Upfitter Switches, What are you using them for?

jmass

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I am close to ordering a new truck. I am curious what most people are using the upfitter switches for. I am trying to decide if is worth adding to the new truck.
 
Good thread. I have the truck. Been trying to think of some things to run. I am interested in adding backup lights. Or just to use at night to light the area. I’ll be following this.
 
Light bar, rear cube lights, and grill leds.
 

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mine are all dummies on both trucks. I will set up a high idle on both of them and use one on the diesel for my on board air when I get around to it.
 
I am close to ordering a new truck. I am curious what most people are using the upfitter switches for. I am trying to decide if is worth adding to the new truck.
IMO why not get them? They're cheap and there's a reasonably high likelihood you'll use them for something in the future, even if you don't have something planned out now. Also adds to resale value.

My truck hasn't arrived yet, but here's the things I'm considering (will need to reduce down to 6 switches at some point):
 
Trucks not here but I have lots of ideas/plans. Originally order them only because they are a 'cheap' add and figured that either I or the next owner would find plenty of uses for them.

In the mean time this forum had given me 12 ideas to us 6 switches ?

Just get them.
 
If only the switches were On-OFF-On, you would effectively get 12 things you can electrify! :D (not all 12 at same time of course)
You can technically get some extra options (haven't done the math on how many) with some fancy relay arranging such that when multiple switches are activated together you get different behavior compared with the switches activated individually. So two switches can give 3 different "on" states. And no reason that couldn't be expanded to encompass all switch combinations, though the wiring would become quite messy.

The navigation mod that enables turn signal cameras does something like that (with only two switches) to enable one of its features.
 
I am close to ordering a new truck. I am curious what most people are using the upfitter switches for. I am trying to decide if is worth adding to the new truck.
CB and radar detector on upfitter switches, cut them off quickly if on a call and they go off, both on one switch.
 
1 - Raptor lights- was going to wire to constant brown, but need to be able to shut them off when entering base. If I don't get any grief this winter and need another switch, will move them.
2 - additional lights in the bottom of the grill
3 - 2-Lo mod
4 - rear facing leds mounted to bottom of bumper
5 - tbd, thinking of mounting my portable compressor in the bed and using one of these to control power
6 - tbd, may move rear leds if I find I want the ability to run power without truck on

I also did the spot light mod to enable them to be on no matter the speed of truck or if it is running. I thought about using the pass through wires to supply the power, but it was a pain with the short wires, so I just tapped in to a constant wire right next to it with a T-tap.

Erik
 
If only the switches were On-OFF-On, you would effectively get 12 things you can electrify! :D (not all 12 at same time of course)
Just to make this super complicated…

What if you ran switches 2-6 each to a 5 pin relay. The open position would be the standard output (functions 1-5) and then use switch 1 as the signal for all 5 relays. Then, when you energized switch 1, you would be able to use a different set of accessories (6-10). The big drawback is you couldn’t use accessories 1-5 at the same time as accessories 6-10.
 
Currently ham radio and light bar
TRG-42 above has their radio on a switch basically as a quick mute. Why do you have your radio on a switch?

I ask because it seems lots of folks do, but I can’t figure out why. Curious if I’m missing something.

My current ham radio is hard-wired to my battery. In my case no need for a mute switch as it has a mute button on the faceplate. Otherwise the radio has its own power button, inactivity timeout, and it’s nice to be able to run the radio separate from the truck.
 
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