Ditch Lights & Brackets for the 5th Gen

[teotwaki]

For those that have installed brackets that require backing the hood bolts out; any particular warnings or techniques to keep in mind?

I was thinking about first drawing a line on the inside of the hood, around the bracket where the two pieces mate. I'd like to make sure I keep the hood alignment exactly where it is.

 

[Humble Leader]

For those that have installed brackets that require backing the hood bolts out; any particular warnings or techniques to keep in mind?

I was thinking about first drawing a line on the inside of the hood, around the bracket where the two pieces mate. I'd like to make sure I keep the hood alignment exactly where it is.

easiest way is to remove one bolt without touching the other. then put the bracket in and the bolt back. tighten it tight enough that you can just pivot the bracket with applying some force, start where you can't move the bracket then loosen slowly until you can. then remove the other bolt and pivot the bracket to line up the holes. tighten everything up

 

[teotwaki]

easiest way is to remove one bolt without touching the other. then put the bracket in and the bolt back. tighten it tight enough that you can just pivot the bracket with applying some force, start where you can't move the bracket then loosen slowly until you can. then remove the other bolt and pivot the bracket to line up the holes. tighten everything up

Thanks. Somewhere I had read a snippet that implied that technique but your details explain it clearly. I'm going to add some more coats of paint to my brackets and install them tomorrow when the lights arrive. I think I've settled upon where I will install the sPod box under the hood and have to work out some brackets.

 

[honda250xtitan]

easiest way is to remove one bolt without touching the other. then put the bracket in and the bolt back. tighten it tight enough that you can just pivot the bracket with applying some force, start where you can't move the bracket then loosen slowly until you can. then remove the other bolt and pivot the bracket to line up the holes. tighten everything up

exactly.

 

[Humble Leader]

Thanks. Somewhere I had read a snippet that implied that technique but your details explain it clearly. I'm going to add some more coats of paint to my brackets and install them tomorrow when the lights arrive. I think I've settled upon where I will install the sPod box under the hood and have to work out some brackets.

I think you're really going to like the spod / switch pros / auxbeam / whatever box you use (if you haven't used them before). one of my 'do overs' I'd like to have had is going right to my switch pros instead of first running wires into the cab and having switches. I did it for the ditch lights and air compressor. but after installing my switch pros earlier this year and rewiring I wish I would have done it right from the start. so much cleaner and easier, no more taking apart trim panels inside etc.

 

[honda250xtitan]

I think you're really going to like the spod / switch pros / auxbeam / whatever box you use (if you haven't used them before). one of my 'do overs' I'd like to have had is going right to my switch pros instead of first running wires into the cab and having switches. I did it for the ditch lights and air compressor. but after installing my switch pros earlier this year and rewiring I wish I would have done it right from the start. so much cleaner and easier, no more taking apart trim panels inside etc.

one set of wires is ok. then suddenly i had 3 sets and the antennae wire going thru the fire wall. such a disaster.

 

[4rNCMTNs]

hah you want a disaster, I have 2 0 gauge, 2 or 3 4 gauge plus other stuff. This is split on the left and right side of the firewall. this is all getting cleaned up very soon.

 

[teotwaki]

The new brackets were pretty close for alignment but I still tweaked them a little to ensure more clearance from the hood as well as being level.

Once I fired up the lights I thought their pattern was good. The phone's nighttime shot doesn't look quite true in terms of color but I was pretty close to the white garage door.

I really like the sPOD, especially the Bluetooth app! It lets you do more than just ON/OFF as it offers flash or strobe, variable dimming and also displays battery voltage and temperature.

A few pix of the sPod install