Light Bar Project

[JoeHutchinson]

I have really enjoyed and get a lot of good ideas from project TRD member put up on the site. So I just wanted to post my light bar project since I final finished it after thinking about it for 6 months.





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I started with a defiant light bar, I asked them to put a extra bar on the bottom now they have made that into a regular option. It was pretty straight forward as far a putting it on except there is little room to work for taking the tow hooks off and then back on.



Part 1



PS. Still working on how to post picture so this will be a two part report

 

[JoeHutchinson]

Light Bar Project Part 2

Note : Sorry this is not as neat as format as most still trying to figure out how to post picture





Text :



I have really enjoyed and get a lot of good ideas from project TRD member put up on the site. So I just wanted to post my light bar project since I final finished it after thinking about it for 6 months.



I started with a defiant light bar, I asked them to put a extra bar on the bottom now they have made that into a regular option. It was pretty straight forward as far a putting it on except there is little room to work for taking the tow hooks off and then back on.



I went with Hella 700FF on the bar, they are maybe the best bang for the buck out their right now . I took out the standard bulbs and replaced them with Xenon 100watt Bulbs which really increase the amout of light they put out. Even though it was overkill I used a Hella double relay to send power to the light. (rallylights.com has the entire hella products for sale)





Final I put two switches in the overhead console. I actual think this part was easier than putting switches in the dash. At least this way there is plenty of room to work. There is a rib that goes down the center of console so I took the easy way out and put the switches side by side and that leave me plenty of room for more switches in the future . The second switch is for the next project but I am not sure what that will be yet.

 

[Ducman82]

looks good. i have been thinking about one of there light bars as well. but im not sure yet cuz i want a bigger bumper. so we shall see! but ver nice install. where did you mount the relays?

 

[seafish]

Great Job... that's a CLEAN looking install on the switches, as well as a good looking light bar. That's cool that Defiant will now offer it as an option--- I bet that they sell more of them.

 

[Regcabguy]

Paul installed my friend's lightbar similiar to the author's with the addition of a prerunner bar. He installed the switch on the floor similiar to the old highbeam switch location I grew up with. BTW. Loctite any screws you have if any on your lights. They can work themselves loose.

 

[Matt400]

The second switch is for the next project but I am not sure what that will be yet.

Reverse lights!! you gotta have those and switchable is nice. Mine come on with reverse but I need to add a switch to select them when out of the truck if I want.



Nice to see the new 700's on a Ram, I have been thinking about swapping out my 6" 130w KC's for those. Thanks for sharing your mod.

 

[JoeHutchinson]

Relay

looks good. i have been thinking about one of there light bars as well. but im not sure yet cuz i want a bigger bumper. so we shall see! but ver nice install. where did you mount the relays?

I mounted a double relay in a hole that was already in the engine bay next to the windshield washer fluid.

 

[WoodChuck]

Reverse lights!! you gotta have those and switchable is nice.

Hey Matt, I,ve been thinking about reverse lights. Which ones did you get?

 

[Ducman82]

Why a double relay? how do you have that wired if you do use both?

 

[Matt400]

Hey Matt, I,ve been thinking about reverse lights. Which ones did you get?

I got two of these and they are super nice! Designed for short distance flood design. Each lamp has two 55w bulbs. I have a weather proof relay under the rear bumper, power supply pulled from the trucks trailer battery charge ckt. and tripped by the reverse lamp ckt. One of those lamps would have been plenty but I wanted a uniform look.



How does that Hella "double relay" work & wire up? Is it just two separate relays in a single housing that work independently or is it a single relay providing dual connections?

 

[Jwskj]

Light bar

Another option for any of you considering the addition of a light bar, would be Randy Ellis Design Sleekster Offroad Truck Light Bars .



He's got a nice looking design that is functionally simple without being overbearing. I think that it's a nice look for about $250.



I mounted one of his light bars on mt '08, and put 4 PIAA pencil beams on it.



You can't light them up if you can see headlights or taillights, but when the road is empty, you can see about 1/2 to 3/4 mile pretty well.



It makes driving at night almost comfortable.

 

[JoeHutchinson]

How does that Hella "double relay" work & wire up? Is it just two separate relays in a single housing that work independently or is it a single relay providing dual connections?[/QUOTE]





The Hella "double relay" is really two single relays in one housing. They can be wired seperate or together. I used them because I thought I would be overloading a single relay with three high power lights.



Joe

 

[DZLFREK]

Nice product. Easy to install and very clean.

 

[WoodChuck]

Who's makes those reverse lights?

 

[Bob4x4]

Who's makes those reverse lights?

Hella... ... ... ..... in it is in his sig



Bob

 

[DDT]

Say, Were did you get the switches and cost? I like the look of them.

 

[ROCKJEEP]

Well here is mine. Just some small lights I had sitting around.

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[Belgrath04]

Well here is mine. Just some small lights I had sitting around.

:-laf Curious what you would consider a large light.

 

[ROCKJEEP]

I am thinking about some light force lights. They have a 101/2" ones that have different color covers for different conditions.

 

[Ducman82]

ROCKJEEP what syle light bar is that?