Seems I've jinxed Belle Isle; went there today and for the first time that I've seen or others I've asked, there was a lady there from MDNR checking...
Yeah... that's not an easy fix to try to run that up to the top and install a light from the ceiling. Might be worth putting some silver (conductive)...
It's a clamshell type tailgate, if you didn't know. I dunno how you'd do what you said. The spring contact crap is in the middle on top of the metal...