Adding wiring to tailgate?

[guruman]

I'm working on fleshing out the remaining switches on my 12 circuit switchers unit. I'm including some rear facing lights located on a KC bracket in the center of the spare tire. As well as a better cargo light inside the cargo area. I plan to run them both along/inside the passenger side frame rail to the rear of the Jeep.

It's not obvious to me at first glance if there is a way to get a wire or two from the bumper area into the interior so that I can run it though the umbilical into the rear gate? Any tips/pics of how you might have done it?

 

[OldVetteGuy]

I'm working on fleshing out the remaining switches on my 12 circuit switchers unit. I'm including some rear facing lights located on a KC bracket in the center of the spare tire. As well as a better cargo light inside the cargo area. I plan to run them both along/inside the passenger side frame rail to the rear of the Jeep.

It's not obvious to me at first glance if there is a way to get a wire or two from the bumper area into the interior so that I can run it though the umbilical into the rear gate? Any tips/pics of how you might have done it?

Is it possible you could come up from underneath into the rear tail light then in thru the grommet the wires run through into the cargo compartment and over to the tailgate on the passenger side?

 

[Turboencabulator]

Hey @guruman, I haven't run a wire up from the passenger's side rail into the interior but I have done it on the driver's side. I ran wires to my compressor that is mounted inside the driver's side quarter panel behind the tail light and it's wide open to the wheel well area. To get inside there are some grommets which I'd imagine there are on the passenger side as well. I also did another project where I ran a ¼" silicone tube from the rear window sprayer on the driver's side along the inside and through the umbilical into the tailgate to spray and clean the back-up camera with washer fluid. You could also just follow the existing OEM wire run to the tailgate. I'm guessing they run up the interior passenger side under the doors next to the carpet and then over the subwoofer. I'd personally start with taking off the tail light and having a look around like @OldVetteGuy suggested. Here are a bunch of photos from those projects that might be helpful to you:

 

[guruman]

So, I was looking in the passenger taillight hole for a grommet leading inside, but didn't see one, looks like maybe there isn't one at all on the passenger side. That seems dumb to me.

Usually, I'd not be opposed to running the wires through the firewall and along all the interior trim to get back there, but with my Armorlite flooring (and all of my sound deadening), removing and getting the trim pieces back in place is an extreme pain. That's why I was looking at the external route.

Looks like I'll need to drill a hole and install my own grommet. The pics are a huge help, thanks @Turboencabulator . Was the hole for your washer tube already there or did you punch that new?

 

[OldVetteGuy]

Hey @guruman, I haven't run a wire up from the passenger's side rail into the interior but I have done it on the driver's side. I ran wires to my compressor that is mounted inside the driver's side quarter panel behind the tail light and it's wide open to the wheel well area. To get inside there are some grommets which I'd imagine there are on the passenger side as well. I also did another project where I ran a ¼" silicone tube from the rear window sprayer on the driver's side along the inside and through the umbilical into the tailgate to spray and clean the back-up camera with washer fluid. You could also just follow the existing OEM wire run to the tailgate. I'm guessing they run up the interior passenger side under the doors next to the carpet and then over the subwoofer. I'd personally start with taking off the tail light and having a look around like @OldVetteGuy suggested. Here are a bunch of photos from those projects that might be helpful to you:
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Nicely documented! Top Notch!

 

[Turboencabulator]

Is there a grommet that the passenger side tail light wire harness runs though? If so you might be able to piggyback your wires through that.
Another option is to enter the cabin from under the jeep through the drain plug at the bottom of the jack storage compartment (I think there is one in there ) then you can come up through that exact same hole that I used in the photo to run the ¼" silicone tube up out of the jack storage area then I make that horseshoe bend and go into the tailgate umbilical.

Was the hole for your washer tube already there or did you punch that new?

I didn't have to drill any holes because the factory washer fluid feed line runs inside already so I just put a Tee on that and ran down to the jack storage compartment then up and through the umbilical using existing factory holes.

 

[Earl 392]

Hey @guruman, I haven't run a wire up from the passenger's side rail into the interior but I have done it on the driver's side. I ran wires to my compressor that is mounted inside the driver's side quarter panel behind the tail light and it's wide open to the wheel well area. To get inside there are some grommets which I'd imagine there are on the passenger side as well. I also did another project where I ran a ¼" silicone tube from the rear window sprayer on the driver's side along the inside and through the umbilical into the tailgate to spray and clean the back-up camera with washer fluid. You could also just follow the existing OEM wire run to the tailgate. I'm guessing they run up the interior passenger side under the doors next to the carpet and then over the subwoofer. I'd personally start with taking off the tail light and having a look around like @OldVetteGuy suggested. Here are a bunch of photos from those projects that might be helpful to you:
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View attachment 50640
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Always very through and informative

 

[prodriquez]

There is power already in the cabin. You can tap them and simply run the wire through the removable trim panels to the rear cargo area. 5 and 6 are perfect if you’re aux panel is full or if you want to power other accessories directly

 

[Viking Jeeper]

I recently wired up a rear bright light hooked up to an aux switch. I have it mounted on the bumper near the hitch. After removing the passenger taillight I was able to thread it up into the grommet that is there from the factory that feeds wires to the tailgate. Once through there the wire was inside and ran it under carpet in the rear over wheel well and then through channels in the door sills to the aux leads in the passenger footwell.

 

[station378]

I just ran wiring for rear lights and a cargo light upgrade, and getting from the bumper area into the cabin isn’t too bad once you know where to look. Easiest path is the factory grommet behind the right rear trim panel pull the tail light and that interior panel, and you’ll see the rubber pass through Jeep uses for the OEM harness. You can poke a couple extra wires through without disturbing anything. From there you can feed them up to the factory umbilical for the tailgate and follow the stock loom into the gate. It’s tight but it works. A few guys have also used the drain plug under the cargo mat, but the tail light grommet keeps everything cleaner and out of sight