LED bar roof rack wire routing

Santacruzbro

Santacruzbro

New member
So I've researched a lot of users threads on wiring LED bars and have found some good info. My question is though, how do I route the wires off of a Gobi roof rack to run the LED bar in the front of the rack? I'm wondering how the wires will get down into the dash? I'm really hoping there is no drilling! If anyone has had experience in this, I'd like to hear. I ordered a Gobi stealth and rigid light bar. Haven't received yet but just preparing myself. Thanks!

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There are a few ways to do so.

1. Run along the driver side trim panel, relays located under the hood for the light. Only wires go through the factory boot for all applications except one of them to use on the switch.

2. It is possible to run out the rear of the truck, though is would be negating some of the internal wiring in the gobi rack for the rear lights. That is the only wiring in the rack. From the front passenger and front drivers side to the rear passenger and the rear drivers side, there is no internal wirinf for side lights nor the front.

3. Possibly the bets but most permanent install and involves drilling. Drilling through the roof and i stalling one of the bulkhead wiring connectors with a single loomed connector with all roof rack lighting so it can be quick disconnected at one central location and at each independent light, woukd allow removal of rack without messing up wiring, or looms, or having to remove wiring and lights to remove the rack.

I did number one. I have front light bar, side lights and rear led lights. It isnt rocket scince though I did run duplex marine wiring you could ground at the rack if you wanted to. Take your time it isnt hard to figure out. Learn a bit more about wiring up relays, and switches. As well as how to make waterproof marine type connections. This is the largest learning curve but the beat way to go. Good luck.
 
There is a post on here somewhere that a member removed the right and left windshield molding, ran the pos wire down one side and the neg down the other and then into the engine bay. Evidently there is enough room under the windshield molding to run one wire and then replace the molding, one each side. If I can find it I will link it for you.
 
Santacruzbro said:
I ordered a Gobi stealth and rigid light bar. Haven't received yet but just preparing myself. Thanks!
Click to expand...

When did you order them? You may have a few months to prepare yourself.... :blabla:


Anyways, many of us in the big group buy is doing exactly this right now.

You can ground your lights to the rack, and in turn, they get grounded to your chassis. All you need is to bring the "positive/12V" of each independently controlled light into the cabin/engine compartment. Each side of your windshield, you can sneak 1 or 2 wires down into the engine room. One tips is to sneak "black" wires, they are less visible, but use them to run 12V.

The other way is to bundle all the "positive/12V" of each independently controlled light to the rear of the car, and sneak them in thru the tail hatch's hinge.

I personally preferred the first route, but the limitation would be 2 to 4 lights. I had wired an emergency vehicle before (a bunch of lights up top, all blinking/flashing at different rate) which requires basically a bunch of "12V" to come down and make the side of windshield routing not too practical. And that's the time I need to go the 2nd route. I doubt too many of you have that requirement.

All of the lights that do not need to be controlled independently can be bundled up together. Most of the wiring should be good enough for currently carrying capability unless you are putting like two 40" E2s or so, and what them all be turned on with 1 switch, then you may need to either get some larger wires, or to run them separately. So, if you have like four E2s 6", and you want to bundle them up into 1 wire (1 control), you will have no issue, bundling all of them up.
 
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On another note. When I ran my wires down the channel I am runnign a duplex type wire both positive and negative. I have two pairs of wires running down the drivers side molding.

These control my front light bar, and my two rear Rigid SRQs.

I will run another wire for my side lights as well. Though I am thinking of making a harness with a duetch connector out the rear of the vehicle. I dont know whe. i rewire for my relay box if I will do all out the back or some out the back and some out the front. Probably the latter. The only issue you are going to have is not the windshield trim but the roof trim, it is what is really limited for hiding some wire.
 
Thanks everyone for the information. I will only be running the single 40" up front that I know of for now. I'm sure it will be like 8 weeks, I have time to plan.. Haha
 
Finally got the rack and light installed. The light wiring was a lot easier than anticipated. From the battery into the cab, I used the hole were the main wiring harnesses went through. Plenty of room, just cut an additional slit in the rubber housing that seals the hole in the firewall. Going from the battery up to the light I ran it to the windshield, for the length of the windshield I removed the black housing that the wires were in. I tucked the wires in along side the windshield with the negative wire in top. Very clean look an barely noticeable. From the top of the windshield to the gobi mount, I tucked it under the black rubber that goes along the roof above doors. Once to the mount, just ran up along the bottom rack and plugged in. Works and looks great. I will post some more detail pics soon.

Thanks

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Love the light bar with Gobi rack. I'm hoping to do the light too. Do you know if there is other brand that not as expensive as Rigid that I should look?
 
puckitpuck said:
Love the light bar with Gobi rack. I'm hoping to do the light too. Do you know if there is other brand that not as expensive as Rigid that I should look?
Click to expand...


My brother got his 50" off of amazon and I know that was probably half of what I paid. He couldn't remember the brand though. Still Pretty bright though
 
Clean Wiring

Thanks for posting the pics and details on the Gobi Rack LED wiring. Your rig is looking good!

I was planning to run wiring to the back and up the rear hatch, but this is a much shorter run and a clean install. I will be doing this same wiring once my Baja Rack arrives, plus to the rear for my camping lights.
 
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