Time for a li'l update.
I've since installed my Cobra 19 DX IV CB radio as well as the 4 ft. Firestik antenna. Also routed the cable thru the rear vent just like everyone else.
Close up of the mount and the antenna entering the bumper, nice fab up job driffter by the way.
About a month ago I had my Savage Offroad sliders welded in.
Here's how I got them shipped, bit oiled up and a bit rusted on some welds, but after thoroughly cleaning them with some all-purpose degreaser and 3 coats of roll bar & chassis paint, they look sweet! I painted the rest except the legs 6" from the mounting gussets.
At the shop with them being welded...Dan also did the reinforcements for my tire carrier.
Some shots of them at home before and after painting the remaining unpainted portions.
I've always wanted to install an extra back lighting system on my rig for the longest time, but the challenge was where to mount them. After playing with some photoshopped image, I finally found the best location.
Here's a preview of the finished product
I used Piaa 510 SMR fogs which I though were just the perfect size to go on top of the licence plate light cover, and put them close to one another and a tad offset to the left.
I wired them in a way that they are activated with the transmission in reverse, and also manually thru a switch. I put a diode in series with the reverse light feeding the relay, isolating the reverse light circuit from the manual switch.
Another diode in series from the switch to the relay was installed. Now, when I activate the manual switch, there's no chance of a backfeed towards the reverse light circuit.
The effect of this isolation is that when I flick on the manual switch, only the auxillary lights will come on and not the reverse lights...Confusing yet?
Here's the licence plate light cover off. I needed to take it out to add some rigidity underneath the top side. This is only held by one rivet and two pieces of mounting clips.
Back view......Piece of sandwiched aluminum for added strength. Also JB welded the light bracket nuts for easy removal of the lights if necessary.
I fished in enough length of ground and power wires from the headliner thru the rubber conduit and onto the rear hatch
More wiring from the engine bay with the inline diodes visible and covered afterwards. All the wirings were all covered using some wire loom and all tucked away neatly.
A shot of the lights and the cover mounted, only this time I replaced the rivet and the flimsy clips with some locking nuts and bolts due to the additional weight.
Tail light activated relay, add-a-circuit shown previously connected at the 10amp headlight fuse holder. Auxiliary lights aren't activated
til the tail lights are activated basically.