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Bed Cap Install & Wiring Issues

Truckster23

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I installed a Century fiberglass topper on my 2023 f150 crew cab 6 1/2 ft bed

Took a couple pictures of the brake light signal wire under the hood on the drivers side between the air box and inner fender tucked in the wire harness from the factory. (Removed air box for easy access)

For the 12v power for the interior light I just connected to the battery terminal and used a fuse holder.

I carefully routed the wires along the existing wire harness under the truck following the frame and secured using zip ties ever 6-12 inches along the way.

The ground is easy to find at the rear frame on the drivers side. Back by the rear bumper.

I did not have any trouble with the LED 3rd brake lights flashing and didn’t need any extra load simulator like others say.

Also noticed in that the factory signal wire only turns on 3rd brake light when key is on. But the brake lights on the truck will actuate when the pedal is pressed any time with or without key

Ford F-150 Bed Cap Install & Wiring Issues 6DC4C2DF-558C-45CD-B063-6C7D874EEC88
Ford F-150 Bed Cap Install & Wiring Issues B16A9AD4-EAB0-474B-952D-ED41121BDAEB
Ford F-150 Bed Cap Install & Wiring Issues FB582EA7-28DE-4609-A1B3-DE6E39929490
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Sojourner

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First post, yay!

Bumping this older thread; hoping someone can answer a few additional questions.

I just installed my Century/Leer topper on my 2019+ Ranger and it was a really straight-forward affair. Seems the install for my new Century/Leer topper on my 2023 F-150 isn't. So here I am and here are my questions:

1. What gauge wire to the lead in the engine bay. 10 gauge sound about right? Or is that overkill/underkill?

2. If I understand this thread correctly, for the topper CHMSL it's just power to the lead in the engine bay and ground at the rear. Am I missing something here?

3. Anyone have ideas for connection points for the interior dome light other than running a second (what gauge?) wire all the way to the battery?

4. Finally, I bought the remote unlock kit as well. Wiring it up on the Ranger was a breeze. Can't seem to find anything anywhere on how to wire it up on the F-150 (Leer/Century hasn't been any help).

Apologies if I bungled it in my first post with questions 3 & 4 in this thread. But I searched the forum and couldn't find anything (and considering some of Qs 3&4 are in this thread I didn't want to start two new threads).

TIA

Cheers!
 

Sojourner

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I installed a Century fiberglass topper on my 2023 f150 crew cab 6 1/2 ft bed

Took a couple pictures of the brake light signal wire under the hood on the drivers side between the air box and inner fender tucked in the wire harness from the factory. (Removed air box for easy access)

For the 12v power for the interior light I just connected to the battery terminal and used a fuse holder.

I carefully routed the wires along the existing wire harness under the truck following the frame and secured using zip ties ever 6-12 inches along the way.

The ground is easy to find at the rear frame on the drivers side. Back by the rear bumper.

I did not have any trouble with the LED 3rd brake lights flashing and didn’t need any extra load simulator like others say.

Also noticed in that the factory signal wire only turns on 3rd brake light when key is on. But the brake lights on the truck will actuate when the pedal is pressed any time with or without key

6DC4C2DF-558C-45CD-B063-6C7D874EEC88.jpeg
B16A9AD4-EAB0-474B-952D-ED41121BDAEB.jpeg
FB582EA7-28DE-4609-A1B3-DE6E39929490.jpeg
Thank you. CHMSL wire was just where you said it was. 👍

Now I just have to finish the installation/hook-up. 🤞it goes smoothly. Then on to dome light and topper power lock.
 

jersey jeff

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I have my Leer cap's interior light hooked up to the switched LED lighting in the bed. Its an easy electrical lead to hook up to as all the wiring for the cap usually runs up along the drivers side rear fender panel. This also enables you to turn your light on from in the cab if you have this feature.

The lead for the brake light in the engine bay works as indicated but the ignition needed to be on to get mine to work.
 

Sojourner

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I have my Leer cap's interior light hooked up to the switched LED lighting in the bed. Its an easy electrical lead to hook up to as all the wiring for the cap usually runs up along the drivers side rear fender panel. This also enables you to turn your light on from in the cab if you have this feature.
Excellent idea as I do have this option. Thank you very much; you just made that sub-project easier!
 

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Sojourner

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The remote unlock feature has been an issue. Since I have a power tailgate the C4498 connector I was going to tap into (in the tailgate) doesn't exist. Leer says to tap in under the drivers door sill plate but that's a monster cable group with several wires having the same colors as the one I have to tap into. Honestly, too difficult.

So I'm thinking of seeing if I can tap into the circuit inside the left passenger door....
 
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jaedfw

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I found this wire on my 22 powerboost but it does not function when I use the brake. Is there something in FORSCAN that needs to be enabled?
Did you get an answer on this? I have a 2023 PB and the installer for a Leer connected the Gray/Orange wire but the brake light on the topper isn't working.

I am wondering if it is due to the CHMSL removal, or something else.
 

Thejeffman

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Did you get an answer on this? I have a 2023 PB and the installer for a Leer connected the Gray/Orange wire but the brake light on the topper isn't working.

I am wondering if it is due to the CHMSL removal, or something else.
Did you get this figured out? I just put a topper on and am having the same issue. Tested the wire itself and no signal when braking (voltage). Also have 2023 PB crew longbed.

For reference on the lock unlock wires, here is an image for anyone who has issues with locating the wire. The lock wire is grey/ brown, not brown/ grey as called out in that ARE spec. This is the driver kick area. The blue/ green is correct for the unlock.

Ford F-150 Bed Cap Install & Wiring Issues PXL_20240128_233148317
 

jaedfw

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Did you get this figured out? I just put a topper on and am having the same issue. Tested the wire itself and no signal when braking (voltage). Also have 2023 PB crew longbed
Not yet, but I am trying to get to the dealership this week for an oil change, so I'll let you know if I get a confirmed answer :)
 

Sojourner

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For reference on the lock unlock wires, here is an image for anyone who has issues with locating the wire. The lock wire is grey/ brown, not brown/ grey as called out in that ARE spec. This is the driver kick area. The blue/ green is correct for the unlock.

PXL_20240128_233148317.jpg
Well, that's where I'm stuck as there seem to be several pairs in that cable bunch with those two color combos. Or maybe my eyes are bad/deceiving me?
 

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Thejeffman

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Well, that's where I'm stuck as there seem to be several pairs in that cable bunch with those two color combos. Or maybe my eyes are bad/deceiving me?
I am tapped into the larger gauge one toward the left side of my finger (two identical wires next to each other, the one closer to the center of my finger). I believe either will work. It's the grey brown. I should have pointed at it with a pen. You can see the blue one that is being tapped into by that yellow wire for unlock.
 

Sojourner

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I am tapped into the larger gauge one toward the left side of my finger (two identical wires next to each other, the one closer to the center of my finger). I believe either will work. It's the grey brown. I should have pointed at it with a pen. You can see the blue one that is being tapped into by that yellow wire for unlock.
Very much appreciated. Thank you. 👍
 

travisN000

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Not sure if it helps with the topper wiring, but when I was trying to get brake and backup lights on a bike rack without triggering the trailer stuff (I wanted to keep BlueCruise active), I used a harness designed for flat towing the truck which plugs in between the taillights and their harnesses.. that made it so that I didn't have to tap into any factory wiring.

The harness I bought was a used return on amazon that turned out to have the connectors not pinned correctly, but with a little testing, it wasn't too hard to remove and repin the harness connectors correctly (and add the reverse light wire and a 5 pin flat connector to it).

Here is the harness I used (I payed less than half the current price for the 'defective' returned item):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRNZG9HL

Ford F-150 Bed Cap Install & Wiring Issues 51naTKd6fnL._AC_SL1000_
 
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Thejeffman

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Not yet, but I am trying to get to the dealership this week for an oil change, so I'll let you know if I get a confirmed answer :)
Any update from the dealer on third brake light not working from wire in engine bay?
 

Thejeffman

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For anyone wondering. This is the official wiring guide from LEER. They finally responded to my email. They call out the engine bay wiring for the third brake light.

Others seem to be having the no voltage issue as well on that wire (no flickering, just no power in general) -
Only other resource i can find is here https://www.justanswer.com/ford/l0xyi-wired-third-brake-light-canopy-using-ford.html, indicating either the following fuse, or a BCM programming issue
  • Fuse #21 - 5A / Trailer Brake switch
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