Rear Window Dome Light Switch?

[phillipm]

I had an idea to include a switch to turn on the dome lights anytime the rear window was rolled all the way down. Has anyone done this or seen this before? I could just put a small switch at the bottom of the tailgate and have the window trip it to ground. Simple enough but wondered if anyone had done it already?

[grillzy]

not a bad idea

[buffydores]

Where will you hide your lines?

[phillipm]

Just run the wires with the power window harness?

[buffydores]

I was talking about in the roof. I think there's a gap between the two layers at the back.

[phillipm]

Just tie into the forward harness where the door jamb switch is.

[buffydores]

Oh, you're just talking about how you switch the existing lamp back there.

[Jsfucttruck]

You should look into a cargo switch off a square body pickup.

[Irish1941]

One of my peeves with Blazer was always NO light with tailgate down.
Cant find your beer in the dark!
I did the 81-87 pickup cargo switch wired into the Blazer harness several yrs ago.
Not all cool as window down light on but worked good for tailgate sitting

[68Timber]

Great idea. Irish, was that switch hard to find? That was a rare option wasn't it?

[phillipm]

One thing I can see that is good about just the cargo switch would be you could leave it off when you've got the window down during the day... Hmm. I'll need to think about this some more. That might be a better option. I don't particularly want to cut a hole in my nice side panels so I'll have to brainstorm something else.

[Irish1941]

Originally Posted by 68Timber

Great idea. Irish, was that switch hard to find? That was a rare option wasn't it?

It's just from a 81-87 pickup. Not hard to find at all. On ebay for around $20-$30 or $3 from wrecker. Look for a truck with cargo bed lamp and you'll find the switch on the b pillar by drivers seatbelt.
Never an option but it should have been.

[68Timber]

Did you wire it separate from the door jamb switch or headlight interior light switch so it can be turned on without either of those being on?

[Irish1941]

Yep
Wired into the dome light circuit right at the connection for the top.
The cargo switch was independent of the door and dash switch.
I thought about a door jamb switch for the tailgate but I wanted to be able to turn it off with tailgate down while camping.

[phillipm]

I just ordered a cargo light switch. I think I might still do the window switch and wire it in series with the cargo light switch. That way I can have the best of both worlds. Regular lighting control with the window and then a master override for tailgating.

[68Timber]

I like the idea and the OEM cargo switch but I think I'd wire one in on a separate power and ground. It wouldn't come on when the doors open or headlight knob is turned but you also wouldn't need either of those "on" for the rear switch to work.

[phillipm]

For me I want the rear to operate all of the interior lights. Just like the doors do. I just want the cargo switch to overide the window switch so I can have the window down and still turn the lights back off.