Optional Accessories & Conversions

trife96 · Jul 16, 2018

So I'm making a completely new thread to get the ball rolling on this and put everyones thoughts/questions together in one thread. Maybe if enough "useful" info is put together, this will become a sticky.

I bought my 2005 F250 with all the options "I thought" I wanted. Then as time went on, I noticed some trucks had additional items like a rear power sliding window, or back up sensors, and these accessories to me have now become desirable. Coming from Toyota forums, when I had my Corolla, I used to to upgrade certain interior parts and pieces to upgrade some of the options that were found on higher level models and when doing this, I found mostly everything was plug & play. So it got me to thinking that it might be possible to do the same thing to the F250. I noticed when I did my radio install, behind the 4WD switch, there were some "dummy plugs" which I realized are likely the plugs for the power rear window slider and parking sensor switch.

Below is the "dummy plugs" behind the 4WD switch

Now, I'm not sure all the details. I can assure you that this WON'T work with all year models. Obviously swapping between 2005-2007 would be easier than say 2003-2006. It's best to stick with similar body/interior trim changes. It's possible that something from say 2003 might work on 2005, but until proven, we don't know. Also, let me just make clear, this has to do with accessories, electronics, and interior trim pieces mainly. I really don't want to talk about swapping engines and suspension parts. This is why I started the thread in the electronics section.

So on to my personal quest. I'm wanting to add 3 things. Eventually these things will be sorted out but my goals are to add, rear park sensors, cab lights, and power sliding window. This past weekend I snatched the Cab Clearance Lights and the harness from two trucks. First was from a 1999 F350 crew cab DRW from a buddy of mine (pictured below)

Not knowing what I was doing and frustrated with the the wasps flying around, I screwed up the harness since I couldn't get to it completely on the passenger side where it went down past the glove box, so I ended up cutting it. I also messed up one of the lights removing it since I got impatient. That same day, I went to a local junkyard and found another truck. This time a 03 F350 single cab DRW with the whole dash already removed. Made it nice an easy. This one was a plain work truck. So when I got both harnesses out, I noticed the two harnesses were slightly different. The 99 Dually had the overhead console with temp readout, so there was an additional plug for it. The '03 didn't have that so no extra plug.

Below is a picture of the two harness I grabbed. Notice the top one has the additional connector for the older style 99 overhead console (also this is the harness I cut so I don't have the connector to the kick panel). The 03 model which had no extra options, barely has any wires going down to the kick panel connector.

I was thinking the harness from the 99 might work better since mine has the additional plug for my auto dimming mirror, but the connector on the 99 was much larger. You can see in the harness comparison the connector about midway of the harness is pretty big compared to the mirror connector.

This is a picture of my mirror and part of the overhead harness with the smaller connector

This picture is behind the passenger side kick panel where the "overhead" harness plugs in. I'm now curious if my overhead harness has the connectors for the cab lights just resting up under the headliner possibly. I will be investigating this further.

The other parts I grabbed was the back up alarm and sensors. Which unfortunately the truck was missing one already but I will find one more later.

mrh1282 said:
Let me know what you find out for the back up sensors. I would like to install them in my truck too and have always thought the same thing if it’s already wired for them.

To answer your question, yes and no. The harness behind the kick panel was there on my truck with nothing plugged in to it. Here is the picture of mine

Here is a better picture showing the wires

Here is the 07 alarm sensor module and connector which is tucked up behind this same kick panel.

But the plug in connector for the sensors in the back was not. Below is a picture of the connector that the sensor harness plugs into from the donor truck. An 07 F250 crew cab SRW XLT.

I will have to do some more investigating, but I will be certain to post my findings as time goes by and I make progress. My next two steps will be to investigate my overhead harness more and see if it already has the connectors for the lights, and then see of there is another missing harness between the front passenger kick panel
to the back connector for the rear sensors.

mrh1282 · Jul 17, 2018

When I bought my 05 lariat it didn't have upfitter switches, brake controller and backup sensors. I was able to add the upfitter switches and electric brake controller and everything was plug and play like it came from the factory. I just never dug around looking into the backup sensors but I think everything should be there.

trife96 · Jul 29, 2018

Mine came with the upfitter switches, but when I was researching the bare wires under the hood and under the dash that Ford preinstalled, I found this as well. Basically it is completely plug and play so to get a used one and the harness from the junk yard could be a really cool an inexpensive upgrade

Installing Upfitter Switches - Ford 2005-2007 Superduty

mrh1282 · Jul 17, 2018

I just found this write up that a guy did in 2006 with part numbers

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/560416-factory-oem-parking-sensor-retrofit.html

trife96 · Jul 17, 2018

So after removing some of the bits from the roof (visor, overhead console, front pillar cover). I was able to peek inside and did not find the connectors for the lights. However, at a closer look of one of the harnesses I removed from the junk truck, I noticed only two wires going in to the main connector which both of those wires were already present on my existing harness. Oddly the colors were swapped, but I should be able to run the cab light harness down and then tap into these two wires and it should work just fine. When I finally let down the headliner, I will try to see where these two wires go up into the roof and depending on what I find, I may splice them up high. I know they sell these harnesses already, but my goal is to do this the with little or no extra money and still have close to factory look.

Here are the two connectors side by side

trife96 · Jul 19, 2018

Has anyone with bucket seat tried swapping their center console for the Excursion center console. I noticed some Excursions have the additional cup holders and the power outlet with radio controls and thought that would be pretty cool to have in the truck. At least the power outlet and extra cup holders at least.

voodooridr · Jul 19, 2018

I swapped the jump seat for a center console out of an '08 and couldn't be happier. No rear command center but it does have rear cupholders that are surprisingly easy to reach

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

trife96 · Jul 28, 2018

Cab Lights Installed!

Well, got it all hooked up. Really wasn't hard honestly. So when I took the lights from the salvage truck and the harness, I decided to use some blue painters tape to make a template. Then, when I was ready, I rolled out the tape and stuck it in the same place. I had to adjust it slightly one time over to the right. But after that, I used a step bit to drill the holes. Also kept a shop vac nearby to clean up the metal shavings.

Not bad for under $20! I'll get a couple night shots later.

Also, in an earlier post, I mentioned the wires colors were reversed on the connector.

False. I realized I was comparing the female connector with the male. So when I compared the male and male connector. I notice the connector is missing those two wire. So, Just used a terminal removal tool, and slid them in the existing connector, and voila!

voodooridr · Jul 29, 2018

I'll see if i can get a good angle for a pic

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

voodooridr · Jul 29, 2018

'08 console in an '04, colors don't exactly match but so far it hasn't bothered me as much as I thought it would

While I had it torn apart fixing some broken tabs and giving it a thorough cleaning i installed an Anker 5 station USB charger
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

trife96 · Jul 29, 2018

voodooridr said:
'08 console in an '04, colors don't exactly match but so far it hasn't bothered me as much as I thought it would

I actually think that looks pretty good. I'm assuming the mounting points are the same, correct?

This also gives me an idea actually for the power port (cigarette lighter) on the back of the console. On my truck, I swapped the power port for this handy USB port

So now I have a loose connector that's not plugged into anything. If I wanted, I could possibly run that wiring down under the carpet and to the console.

voodooridr · Jul 29, 2018

It bolted right up to the same points as the jump seat, there's an extra stud left over from the seatbelt anchor point for the jump seat.
There are actually two powerpoints on the console, one on the back and one inside at the front of the console, they're on separate circuits, when I get around to wiring them I'll wire one to the drivers seat power and one to the passenger seat power, the seats use the same connectors as Ford o2 sensors so I'm going to make an inline connector

trife96 · Jul 31, 2018

FYI, the connectors on Fords are pretty simple to disconnect. In fact, I found this video was most helpful when explaining how these things come apart.

But basically, I removed the lock (red piece) then with a thin pick, or one of those mini flat head screwdrivers, you can release each pin. Very easy to do.

Here's a shot at dawn with my lights on.

WeedWhackerDood · Oct 15, 2022

I know, this is OLD, but so am I and I believe in saying this is a great article! Thanks for posting.

Optional Accessories & Conversions

Our Vendors

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities