Ducmonsta's Build Thread-very pic heavy!

[joneseyyy]

Very nice work. Those switches are super slick!

 

[Ducmonsta]

Need some help with a decision that's been bothering me.

So, Rigid has come out with a flush mount series of lights.


I'm pretty sure I won't be able to fit the D series lights (on the left) in my front fender, rear bumper or fender, and rear bumper. So, I'm pretty set on getting the SRMs (on the right).

My intention is to get some "alley" lights that won't be mounted to the roof rack. I am going to get a RTT so I don't want these mounted under the RTT. These lights will be used for mainly lighting up a campground or finding one at night (plus, I need to find a use for all these damn switches!).

So, that's 2 on either side of the truck and 2 for back up lamps. I know, I've already got the 6" SRs on the back of the rack, but you can't use them if the gate is up. The 2 back up SRMs will be switched to the reverse lights all the time, so I won't need a switch for them.

So here's my question. Do you guys think that mounting the side lights by the front headlight (on the fender) and by the taillight (also on fender) will be too far apart? Should I put the front one closer to the door (still on fender)? Kind of like a turn signal in a euro car. Should the one by the taillight be close to the taillight or mounted into the bumper?

 

[limamike]

Need some help with a decision that's been bothering me.

So, Rigid has come out with a flush mount series of lights.
View attachment 66889

I'm pretty sure I won't be able to fit the D series lights (on the left) in my front fender, rear bumper or fender, and rear bumper. So, I'm pretty set on getting the SRMs (on the right).

My intention is to get some "alley" lights that won't be mounted to the roof rack. I am going to get a RTT so I don't want these mounted under the RTT. These lights will be used for mainly lighting up a campground or finding one at night (plus, I need to find a use for all these damn switches!).

So, that's 2 on either side of the truck and 2 for back up lamps. I know, I've already got the 6" SRs on the back of the rack, but you can't use them if the gate is up. The 2 back up SRMs will be switched to the reverse lights all the time, so I won't need a switch for them.

So here's my question. Do you guys think that mounting the side lights by the front headlight (on the fender) and by the taillight (also on fender) will be too far apart? Should I put the front one closer to the door (still on fender)? Kind of like a turn signal in a euro car. Should the one by the taillight be close to the taillight or mounted into the bumper?

I would go for closer to the door and mounted into the rear bumper. What about in the rocker panel?

 

[Ducmonsta]

Didn't think about the rocker. But I'm planning on sliders also. I thought it might be too low as well.

 

[philsey]

I say get 'em first, light 'em up and see what the spread is like. You'll know better then.

Where will you put the b/u lamps?

 

[jangoforhire]

WagonGear Guild: Wired Wagon LLC All the parts on this page are made by: Erik Johnson [email protected]
It's the aux fuse box at the bottom of the page. It will have 5 complete circuits with 30 amp relays. So, just run power from relay to whatever and the connect switch. Genius, really. Never have to tap off the battery again. Well, at least for things that are rated 30 amps or less.

Thanks for the tip, I just picked up 2 of them as well. I wasn't happy with the blue sea fuse box and then having random exposed relays. This looks like a great setup.

 

[Ducmonsta]

I say get 'em first, light 'em up and see what the spread is like. You'll know better then.

Where will you put the b/u lamps?

I have a couple sets at the shop already. I "think" they'll be enough if I keep them farther away. I was thinking on the aesthetic side also. And how they'll look with the shtick works bumper. Haven't found a good rear one that I like yet.

 

[Ducmonsta]

WooHoo!!!

Erik @ Wired Wagon came through FAST!!! And so did the LED strip.

 

[OrangeTexan]

Looks like Eric does good work. I contemplated sourcing all the parts for that PDM myself, but he's already done the work. How did you specify which wiring configuration you wanted (A, B or C)?

 

[Ducmonsta]

Looks like Eric does good work. I contemplated sourcing all the parts for that PDM myself, but he's already done the work. How did you specify which wiring configuration you wanted (A, B or C)?

I told him I wanted 12v input. Which is C, I believe.

We've lost power here in the nova/dc area so no installs this weekend. It sucks but it's nothing compared to the fires in CO. I'm happy my home is still standing. It saddens me to hear all the crap on the radio about how bad the weather is and how millions of people have no power. WE STILL HAVE OUR HOMES! Sorry, rant over.

 

[OrangeTexan]

OK so all you had to do was just email or note it in the order.... Cool.

Yeah I heard about the power loss up there. Craziness. Hope you get power back soon!

 

[SigSense]

Video of a recent Rigid flush mount install: Rigid Industries D-Series Flush Mount Install - YouTube

 

[Ducmonsta]

Some minor updates. I had a few friends over at the shop last Saturday and we had a "work on your truck" night. The ever elusive GotMo37 was installing almost an entire audio system, our friend with the Seqouia was washing and buffing his truck, and I was installing the led hood light and rock lights with the Wired Wagon relay system.


No pics of final install yet. We didn't end that night until about 3:30am. I'll get some better pics later.

 

[Ducmonsta]

So, this is kind of out of place but with the current 5th genners heading out to the FJ summit, it brought back memories of my cross country "expedition".

It just so happens that my wife and I were talking about our 5 year plan. What we wanted to do for our 15 year anniversary. Our kids are currently 5 and 3. That would put them at a decent age for another cross country trip or at least one that hits the places that we missed. Just for reference, here's a pic that shows the map of our quest 7 years ago. It was a 12,000 mile trip beginning in Boulder, Co. We had to get to a wedding in DC in May of 2005. I told her I wanted to be back home in DC by July 4th because of the EPIC party we always had at a friends house (GotMo37).

This map currently resides on our wall in the hallway. It's a constant reminder of how beautiful our country is and how much of it is left to explore. You'll see the red ribbon showing our trip and pins of where we stopped. On this 7ish week trip, we stayed in a total of 5 hotels and camped the rest of the time.

So, I told her we need to start another "ribbon". One with the kids. It may start small, but we can go farther and farther out from home (DC). She agreed whole heartedly. I also said that we needed to renew the pics we took on our first trip. It was with my beloved 3rd gen. And now we can take the same pics with the 5th. She made so much fun of me when I was taking all these pics with my truck in them. Little did she know that it was going to give us the memories it did.

I'll continue with some pics....

 

[Ducmonsta]

Just some pics of our trip with the 3rd Gen. In no particular order. We're hoping to recreate some of these "poses" again with our children.














And with my ugly mug and beautiful wife. Next one will be with 2 kids, hopefully in the same location.

 

[Ducmonsta]

So, while I'm at the OBX with GotMo37, we decided to do a mod or two.

While my 6"SR Rigids are great, they're useless with the gate open. They're also a little much for just back up lamps.

Enter the Rigid SRM2 flush mounts. Of all the places in the rear, the bumper made the most sense. So, here goes....

Gotta get prepped...

 

[Ducmonsta]

We figured the best place (flattest) would be the bottom of the bumper. After GotMo talked me out of removing the entire bumper, we masked the area to be cut.

Step back, and make sure it looks even.

Finalizing the hole location, we masked the area and it's proximity. Just incase my nervous hand slips.

Make those "can't turn back now" holes!

 

[momo.75]

Very cool idea. What size were the holes you cut and what size is the footprint of the light itself?

 

[Ducmonsta]

Mount em up!

Drop the spare and start routing the wires. I wanted them to come on with my standard reverse lights. We tapped into the yellow wire for power. These lights draw all of 2 amps! So the factory circuit will be enough to handle these. No need for a relay.
The yellow wire is for the 7pin trailer connector.

 

[Ducmonsta]

Very cool idea. What size were the holes you cut and what size is the footprint of the light itself?

The holes were about 3x1.5. The lights are mounted to the flange itself. There's a rubber gasket in between the flange and bumper. The lights are the same sizes the hole so there's some room for error.