Ok so i found a set of taillights i want for my 03. issue is their the 3 bulb and i have the 2 bulb harness. from what i understand a 3 bulb harness can plug into my truck wherever it connects the rear harness. how true is this? and what kind of a catch is there, if any?
TIA

 

If you like the 3 bulb lights then you would want all 3 bulbs to work, I would assume
If you don't care then you can wire it as a 2 bulb setup, no separate turn signal bulb

If you want the separate turn signal then you will need a 2 to 3 wire interface on the rear taillights
They are sold for hooking up trailers that use a 3-wire system to vehicles that have a 2-wire system

2 and 3 wire refers to the brake and turn bulbs in tail lights, thats all

3 wire tail light has 1 wire for left turn and 1 wire for right turn and then 1 wire for Brakes(goes to both sides) at the rear of the vehicle

Ford changed that in 2000 on Rangers, they changed the turn signal stalk(multi-function switch) wiring, so its a different multi-function switch
The brake light wire runs to the turn signal stalk not to the rear of vehicle
When you apply the brakes both rear lights come on
If a turn signal is also on then that side stays flashing and only the other side comes on as a brake light

This only requires 2 wires, a left turn/brake and a right turn/brake, at the rear of the vehicle
So its called a 2 wire system

The Park lights and backup lights are separate wires, so not included in description, this is just for turn/brake wiring

You will need the 3-wire harness for the older tail lights, as it has the separate wires to the left and right turn bulbs
Then the 2 to 3 wire adapter
The vehicle will have a left turn/brake wire that goes to the adapter IN, and a right turn/brake wire that goes to adapter IN
The adapter will have 3 wires OUT, brake OUT goes to both rear lights, and a left turn OUT and a Right turn OUT