Has anyone run a wire up to the factory roof rack?

[Seymore Butts]

I can run a wire up the seat belt post to the roof liner, but I'm not sure what I'll encounter after that and in between the liner and the roof. I'm looking for pics and descriptions of a nice, clean, invisible wire run that does not cause any leaks.

I have a sunroof, so I can run a wire up the A pillar and up above the roof liner very conveniently. I think that will be even easier than going up the seat belt post.

 

[bassmacka]

The best way that I found is to run the wiring outside in the gap of the rubber seal of the windshield. I have seen people use channels that tape on meant for hiding wiring indoors, painted black. I didnt need to do this because the wire for the light bar fit perfectly in the gap between the seals and its very tight in there.

 

[gfxcruncher]

Cleanest way I could figure when I did mine...

My wiring comes off a Bussmann under the hood, went through LS firewall, ran along the LS sills and behind the quarter panel trim, up the back pillar and went out through the wire bundle going from the body to the lift gate, from there it goes up under the gutter rubber filler things.

When I had my factory rack i drilled a hole through the foot and came up under the plastic cover and out the recess for the crossbars. I have a Prinsu now, so it comes up through the filler strip to the bottom of the rack.

It's buttoned up, but can post some pics if you want.

 

[Seymore Butts]

Yes, a few pics would be great!!!!

 

[TowMeOut]

I'm considering adding a line up the side of the windshield for a light bar. 2-conductor wire in about 14awg or smaller will hide pretty easily in the gap along the edge of the windshield.

I'm never a van of drilling holes in the roof. Here in FL everything seems to rust and I doubt I'd ever get the hole sealed against water or corrosion.

 

[gfxcruncher]

Sure, I don't have a photo upload account anywhere, so pics are attached below...

1. Running from the Bussmann to the drivers side firewall grommet. (other harnesses running through there too. Sorry, hard to see crap in that photo, but the wiring runs through the firewall where the hood release and factory harness run.

2. pic of the driver door sill removed, the harness(es) are running on the left side. There's like an extra channel in there along with the factory wiring harness. (appears on right side of photo cause of my crappy photo skills)

3. all the wiring goes to the rear driver side quarter panel, following the factory harness... (not taking that trim back off for a photo lol) It's a little rats nesty looking there, but it's all connected w/ Metripac connectors and the rear storage system is presently removed... from there it runs up the pillar to-

4. running the harness up under the headliner and through the hatch grommet/seal whatever it's called... on the right i came through the seal, and you can see it going over to the left. From there it goes up under the gutter seal thing (next pic)

5. at the bottom of the pic is where the transition from behind the hatch to under that gutter seal. You can see in the paint where the old factory rack sat, there was a hole I made in the foot for the wires to pass through. There's 6 18g wires running in that harness, ground is terminated at the Bussmann, not on the body so that the whole system is isolated from the factory setup. (circuits for left and right scene/work lights and dust lights)

6. just a pic from a little further back to give you a sense of what it looks like coming off the truck (yeah, my loom isn't perfect looking there)... including the dust lights.

pic 4, 5 and 6 are probably what you are really interested in... I can yammer on about this crap forever :biggrin2:

There's a bit more about the Bussmann install and how I set the switches up on my Instagram (gfxcruncher) older posts. Let me know if you are looking for more or if i have already bored you to death lol.

Best!