Trailer light (i think) on tailgate.

[Lricaud81]

The light on the tailgate by the handle. Is that called a trailer light or something like that. Anyway I have an stx and wondering if it's possible to add that light to my truck. Has anyone done it and how hard is it if you have.
Thanks in advance

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[Lricaud81]

Is this an unheard of mod. I'd think it could possibly be done I put in the bed lights I think I should be able to tie this in with them.
Would it be as easy as getting a new surround for the handle that has the hole for the light and put light and wire up. Or would the surround fit on an stx .
BTW it's a 2023 stx no power gate or anything other than the camera and lock

 

[KTM753]

I don't know anything about this feature but I also have a similar spec truck without it but interested in adding it.

 

[Lricaud81]

Upon researching I keep getting conflicting results. I'll see that it looks like it may work with my handle and then I'll get that it only works with the electric release handle. My surround doesn't have the spot for the light. Not sure if you'd be able to drill and install without looking ghetto. Lol.
I'm starting to assume this hasn't been done since noone chimed in. Maybe it does only work on the electric release or its just something not worth trying. Lol

 

[LaHerencia]

Upon researching I keep getting conflicting results. I'll see that it looks like it may work with my handle and then I'll get that it only works with the electric release handle. My surround doesn't have the spot for the light. Not sure if you'd be able to drill and install without looking ghetto. Lol.
I'm starting to assume this hasn't been done since noone chimed in. Maybe it does only work on the electric release or its just something not worth trying. Lol

I do believe the light on the handle is part of the tow package or a higher package truck. its on my XL since I have the tow package.

 

[Lricaud81]

I have the class 4 hitch and plugs in the back. Its an 2023 stx. Not 100% sure on a tow package.
Is yours a regular handle not an electric release or anything.
What year is your truck

 

[KTM753]

I do believe the light on the handle is part of the tow package or a higher package truck. its on my XL since I have the tow package.

Good clue!

Here is a thread about differnces in tow packages:

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/tow-package-breakdown-for-2021-f-150.698/

53A includes tailgate LED or Lariat and above trim.

 

[Lricaud81]

I looked through that but I didn't find what I'm looking for. Lol. Maybe overlooked. I'm wondering if they have the surround that has hole for the light that'll fit my regular handle not an electric release ..
Looking for a definitive answer it does work on regular handled tailgate and a HUGE bonus would be a part number. I can make it work I put a bed light kit together myself and it works great and I'd just put it with them.

 

[KTM753]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1562532839...RJN1OF4R6q&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Check out this used handle on eBay. It has LED in upper right looking at outside. Inside view you can see LED with fins.

 

[Lricaud81]

Holy crap thats the led. I wouldn't expect it to be that much going on in the back. Lol.
Thanks for the find now I gotta look into this.

 

[LaHerencia]

I have the class 4 hitch and plugs in the back. Its an 2023 stx. Not 100% sure on a tow package.
Is yours a regular handle not an electric release or anything.
What year is your truck

I have a 21 XL Powerboost with tow package and tow mirrors. My handle is not electric release but does have the electric lock.

 

[Lricaud81]

So we pretty much should have the same handle. All mine has is electric lock. Now I just need to find a surround with led.
Is yours the textured black surround or body color. Mines textured black I'd rather find one like that so I don't have to worry with paint. Then I'll end up wanting to do the door handles and well you see where this is going. Lmao

 

[KTM753]

Now I just need to find a surround with led.
Is yours the textured black surround or body color. Mines textured black I'd rather find one like that so I don't have to worry with paint. Then I'll end up wanting to do the door handles and well you see where this is going. Lmao

Same same ?

 

[KTM753]

So curiosity got the best of me and I took apart my tailgate tonight looking for the LED light harness plug. Factory did an excellent job masking spray in bed liner lol:

First glance, no plug for LED, just harness the camera.

I decided to dig deeper and remove the harness wrap at the 180 degree bend in above picture. Took a while but I found 3 wires in addition to the camera wire. But no plug. It was weird, just 3 unterminated wires. The insulation on them was significant and the wire very small. My limited experience tells me these are additional camera wires and not normal DC power wires. Anyone know?

As you can see I took the tailgate handle completely out. Easy enough. But going back in you have to get the top lip under the top plastic tailgate cap. It's a struggle but possible to get it back under.

So thinking I need a new harness for the tailgate that includes power for the LED light, I started looking at the harness connection on the chassis side. Picture below shows this. The camera cable breaks out and has its own connection to chassis. The other two wires go into a bigger chassis plug. Guessing these two wires are for power locks.

So I looked at the chassis side plug for additional wires thinking maybe at least the chassis side has wires/terminals to power the LED. It does have more than two wires in it.

So more research is needed on part # for correct tailgate harness, terminals that need to be populated at chassis harness plug to power LED, and Forscan changes needed to activate it.

Here is a picture of my tailgate harness part #:

Here is a link to eBay auction of that same harness, it shows the harness outside the tailgate and confirms no plug for the LED light:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2260341998...RJN1OF4R6q&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Lricaud81]

Thats some good info. Thanks.
I'm not to worried about harness I just need the surround and led. As long as led has a plug or wires I'm gonna hook it up to the bed leds that I installed. I made my own kit so I'll tie it in with them.

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