’s OEM brown to my black extension to hot wire from the light strip. Red and white are for their corresponding light switches. Blue is common ground which activates the lights. I use orange zip ties as bread crumbs, they identify anything I’ve added. Everything is armored and chafe proof...

Switch in it’s discrete location just inside the hatch.

Red or white lighting now available at the rear tailgate area for cooking etc. Finis.

 

[American Adventurist]

Night time ops are easy now

 

[RenegadeJeeper]

That are amazing. When you going to do mine??


Really awesome setup.

 

[American Adventurist]

That are amazing. When you going to do mine??


Really awesome setup.

Thanks. Anyone can make one!

 

[Sierra]

Here’s the lights I ordered. I have some left over for future projects....................

Can you add a little more detail on wiring.

Thanks! I'll do it on weekend.

 

[P.Stew]

Just came across this. That looks phenomenal. Thanks for taking the time to write this up -- this is absolutely something I was thinking about doing and now I have no excuse not to.

 

[American Adventurist]

Just came across this. That looks phenomenal. Thanks for taking the time to write this up -- this is absolutely something I was thinking about doing and now I have no excuse not to.

You're welcome

 

[American Adventurist]

Can you add a little more detail on wiring.

Thanks! I'll do it on weekend.

What do you want to know? There's an OEM 12v cigarette lighter/port in the rear cargo area, everything I've added is powered off that, and the OEM ground is right there as well. Add a 3 way switch for your LED light strip and you're done.

 

[MUD-H2O]

Thanks for this write up. I am working on the same type of mod but I bought a bluetooth controller so I can change the color as needed. (I often do night photography and using a bright color ruins my night vision, so i use a dim red light. But that doesn't work well when I am cooking at my campsite). My question... is it hard to remove the plastic trim panels or are they just clipped in like most of the other panels.

 

[James_a]

Thanks for this write up. I am working on the same type of mod but I bought a bluetooth controller so I can change the color as needed. (I often do night photography and using a bright color ruins my night vision, so i use a dim red light. But that doesn't work well when I am cooking at my campsite). My question... is it hard to remove the plastic trim panels or are they just clipped in like most of the other panels.

Check out this video it covers the removal of the plastic trim panels.

 

[XJ-99]

Sooo, I finally got around to doing this mod. Thanks for the idea. I was going to get the Brawlee version, but when I saw this, I knew this was the way to go. Having the red light option at night is much better for when I'm out doing some night photography rather than blinding my self.

 

[mandrew]

That's a cool mod. I might copy this idea also.

 

[Flyslinger2]

Great job!

Idiot proof this for me:
1. If you could list the source for the connectors and part numbers that would be great.
2. I'm assuming you can cut the LED strip? If so, how where?
3. It looks like you mounted the strip on/in something? Part # source please.
4. What connectors do you use to power the strip? Part # source please.

I have plenty of shrink wrap. What I'm curious about is waterproofing on the door. Was/is moisture/condensation a concern?

Thanks

 

[American Adventurist]

Great job!

Idiot proof this for me:
1. If you could list the source for the connectors and part numbers that would be great.
2. I'm assuming you can cut the LED strip? If so, how where?
3. It looks like you mounted the strip on/in something? Part # source please.
4. What connectors do you use to power the strip? Part # source please.

I have plenty of shrink wrap. What I'm curious about is waterproofing on the door. Was/is moisture/condensation a concern?

Thanks

1. Amazon. See reviews, get some decent automotive rated heat shrink connectors. And a heat gun.
2. Yes. The strips are marked in increments showing you where they can be cut. Easy.
3. Super Bright LED's dot com. Many different LED strip extrusions there to choose from.
4. See #1 above. Get a variety pack of good connectors and you'll be good.

Here's the PN for the LED strip itself:

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