Need some advice on Topper / Camper / Cap / Shell installation & wiring

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stevenwolfe@gmail.com - 08 Mar 2006 03:09 GMT

I just purchased a fiberglass topper for my 97 dakota to replace my
dying tonneau and add some cargo-room. I made the mistake of ordering
it while on vacation (in the town where I'm vacationing) but got a good
price straight from the factory (in town).

However, they can't install it for me as it will be finished this
Thursday and they only do installs on Wednesday. I'm sure I'll be able
to get the thing up on the box, but I'm unsure of exactly how to wire
the third brake light for the topper. Can anyone tell me about where a
ground post would be located at (to keep the wiring clean), and whether
I should tap into one of the truck's brake lights or rather to the
trailer wiring connector?

Any advice on installing these things would be appreciated :)

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Licker - 08 Mar 2006 14:05 GMT

stevenwolfe@gmail.com wrote: "I just purchased a fiberglass topper for my 97
dakota to replace my dying tonneau and add some cargo-room. I made the
mistake of ordering it while on vacation (in the town where I'm vacationing)
but got a good price straight from the factory (in town).
However, they can't install it for me as it will be finished this Thursday
and they only do installs on Wednesday. I'm sure I'll be able to get the
thing up on the box, but I'm unsure of exactly how to wire the third brake
light for the topper. Can anyone tell me about where a ground post would be
located at (to keep the wiring clean), and whether I should tap into one of
the truck's brake lights or rather to the trailer wiring connector?
Any advice on installing these things would be appreciated :)"

Ask them how they wire it up when they install it. They may sell a wiring
kit that will plug inline with your existing tail light wiring.

Sarge

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Christopher Thompson - 08 Mar 2006 14:07 GMT

> I just purchased a fiberglass topper for my 97 dakota to replace my
> dying tonneau and add some cargo-room. I made the mistake of ordering
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Any advice on installing these things would be appreciated :)

the last time i had a topper professionally installed they wired it directly
to the left brake light. that was done by a topper specialty shop (thats
basically all they did, tops and slide-in campers)

that and a few clamps and they were done, 15 min tops

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-Chris
05 CTD
99 Durango

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Nosey - 09 Mar 2006 15:05 GMT

Christopher Thompson wrote:

>> I just purchased a fiberglass topper for my 97 dakota to replace my
>> dying tonneau and add some cargo-room. I made the mistake of
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
> that and a few clamps and they were done, 15 min tops

Wouldn't your center brake light flash with the left turn signal on?

Signature

Ken

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SteveAtFerris - 09 Mar 2006 15:12 GMT

I suppose that would be likely.... hmmm... I wonder if the same would
be true for tapping into the tow plug...

Then again, it wouldn't really harm anything to have it blinking.
Unless there are laws against it.

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Nosey - 09 Mar 2006 16:04 GMT

> I suppose that would be likely.... hmmm... I wonder if the same would
> be true for tapping into the tow plug...
>
> Then again, it wouldn't really harm anything to have it blinking.
> Unless there are laws against it.

The trailer plug has separate left and right turn signal wires too. My brake
light was wired by the company that I got my cap from. I never really looked
to see how they did it. It might be tapped off the wire for the center brake
light on the back of the cab or from the brake light switch under the pedal.
I guess either of those wires would work.

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Ken

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Christopher Thompson - 10 Mar 2006 15:39 GMT

i thought the same thing and never tried to verify but none the less thats
what they did.

Signature

-Chris
05 CTD
99 Durango

> Christopher Thompson wrote:
> >> I just purchased a fiberglass topper for my 97 dakota to replace my
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> Wouldn't your center brake light flash with the left turn signal on?

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Nosey - 11 Mar 2006 17:10 GMT

The wiring for mine comes out of the left rear stake pocket into the bed but
I never thought it was wired from the turn signal wire. I'll have to pull
the tail-light lens one of these days and see if that's how they wired it.
My center brake light only comes on when my foot is on the brake and does
not flash with either turn signal. I never looked at it with the hazard
flashers on so I don't know if it flashes with them or not.

Signature

Ken

> Christopher Thompson wrote:
> i thought the same thing and never tried to verify but none the less
> thats what they did.
>
>> Wouldn't your center brake light flash with the left turn signal on?

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Christopher Thompson - 12 Mar 2006 01:34 GMT

that sounds like how they did my 96 s15. straight to the left brake light
and run the wires out the stake pocket up to the CHMSL in the top. like i
said i wondered about the flash deal but then never actually had anyone look
or looked myself as it wasnt gonna bug me *grin*. i couldnt see the light
from the driver seat anyways!

Signature

-Chris
05 CTD
99 Durango

> The wiring for mine comes out of the left rear stake pocket into the bed but
> I never thought it was wired from the turn signal wire. I'll have to pull
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> >
> >> Wouldn't your center brake light flash with the left turn signal on?

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