Puddle lights, ambient lighting and ProClips iPad mount

[TrailBlazn420]

So this is a little project I've been working on for a while. The puddle lights are hooked into the dome lights, and the ambient lighting is hooked into the ignition. Check it out...View attachment 17221

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Couldn't post more than 10 pics at a time.

 

[CdnGMan]

That actually looks pretty cool...

Seeing as how I have the running boards on my mall crawler, I wouldn't mind incorporating something like that into them...
Any chance on getting a "how-to" created on this??

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Any chance on getting a "how-to" created on this??

Thanks! For the dome light tie in, I used the gray wire with black stripe that was in the B pillar on the driver's side. I used wire taps (clamp onto source wire, slide in power-drawing wire and crimp with pliers) for that one, and then for the ambient lights, I wanted them to come on with the ignition, so I used a fuse tap at the rear fuse block to tap into fuse #40. The rest of it was just pulling off panels, running wire under the carpet with a fish tape, running the wire through the grommet in the door, and then positive to positive, negative to negative. Then just put everything back the way you took it off.

 

[Blckshdw]

I'm digging the work on the doors. Very cool. Might have to put the puddle lights on the future list

 

[TrailBlazn420]

I'm digging the work on the doors. Very cool. Might have to put the puddle lights on the future list

Thanks man! The hardest part was getting the wires through the grommets on the doors. Everything else was very straight forward. If you've got a fish tape, you're golden.

 

[Blckshdw]

Yeah, I used a wire snake to pull the lines through the doors for my side mirror LED mod. Stupid mod list, it never shrinks...

 

[STLtrailbSS]

Looking good man! Love the interior never even thought of placement like that. LEGIT!!

 

[Regulator]

Looks pretty good, I really like the puddle lighting.

 

[willn513]

Looks awesome man. Nice job... Now to just pick up one of those iPad dealies...

 

[Porkins]

Looks Good! Do have any close up shots on how they are mounted?

 

[YOUNG]

looks likesomething else im going to have to throw onto my mod list... ive already got leds that shine onto the floor board but it looks like im going to have to do the puddle lights next!

 

[TrailBlazn420]

My next idea is to incorporate LED puddle lights into the back doors, and figure out where to put accent/ambient lighting for the rear. I was thinking about putting the ambient lighting on the brackets that fold down with the rear seats. so it would light up a passenger's calf essentially. My dad just got a 2012 Cadillac SRX, and it has electroluminescent lighting coming out from underneath the wood trim on the front and rear doors and the dash, which is what inspired me to do the ambient lighting. It is a lot brighter in my TB than in his Caddy, but it's not distracting. I drove around with it last night and it didn't bother me at all. Not to toot my own horn, but I highly doubt I will see another vehicle in Fort Myers, let a lone another TB, with an iPad mounted to the dash and LED ambient lighting. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I like setting my vehicles apart from the crowd. I appreciate everyone checking it out and commenting! I didn't take any "How-To" pics, but I would gladly assist anyone who wants to add puddle lights or ambient lighting via PM, email or text.

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Looks Good! Do have any close up shots on how they are mounted?

I will take some shots in a few minutes. You will be able to see how they are mounted better in the daylight.

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Looks awesome man. Nice job... Now to just pick up one of those iPad dealies...

I love my iPad, and it has completely replaced my laptop. As far as the iPad mount, I got mine from ProClips. They sell a few different mounts for the iPad, so check them out. I've had it for a couple of days now, and so far, I love it! We will see how it holds up.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Well done! My buddy did a fiberglass dash on his silverado and his ipad slides in and out in place of the radio and he is able to have the video playing with the music. I would love to have that, but yours is far more realistic for me. Great Work.

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Well done! My buddy did a fiberglass dash on his silverado and his ipad slides in and out in place of the radio and he is able to have the video playing with the music. I would love to have that, but yours is far more realistic for me. Great Work.

That's awesome, I'll bet it looks sweet! I've seen it on an F-150. I have a TON of music videos, so I can have the video and the song going at the same time. The only problem with that is, cops can see it from 100 miles away. I usually have mine on the album cover, the GPS or the big clock, but occasionally, I will rock some music videos. Sometimes though, in the music video, they talk or pause or do different things than what they do in just the regular song.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

He somehow has it rigged that the Ipad is the head unit, so the sound and video come from it. I bet you could do an aux input or something and make it work similar.

I bet the cops would notice. He works for a custom audio shop so it is sort of a rolling billboard/office for him to showcase his work. I am not sure how much he uses it when driving, but could definitely break up long trips.

 

[TrailBlazn420]

I love it as the GPS, because it is a lot larger and easier to read. It does turn-by-turn voice navigation. I have an Alpine iDA-X305S that I had in my Jeep, I just haven't been able to find all of the adapters that I need to hook it up. Once I get the Alpine hooked up, I'll be able to use it to control my iPad's Pandora stations, and like and dislike songs on Pandora. That's how it was in the Jeep. One of these days...

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Looks Good! Do have any close up shots on how they are mounted?

I hope this helps.

 

[havie22]

I love it! Great job! I know whats going to be added to my mod list! Thanks for sharing the idea!

 

[ScarabEpic22]

Ive gotta look into this now, need to do all 4 doors!

Good idea.

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Ive gotta look into this now, need to do all 4 doors!

Good idea.

The two back doors are next on my list!

 

[Mark20]

Great idea, I always park right next to puddles. Must be some deeply buried psychological reason.

Forgive my ignorance, A, B, C, D pillars, which is which?

Edit:
Nevermind! Found the answer in another post and I see its been added to the "dictionary".

 

[CdnGMan]

Anyone know if there's a way to tie them into the running boards so that at night they light up the exterior (the foot-well area) of the vehicle WITHOUT having to open the doors when you activate / deactivate the alarm?

PS. I think that makes sense...

 

[Blckshdw]

Anyone know if there's a way to tie them into the running boards so that at night they light up the exterior (the foot-well area) of the vehicle WITHOUT having to open the doors when you activate / deactivate the alarm?

PS. I think that makes sense...

Yeah, a guy did that on the OS. He didn't use strips though, he used some LED bolt-type deals. I think 3 or 4 to each side. They looked pretty sweet.

Edit: He used something similar to these, I found on the Autolumination website, about a third of the way down this page.

**clicky**

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Anyone know if there's a way to tie them into the running boards so that at night they light up the exterior (the foot-well area) of the vehicle WITHOUT having to open the doors when you activate / deactivate the alarm?

PS. I think that makes sense...

You can tie into the dome light in the B pillar, and when you use your key fob to unlock the car, if you have perimeter lighting turned on, they will light up. Then you can put the lights under/on the running boards and when you hit unlock , the lights will come on.

 

[CdnGMan]

You can tie into the dome light in the B pillar, and when you use your key fob to unlock the car, if you have perimeter lighting turned on, they will light up. Then you can put the lights under/on the running boards and when you hit unlock , the lights will come on.

And that's EXACTLY what I want to do - the wife has a hard time seeing in the dark and this might be the ticket I can use to earn some more bonus points...

I'm gonna have to check out the other post that explains the various post labels and then figure out what wires I need to tap into, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction...

 

[TrailBlazn420]

And that's EXACTLY what I want to do - the wife has a hard time seeing in the dark and this might be the ticket I can use to earn some more bonus points...

I'm gonna have to check out the other post that explains the various post labels and then figure out what wires I need to tap into, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction...

The pillar that is just aft of your head when sitting in the driver's seat has a trim piece that goes floor to ceiling. You remove that piece, and there is a black bundle of wires, and one of the wires in that bundle is gray with a black stripe. There is also a solid black wire. Those are your two wires that you need to tap into.

 

[CdnGMan]

The pillar that is just aft of your head when sitting in the driver's seat has a trim piece that goes floor to ceiling. You remove that piece, and there is a black bundle of wires, and one of the wires in that bundle is gray with a black stripe. There is also a solid black wire. Those are your two wires that you need to tap into.

Sweet!! Thanks very much!!

PS. I'm sure that Stef will appreciate the info!

 

[barron03]

Nice

 

[Gray Ghost]

Really like that look have been doing some research would like to do that mod!!

 

[SBUBandit]

Very nice install on the lighting. My camera won't take night pictures, but your puddle lights look exactly like my install.

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Some pics of the rear 'ambient' lighting. Same exact LED strips as the ambient lighting up front.

 

[Blckshdw]

Keep your floors clean!!

 

[TrailBlazn420]

When there's that much LED light, you have to!!

 

[CdnGMan]

Do you have 2 different sets in the back?
One under the front seats and one under the back?

Or am I just totally confused?

 

[TrailBlazn420]

Do you have 2 different sets in the back?
One under the front seats and one under the back?

Or am I just totally confused?

Hahaha, confused! I have one pair up front, one pair in the back, and then one pair under each door. The ones under the doors are brighter, the four strips I have inside are bright, but not as bright as the "puddle lights".

 

[SBUBandit]

I like the ambient lighting. I only have puddle lights on the front doors for now, but I might add the rears, maybe next summer. What strips did you use?

 

[TrailBlazn420]

I like the ambient lighting. I only have puddle lights on the front doors for now, but I might add the rears, maybe next summer. What strips did you use?

I got my LED strips from Autozone, because I was impatient. They work great though! They are made by Alpena. The ambient lighting is the standard strip light, the puddle lights are the "MAX" variety and are supposedly 80% brighter than the other ones. Rear puddle lights are next on the list.