How did you mount your AUX lights?

[SleekRunner]

I have a set of Hella 700ffs sitting in my room and am looking into different options on mounting and where.

So the title pretty much says it all.
How do you have your Aux lights mounted and where?

Also, for those with roof mounted aux lights like on a roof rack, where did you run your wiring? Did you drill into the roof or what? I would like to mount my 700ffs on the stock roof rack but dont want to drill into the roof or have wires running all over the place.

Any pics would be greatly appreciated if not gtfo. hah jk all input would be appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[Avarice]

The 99+ fat lip bumpers have plenty of room to mount the lights. I have a pair of 500ff's on the front of mine that I mounted between the lights on either end of the grill.

I'll try and get some pics up for you later.

I just took a drill bit and went straight through the plastic upper portion of the bumper through into the steel below it and mounted the lights through that with some washers underneath and above to mount it more securely. The light pattern on ever shakes hitting potholes, and it's very slight. In regular driving they are rock stable.

You will put two holes in the top of your bumper though. I personally didn't care because my bumper was already a bit banged up and I'm going with an ARB.

I wouldn't recommend mounting to the roof until you already have some up front. It's not nearly as good for lighting up the highway and they are useless in the rain or snow.

 

[calimobber]

I mounted my 500ff driving lights on my bumper. Roofrack lights are a little more trouble some because the mounting, running wires and sturdiness. If you mount on the bumper just wire your lights through the grill. I prefer the low none glare light as well.

 

[the great him]

search the forum, this question has been brought up several times and there are plenty of threads on this.

you can mount them to the bumper, under the bumper, in the bumper, on roof racks. ill post some pics of my set up...

 

[Elton H]

if i was able to bolt up a pair of gaint lightforce 170s to a stock 98 bumper 700s no problem for a 99

 

[SleekRunner]

Oh i forgot to say that part i dont want to drill into my bumper ;-/
Sorry guys. Thats the main reason i posted is to find anyone w/o drilling.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Clemsonfan15]

When do you want to use them?

If you want to use them on the road, then you can't put them on your roof.

I was in the same situation as you. I didn't want to drill into my bumper. I ended up getting some "L" brackets and attaching them to the front, where the license plate is supposed to go. It's not ideal though because they shake with bumps.

Defiant makes a light bar, but it's about $200-250, which is more than I paid for the lights. Legokcen was supposed to be working on some brackets that didn't require drilling of the bumper, but I don't know if he has made any progress.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/78720-fabrication-needs-ideas.html

 

[Nick2001Runner]

I have 2 hella 500s on my brush guard mounted on pre drilled holes.I recently mounted 2 hella 500ff on my roof rack. I will post pics of my wiring and mount that I made as soon as I'm out of class. I will give more details when I post the pics.

 

[calimobber]

I drilled through the plastic part of the bumper so If I want to remove them I can just replace the plastic piece and it will cover any holes in the bumper.

 

[the great him]

so here is how i ran my lights... the ones on the front brush guard(you can do the same with your bumper if you want), i just ran the wires through the grill and through the core support and along the finder to the relay, from the relay i went into the cab(through the firewall and behind the dash), to the switch, and to the fuse panel i installed for aux items, from the fuse panel i went to the battery for power. For the roof lights i went from the relay(still using the same method of acquiring power via fuse panel and battery) into the cab(same route) and under all the door sills and trim panels till i came to the post between the front and back doors, then i ran my wires up that and out through the rubber grommet where all the power for the rear windows and door locks is and then out the outside of the door pillar till the rain gutter then i drilled two small holes, and ran the wires through the gutter(behind the rubber door seal) and up and out to the roof rack. For the rear roof lights i did the same as the other roof lights only i went all the way to the back gate before going outside, and there i went out through the rubber grommet that houses the wires for the third brake light, then up through the gap between the top of the gate and back of the roof and up to the rack. its a lot of work but in the end it looks clean(still have some cleaning to do in the engine bay) but it works and have no issues at all. im running 10awg wires to the roof lights(they are 130w each) and 14awg to the rear lights. the rears are set up on a relay thats triggered by the backup lights, so as soon as i shift into reverse they come on, i will add another switch at some point to over ride that so i can turn them on when ever i want.

 

[the great him]

*side note, cause the wires are so large for the front roof lights(10awg each) i had to run wires up both sides of the truck, 2 per side. so what i posted pics of it mirrored on the passenger side of the truck.

 

[Nick2001Runner]

so here is how i ran my lights... the ones on the front brush guard(you can do the same with your bumper if you want), i just ran the wires through the grill and through the core support and along the finder to the relay, from the relay i went into the cab(through the firewall and behind the dash), to the switch, and to the fuse panel i installed for aux items, from the fuse panel i went to the battery for power. For the roof lights i went from the relay(still using the same method of acquiring power via fuse panel and battery) into the cab(same route) and under all the door sills and trim panels till i came to the post between the front and back doors, then i ran my wires up that and out through the rubber grommet where all the power for the rear windows and door locks is and then out the outside of the door pillar till the rain gutter then i drilled two small holes, and ran the wires through the gutter(behind the rubber door seal) and up and out to the roof rack. For the rear roof lights i did the same as the other roof lights only i went all the way to the back gate before going outside, and there i went out through the rubber grommet that houses the wires for the third brake light, then up through the gap between the top of the gate and back of the roof and up to the rack. its a lot of work but in the end it looks clean(still have some cleaning to do in the engine bay) but it works and have no issues at all. im running 10awg wires to the roof lights(they are 130w each) and 14awg to the rear lights. the rears are set up on a relay thats triggered by the backup lights, so as soon as i shift into reverse they come on, i will add another switch at some point to over ride that so i can turn them on when ever i want.

Nice job.. My front setup is wired just like yours and my roof light setup is similar. Btw how did you mount the square lights in your guard?

 

[Nick2001Runner]

Since the other guys setup is close to mine I'll just post the differences.

I ran the wire in the channel that the rubber stays in and I took it straight to the engine bay.

 

[SleekRunner]

When do you want to use them?

If you want to use them on the road, then you can't put them on your roof.

I was in the same situation as you. I didn't want to drill into my bumper. I ended up getting some "L" brackets and attaching them to the front, where the license plate is supposed to go. It's not ideal though because they shake with bumps.

Defiant makes a light bar, but it's about $200-250, which is more than I paid for the lights. Legokcen was supposed to be working on some brackets that didn't require drilling of the bumper, but I don't know if he has made any progress.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/78720-fabrication-needs-ideas.html

Yeah ive been looking at that thread but since there has been no update on it i figured id just ask the forum. Thanks though man btw i really love your hid retro it looks great! I really like your setup!

*side note, cause the wires are so large for the front roof lights(10awg each) i had to run wires up both sides of the truck, 2 per side. so what i posted pics of it mirrored on the passenger side of the truck.

That looks really clean! Thanks for the post man thats pretty much exactly what im looking for. I know the basics of wiring and stuff just mostly needed where you ran the wires to keep them from showing. Thanks for all of the pics i like examples! haha.

Also thank you to anyone else i didnt quote i couldnt reply back and now theres to many backed up so sorry bout that.





On a side note i really like blacktpgsr's setup how he cut out his grill for his PIAAs to fit very creative. It may be awhile before i ever mount them because i kind of dont want them hanging off the front and sticking out, im worried it will look goofy however just having two lights on the roof and not 4 may look goofy also... Decisions... haha

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[the great him]

Nice job.. My front setup is wired just like yours and my roof light setup is similar. Btw how did you mount the square lights in your guard?

that middle "bar" that my lights are attached to, is actually a flat plate of metal with a bull-nosed front(think of a "J", now rotate the J counter clockwise 90degreese...) . it has two holes on top(used by the larger 7.5"round lights, and then either 4 or 3 holes on the bottom of that same plate, the bottom goes back about half the length if the top, and there's about 1"-1.25" gap between the top and bottom so i just hung those lights. with that bull-nosed plate in there all the bolts and nuts are hidden, but easily accessible.

 

[fightman80]

Mine are mounted in my lower bumper valance.....I grafted some pods into the valance and then used some screws to mount the lights to the pods.

Full write up and pics in my build thread....just below my signature.

 

[SleekRunner]

Mine are mounted in my lower bumper valance.....I grafted some pods into the valance and then used some screws to mount the lights to the pods.

Full write up and pics in my build thread....just below my signature.

Yessh i really love that its nice and clean and slick! Doesnt stick out any at all! I think i messed up by buying the 700s though think i should return them and get the 500 or ill be fine w/ the 99+ bumper shouldnt look to bad huh? Im also worried they will look to big.

 

[jbmccul]

On my Xterra i mounted 4 lights onto an extra roof rail I found at a junkyard, worked really well, you could just pop them off if needed, not sure if you can do this on a 4r though

 

[SleekRunner]

On my Xterra i mounted 4 lights onto an extra roof rail I found at a junkyard, worked really well, you could just pop them off if needed, not sure if you can do this on a 4r though

If i do go for the roof mounted option that is a good idea to hit up a junk yard and buy an extra to drill into and fab up and have my stock if i ever decide to remount somewhere else. Thanks for the help!

Okay its between the roof like said above or fightmans method which i really like. I wonder if a tub of "i cant believe its not butter" will fit the 700s fairly well for the molds.

@ fightman did you use any bondo or just the epoxy stuff for the blending into the existing valence? If i did do this id like to make it seem like it was purchased that way haha. You did a great job on yours btw.

 

[fightman80]

I only used epoxy....but bondo would definately make it look cleaner. BTW, the only way to know if the margerine containers will fit....is checking! HA HA HA! It was funny how the idea came to me:

I was at the part / hardware store looking around for something to buy that would fit. THe closest thing I could find was some kitchen stove buckets...but they weren't what I was really looking for. I ended up going home disappointed and empty handed, and went back to the garage. Then....just as all hope seemed lost......I see that stack of Margerine Containers I had saved to put nuts and bolts in....and it hit me! I took the lights off my rig, and just sat one in the container....and well....ha ha ha! The rest is history!

I definately got some weird looks from the guys in my local off-road group....but once they saw it in person....it kinda won them over......lol!