Just got my '06, LED light question...

[BMcGuffie]

I just got my new 06 3500 4x4 quad cab 6spd laramie J package dually, REAL NICE, :-laf im building a flatbed for it, need to know if there are any computer changes needed to run LED's on this truck, before i take it all apart.

 

[WWatkins]

I just installed a flatbed about two weeks ago and within the last couple of days gathered the rest of the parts I think I need to get the lights working right. Problem one is that my '05 uses 3 wires instead of 2 (not including ground). The two different LED versions I have both have 2 lead wires (not including ground) Used to be the brake and turn signal were one and the same... ..... no longer due to the bulb out sensing stuff.



Right now I only have running lights and brake lights. I'm pulling a small trailer which provides me with rear turn signls. They hyperflash.



My bed has two 6" ovals on each side plus two in the headache rack. I bought a couple of resistors for the turn signals... ... ... . I'm gonna throw it together this morning to see if i can get all working properly. I think the way its gonna go is that I can have 2 of the 3 options at each light... ..... so, thinking out load, I'm gonna end up with running lights and turn signals in the headache rack, running lights and brake in one light on each side at the rear, and running lights and turn signals in one light on each side at the rear. The resistors are wired in parallel to make the sensor believe a bulb is hooked up.



Resistor source: http://www.superbrightleds.com/ These folks ship promptly and have reasonable prices. There are other sources. I bought a set of ovals and some marker lights from these folks.



There is an outfit in Sparks, NV (http://www.wiringproducts.com/?target=dept_35.html) who sell a converter to allow 4 wire to 3 wire trailer hookups. The gadget is electronic and basically converges the brake and signal wires into one (as they should be). I haven't contacted these people to ask them if they think their device would work properly... ... ... would need one for each side. Part of the question is whether or not the bulb out stuff would function correctly?????? I think getting rid of the bulb out sensing stuff might be a major pain and the work arounds are the reasonable solution.



I'll try to post again this evening and let you know the results.

 

[Bob4x4]

There is a flash to address that issue on the 05's,I havent been involved on an 06 yet to know one way or the other.



Bob

 

[MCrossley]

As far as the 2 wire vs. 3 wire you can have the dealer change the output in the DRB. If they have no idea about it tell them to go into the FCM and I am pretty sure it is under Misc. there they can opt to tie the two circuits together... Hope that helps

 

[WWatkins]

Quick & dirty wiring job cause I'm going out of town next week and don't want to pull a trailer just to have turn signals.....



LED running lights work just fine... ... ... that was the easy part. Turn signals require resistors wired in parallel. Brake lights also require resistors. Only had two resistors, so had to put in conventional light fixtures to get brake lights..... ordered two more resistors.



The wiring loom is split to route wires to the left and right sides. The crew who took the box off didn't label any of the connectors, so without digging into a wiring diagram, I'm not positive about what they hooked up to, one should be the DOT middle light and the other should be the license plate light. Doesn't make any difference... . my lamp out warning light is off and lights function as they should.



I found running lights, turn signals, and brake lights on both the right and left sides... ... . used 'em all. I tapped my marker lights which included license plate lights into the right side running lights. If memory serves me correctly, I ended up with two black wires on the left side and three on the right that are not used. Don't know what they're for without digging into the wiring diagram. Still need to install backup lights, so I believe at least two of the 'extra' wires are accounted for.



Still need to deal with the 4 wire to 3 wire LED thing. MCrossley's suggestion about getting the dealer to reconfigure the wiring may be the way to go, but I'm more apt to try a converter. If a converter will work for a trailer, it should work for a flatbed. The nice thing about the truck wiring is that the trailer wiring is independent so you don't have to tap into anything, it's already there and set up.



Once I get back from my trip, I'll get the wiring sanitized and I'll be done.



RL-650 Load Resistor kit

6 Ohm, 50 Watt load resistor kit

Solves most LED turn signal problems

Connect one across each LED turn signal bulb to simulate filament bulbs

$ 4. 95 (From superbrightleds)



http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=CAR



I bought 6" oval 56 LEDs from superbrightleds. They are bright!!!!!!! If you can get all the light functions working in one light, one light on each side is more than adequate. I'm gonna have 2 ovals in the tailboard and 1 in the headache rack on each side... ..... I probably won't need backup lights.



Have resistors:

http://www.ledtronics.com/datasheets/auto_index/auto_index.htm



Have wiring converters:

http://www.wiringproducts.com/?target=dept_35.html



Just crossed my mind that it might be plausible to use the trailer wiring system for the lights on the flatbed, but you'd then have to deal with the lamp out sensor... ... ... ... ... . this stuff is getting way too complicated.

 

[RMarkey]

Quick question, the led lights that pop right in for the regular lights in big trucks, that have the 3 prong pigtails, aren't those already set up with resistors and such inside so you don't have to change anything? I ask because I was going to use those in a trailer I'm building, super bright and lifetime warranty. Am I going to be able to just put those in with the regular 4wire trailer wiring? And if those are already set up couldn't those be used in the flatbed? Maybe I'm missing something here though, it is getting late. I understand your trying to avoid the lamp out light, but its too much to think about right now, you guys just got me thinking about the leds and my trailer, same concept really.

 

[WWatkins]

I don't think there is an issue using LEDs with the trailer wiring circuit. I don't believe there are any sensors involved. Doesn't sound like a very positive answer... ... ... The trailer wiring on my truck provides the circuits as they used to be so wiring in trailer lights should be a no brainer. Also, the trailer circuits are separate from the truck circuits.



As far as eliminating my rear light circuits and using the trailer circuits for my flatbed, I'd have to figure out how to resolve the lamp out sensor... ... ... might be easy enough, just haven't looked into it yet.



Wirng in resistors is an easy task. I just need to contact the folks who sell the wiring converters to find out if that's the route I can take. If not, then its plan B. It's not a huge issue as I have three lights on each side... ... . two in the tailboard and one in the headache rack. Each light operates as a running light. One in the tailboard is brake, and the other is signal... ... ... . would like to have both as brake and signal. The headache rack light is also a signal.