Adding Captains lights to a 2021 21NE

[derekthered]

My wife and I just picked up a "new to us" 2021 21NE. I would like to install reading/captains lights above the bed (drivers side front). I looked inside the upper cabinet and I see that there are two wires, I put a voltmeter on them and they are hot with 12V. Would that have been put there by Escape in case reading lights are to be added?

Has anyone added reading lights? Just wondering if I should pull out the floor inside the upper cabinet to run wires... is that even possible without breaking the floor of the cabinet? Should I just drill right through into the upper cabinet from below and then run wires through the cabinet?

Thanks

Derek

[Chamberman]

Originally Posted by derekthered

My wife and I just picked up a "new to us" 2021 21NE. I would like to install reading/captains lights above the bed (drivers side front). I looked inside the upper cabinet and I see that there are two wires, I put a voltmeter on them and they are hot with 12V. Would that have been put there by Escape in case reading lights are to be added?

Our 2019 Escape 19 has a pair of wires in the PS upper compartment over the bed. I measured them and there was no voltage present. I read somewhere that they were put there for the backup camera option and will not show 12V unless the tow vehicle is connected and in reverse. If yours are showing voltage on them with the tow vehicle disconnected then you should be good to use them.

[derekthered]

Okay thanks, I was actually connected to the truck but the vehicle was off and it was hot. I will try disconnecting and see if still hot. BTW I misspoke on my first thread, the bed of course is at the back of the NE so the reading lights I want to install are on the passenger side rear. That is where I found the wires. Thanks

Derek