PNP harness for tailgate light bar

[dwarmenzerk]

Hey!

I've been looking for a plug and play harness for the '23 MY so I don't have to splice into the factory wiring harness to connect up my tailgate light bar. Could someone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

 

[Cblaxx19]

What tailgate lightbar do you have? Putco has a pnp harness but won’t sell it on its own. You have to get it with their blade tailgate lightbar.

OPT7 is working on a pnp harness and claims it will be out this month. They just released the version for the 15-20’s and claim the 21+ is in production.

 

[dwarmenzerk]

What tailgate lightbar do you have? Putco has a pnp harness but won’t sell it on its own. You have to get it with their blade tailgate lightbar.

OPT7 is working on a pnp harness and claims it will be out this month. They just released the version for the 15-20’s and claim the 21+ is in production.

Not sure of the brand, im pretty sure its opt7 or similar. It was a gift 2 years ago for Christmas that i never installed on the last truck.
Might just have to hold off until they come out with a harness.

 

[Cblaxx19]

Not sure of the brand, im pretty sure its opt7 or similar. It was a gift 2 years ago for Christmas that i never installed on the last truck.
Might just have to hold off until they come out with a harness.

That’s what I’m doing. Got my redline triple bar for Christmas from opt7. Just waiting on the harness to come out.

 

[dc_tremor]

Was scrolling through some DIY videos and came across this OPT7 installation vid. I'm going to try the 5-pin set up this weekend. Just an option if you don't want to tap into factory wires. Will report back with results.

 

[Cblaxx19]

Was scrolling through some DIY videos and came across this OPT7 installation vid. I'm going to try the 5-pin set up this weekend. Just an option if you don't want to tap into factory wires. Will report back with results.

I think this will result in the same warnings as if you plug into the factory trailer port where the truck will think you have a trailer plugged in.

Opt7 told me this week that they are trying to finish another model first before getting to 21+ for the plug n play harness. The wait continues.

 

[dc_tremor]

I think this will result in the same warnings as if you plug into the factory trailer port where the truck will think you have a trailer plugged in.

Opt7 told me this week that they are trying to finish another model first before getting to 21+ for the plug n play harness. The wait continues.

I also got the adapter module that is supposed to mitigate the warnings. I'll let you know how it goes. If it doesn't work then I'll just send the plug back to amazon (fo free) and hop back on the waiting bench..

 

[dwarmenzerk]

Good thing there are other projects and things to do!

 

[dwarmenzerk]

I also got the adapter module that is supposed to mitigate the warnings. I'll let you know how it goes. If it doesn't work then I'll just send the plug back to amazon (fo free) and hop back on the waiting bench..

Keep us in the loop!

 

[dc_tremor]

UPDATE: I have some good news and some disappointing news.

Bottom line: I tried different methods of connecting except tapping into the factory wires. I was able to get the lightbar to light up, however, the blinkers did not work. My assumption at this point is that the lightbar is defective. I did not see any error codes or warnings when I plugged in the light bar.

The 5-pin connection worked as expected. As you can see I was able to get the reverse lights to come on. I'm going to hit up OPT7 and see if they'll either send me a replacement or a refund. Also, not sure if how the adapter module works. Was not able to properly test the module.

Do you guys have an idea how you're going to install the lightbar? I noticed there are two bolts sticking out of the slot where I wanted to place the lightbar...

 

[Cblaxx19]

UPDATE: I have some good news and some disappointing news.

Bottom line: I tried different methods of connecting except tapping into the factory wires. I was able to get the lightbar to light up, however, the blinkers did not work. My assumption at this point is that the lightbar is defective. I did not see any error codes or warnings when I plugged in the light bar.

The 5-pin connection worked as expected. As you can see I was able to get the reverse lights to come on. I'm going to hit up OPT7 and see if they'll either send me a replacement or a refund. Also, not sure if how the adapter module works. Was not able to properly test the module.

Do you guys have an idea how you're going to install the lightbar? I noticed there are two bolts sticking out of the slot where I wanted to place the lightbar...

i think you are talking about the 2 large bolts that mount a bracket that just places a tab into a slot in the tailgate. my plan is just to take that bracket off. that's what others have done from what i've read. haven't figured out what the bracket is actually doing.

do you have the Parlux light? i haven't figured out what's different about that light from the redline triple light other than its broken into 2 pieces rather than one.

 

[dc_tremor]

i think you are talking about the 2 large bolts that mount a bracket that just places a tab into a slot in the tailgate. my plan is just to take that bracket off. that's what others have done from what i've read. haven't figured out what the bracket is actually doing.

do you have the Parlux light? i haven't figured out what's different about that light from the redline triple light other than its broken into 2 pieces rather than one.

The bolts are side by side and it looks like there is a small hook from the tailgate that goes into the bracket. Weird.
I have the Parlux triple light. Apparently it offers a more "solid glow" and "lightweight".

 

[Cblaxx19]

So I bought the 5 pin adaptor off Amazon and quickly tried it out. At first, I hadn’t plugged the adaptor back into the bumper and got the trailer errors. I then plugged it into the bumper and it seemed to not give any errors. So it seems to work, but I’m not completely sold until I drive around a little.

I’m somewhat underwhelmed by the brightness of the bar(didn’t hook up the reverse line yet) but maybe it’s just cause it’s daylight still.

 

[dc_tremor]

So I reached out to OPT7 in hopes of getting a refund, but they sent me a video instead and told me to test the light straight onto the battery.

The LEDs were SUPER bright when I tested them, which makes me think, maybe there isn't as much power going to the trailer port as expected. This is probably why OPT7 tells me I need to hardwire it for the 2023 F150..

Also @Cblaxx19, not sure if its my vehicle or cable thats not pushing enough power to light up my blinkers on the lightbar but glad it worked out for you!!

 

[Cblaxx19]

Interesting that it’s a bunch brighter.

I determined that the harness I bought does indeed still trigger the trailer warnings. But it will do for now to use the bar until
Opt7 releases theirs. And hopefully it makes it brighter. Although, at night the lights are pretty good. Just dim during the day.

 

[dc_tremor]

FYSA: I got this email from OPT7 folks today in reference to the PnP Easy Connect harness for 2021+ F150s...

Hello Daniel,

Thank you for contacting OPT7 Lighting.

It is not in the development pipeline at the moment. Please let us know if there is anything else you need and we would be glad to help.

Best Regards,
Ben K.
OPT7 Escalation Manager
ARIES Lighting Team

 

[Cblaxx19]

FYSA: I got this email from OPT7 folks today in reference to the PnP Easy Connect harness for 2021+ F150s...

Hello Daniel,

Thank you for contacting OPT7 Lighting.

It is not in the development pipeline at the moment. Please let us know if there is anything else you need and we would be glad to help.

Best Regards,
Ben K.
OPT7 Escalation Manager
ARIES Lighting Team

well that is completely opposite from what they have told me....

 

[Cblaxx19]

as much as i dont want to pay $70+ for a harness, i really wish putco would just sell their harness stand alone. but so far the only way to get it is to buy their blade light bar.

 

[dc_tremor]

as much as i dont want to pay $70+ for a harness, i really wish putco would just sell their harness stand alone. but so far the only way to get it is to buy their blade light bar.

I even tried to go to a local PUTCO dealer and ask them if they had any PnP harnesses floating around the shop..

 

[dc_tremor]

I finally had some time this weekend to fully install the lightbar. I have the Redline Parlux triple lightbar WITH the adapter module and the Curt 5 pin trailer wiring harness. Took me about 2 hours to install working really slow. So far no code errors showing on the dash. Reverse cam and BLIS work normally. Seems like this is the only option right now if you don't want to tap into factory wiring. Overall, seems to work with no issues.