3rd brake light

[99_3.0]

I am trying to figure out why my truck doesn't have cargo lights installed in the 3rd brake light housing. It doesn't even have the wiring for them or the sockets for the bulbs themselves. My other truck had them but it just didn't work. Is it a factory option to have the cargo lights installed or not? Does the dimmer switch control them in a factory configuration? Thanks!

 

[exbass94]

I think every 2001+ Ranger I've ever seen does not have cargo lights. It seems Ford simply made it no longer available.

 

[john112deere]

Yep.

They took 'em out to save costs. Along with a lot of other stuff...I'm amazed at how many details were cheapened over the 12 years between my Rangers.

(A friend's 2000 XL has no cargo light, either. Not sure if that's 'cause it's an XL, or if they dropped them for that year. We never checked to see if there was wiring for it, just cursed it's absence.)

 

[02RangerXLT]

I think every 2001+ Ranger I've ever seen does not have cargo lights. It seems Ford simply made it no longer available.

Nope, they do have them...

My 2002 (XLT Supercab) has cargo lights back there... I wish it didn't...

Also my old 2000 XLT Supercab had cargo lights...

 

[srteach]

If you look closely, you will find the plug that the pigtail mates with has an unused wire. That wire, with a different pigtail end (that has three bulb sockets) will give you factory cargo lights. You do have to get a different lens / reflector set, though.

I did the conversion with my 96, and my 99 has the same plugs for the pigtail. I'm pretty sure the newer wiring harnesses haven't changed.
Cargo lights are turned on by rolling the panel dimmer all the way up, which turns interior lights on also.

 

[02RangerXLT]

If you look closely, you will find the plug that the pigtail mates with has an unused wire. That wire, with a different pigtail end (that has three bulb sockets) will give you factory cargo lights. You do have to get a different lens / reflector set, though.

I did the conversion with my 96, and my 99 has the same plugs for the pigtail. I'm pretty sure the newer wiring harnesses haven't changed.
Cargo lights are turned on by rolling the panel dimmer all the way up, which turns interior lights on also.

So TBQH, I could convert mine with cargo lights to an all red one... sorry to thread derail... the cargo lights don't put out crap for light...

 

[99_3.0]

Mine has the cut outs for the bulbs in the housing but no wiring for them. So I can just plug in a harness (bulb side) with cargo lights and hook everything up and have them work? Or would I have to wire up my own switch?

 

[exbass94]

If you look closely, you will find the plug that the pigtail mates with has an unused wire. That wire, with a different pigtail end (that has three bulb sockets) will give you factory cargo lights. You do have to get a different lens / reflector set, though.

I did the conversion with my 96, and my 99 has the same plugs for the pigtail. I'm pretty sure the newer wiring harnesses haven't changed.
Cargo lights are turned on by rolling the panel dimmer all the way up, which turns interior lights on also.

A lot of trucks don't have the 3-wire harness. My truck only had 2 wires going to the brake light, so I had to run my own wire to a toggle switch I mounted on the dash.

Mine has the cut outs for the bulbs in the housing but no wiring for them. So I can just plug in a harness (bulb side) with cargo lights and hook everything up and have them work? Or would I have to wire up my own switch?

If you have 3 wires going to the brake light, then yes you can plug in a new harness (bulb side) and it will work. If you only have 2 wires, then you have to run your own wire and either put your own switch in, or tie into the dome light switch.

 

[99_3.0]

If you have 3 wires going to the brake light, then yes you can plug in a new harness (bulb side) and it will work. If you only have 2 wires, then you have to run your own wire and either put your own switch in, or tie into the dome light switch.

Alright sounds good. Thanks for your help!